We're still a little over two weeks out from the premiere of FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, but Warners Bros. and director David Yates are already putting together the cast for the upcoming sequel, including gaining the services of Mr. Johnny Depp. As reported by Deadline, Depp has joined the cast of FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM 2 in what will be a co-starring role alongside Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander.
There's no word on which character Johnny Depp will be playing in the sequel, but Deadline adds that if you look carefully, you might spot Depp in a "tiny turn" in the first installment of the J.K. Rowling-created Harry Potter spinoff. Interesting. There have been hints that Gellert Grindelwald, Dumbledore's former friend who stole the Elder Wand and wreaked havoc across the globe, would have a part to play in the Harry Potter spin-off franchise, and Depp would certainly be a good fit for the conflicted Dark Wizard.
Inspired by the Hogwarts textbook of the same name, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM will open in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a "global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds." It was recently announced that the first film will be followed by four sequels, which J.K. Rowling says will make sense when we realize "what story we're *really* telling, you'll understand that it can't possibly fit in one movie!"
In a recent IMAX featurette for FANTASTIC BEASTS, Grindelwald was mentioned by name and this image popped up. Are we looking at the back of Johnny Depp's head?
Any guess on who Johnny Depp will play in the FANTASTIC BEASTS sequel?