Johnny Depp to reportedly be paid $13.75m for Fantastic Beasts 3 despite only filming one scene before quitting franchise
Johnny Depp will still reportedly take home his full US$10 million ($13.75m) salary for Fantastic Beasts 3, despite resigning after filming just one scene for the blockbuster.
The A-List actor has a "pay-or-play contract, which requires that he be fully compensated whether or not the film is made and even if it is recast", according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The publication also claims their sources revealed that Depp has "no morality clause in his contract, even though it was amended with each new instalment", and that he was asked to resign rather than being fired, all of which factor into the actor still getting his full paycheck.
Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts Warner Bros
Production for the movie, which has been delayed until 2022, began on September 20 in the UK.
Depp had already been in London over summer, where he was suing British tabloid The Sun over articles that called him a "wife beater".
RELATED: Can Johnny Depp's career survive his salacious trial?
He faced off in the courtroom with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, in a case that detailed allegations of domestic violence, excessive drinking and drugs.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star lost his libel case, with Justice Andrew Nicol ruling earlier this month the defendants proved during the trial that their allegations against Depp were "substantially true".
In this Nov. 3, 2011 file photo, U.S. actors Johnny Depp, left, and Amber Heard arrive for the European premiere of their film, "The Rum Diary," in London AP
Just days after his loss in court, the actor took to Instagram to announce he had been asked to resign from the Harry Potter spin-off franchise, Fantastic Beasts, where he was set to reprise his role as dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
In the typed letter to fans, the 57-year-old said: "I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in 'Fantastic Beasts' and I have respected and agreed to that request".
Warner Bros. then confirmed Depp's departure and said his role will be recast for the next instalment of the franchise.
"Johnny Depp will depart the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date," the studio said.
"Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theatres worldwide in the summer of 2022."
Depp, who had a cameo at the end of 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, returned with a much more prominent part in 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
– Reported with Variety and AP
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