I struggle to find a starting point today. Is it because of the legal troubles with former managers and lawyers? Is it the lawsuit from punching a crew member on a recent film set? Is it the excessive drugs and alcohol? Is it the reports of outlandish spending and irresponsibility? Is it the physical abuse of his now ex-wife? Maybe it’s these two quotes swimming around in my mind:
“The filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies.”
“I am extremely afraid of Johnny and for my safety.”
Where do I go from here?
Johnny Depp has no place in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is a children’s series of books and films, this series is made for children. Just because the original fan base has grown into adulthood doesn’t mean the series and it’s targeted audience has aged. In fact, the reason there has been so much turmoil in the Potterverse in recent times is because the fans are now adults, we can see the problems, we know when things have gone awry and we’re allowed to use our voice to say it. And I’m sorry, but there is nothing ok with having a man like this on screen in this fandom.
In fact, it’s a bit of a double standard. Actors from the original film series were fired for less. Jamie Waylett (who played Vincent Crabbe, one of Draco Malfoy’s goons) was famously fired after being charged with marijuana possession (nothing as severe as a restraining order from your spouse).
The reports of Depp’s wild lifestyle this past year has only plagued the actor’s fading image even more. Millions of dollars spent on mansions, yachts, alcohol and apparently 12 storage units of “expensive collectibles”. Lawsuits and counter lawsuits from former team members. Add in the lawsuit regarding him punching a location manager in the ribs on the set of his newest movie whilst having taken drugs on set and reeking of alcohol and we’ve got a real role model here!
Of course, what killed his appeal most is undoubtedly the abuse against former wife Amber Heard. She details the verbal and physical abuse from Depp in her court documents, which have found their place in the eternity of the internet. Reading through her experiences again after 2 years, it breaks my heart. To have to endure that vile behaviour and live in fear from the person you married, that’s a whole different kind of evil. How can one be comfortable and genuinely happy to have such a man involved in a children’s series? In any series?
I cannot and will not support Depp being involved in the future of the Wizarding World. But… it’s the Wizarding World, and this next film returns to Hogwarts, though however briefly. And as we all know… “it’s my home”. But by buying a ticket and seeing the film I am supporting his continued role and I’m adding to his pay cheques. So how do you reconcile the desire to continue the magic but also refuse to accept the dishonour brought to it?
Well, we kind of already know the story that these films are telling, it’s only the details that we’re missing. To make a long story short, Grindelwald is going after the Deathly Hallows, the elder wand, the resurrection stone, and the cloak of invisibility so he can become the master of death and essentially rule over the Wizarding World. Dumbledore and Grindelwald meet in a massive duel, Dumbledore defeats Grindelwald and all is well… until Tom Riddle grows up… but that’s a story we already know (and with all the details).
Rowling and company are no doubt banking on the fact that life-long fans will choose to “look past”, “not care” or “just ignore” Depp and his presence and go see the film(s) regardless. They know how die-hard this fandom is. It truly doesn’t matter if Depp is in or not, these films will make hundreds of millions because we can’t let the magic go. We don’t want the magic to end and if that means enduring the offensive, malicious and immoral actor on screen, the fans will do it.
If Rowling had extended this new series strictly into books, we wouldn’t have this moral dilemma. And I wish she had, you can populate these characters in your mind with whomever you want them to be. In film, I’m stuck staring at the face of a man who abuses his wife, his team, his coworkers, his money and all kinds of substances.
I said it before about Rowling:
They say never meet your heroes. They should also say you can’t always trust them either. I don’t trust her when it comes to Cursed Child Johnny Depp, and I don’t have trust or faith in the future that there may be for the Wizarding World.
The past couple of years have not been easy as a Potter fan. Rowling and her statements, backtracking, excuses and plain silence have beaten me down. The disappointment is heavy. And to be truly honest, I don’t yet know if I’ll buy my ticket to The Crimes of Grindelwald.
But I do know I am not comfortable. I am not genuinely happy. And I am extremely afraid of what Rowling is doing to this franchise.
Image Warner Bros. Pictures via variety.com
