Fantastic Beasts director David Yates has defended the decision to keep Johnny Depp on as Gellert Grindelwald after a number of fans threatened to boycott the sequel.
The first official image of the Fantastic Beasts sequel – now known as Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – was released last week, but it wasn't met with universal joy.
With Depp's portrayal of Grindelwald seemingly front and centre of the next instalment, fans were disappointed that the actor would be reprising his role following accusations of domestic violence made against him by ex-wife Amber Heard during their divorce proceedings.
Depp has staunchly denied any and all allegations of domestic violence, and his friends and family all publicly showed their support to the actor.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, director David Yates acknowledged that although there is a "compelling and frightening" situation in Hollywood at the moment, Depp isn't part of it.
"With Johnny, it seems to me there was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something. I can only tell you about the man I see every day: He's full of decency and kindness, and that's all I see," he offered.
"Whatever accusation was out there doesn't tally with the kind of human being I've been working with."
Pointing out that a number of Johnny's former partners had publicly defended him, Yates insisted that the controversy surrounding him and Amber Heard was "a dead issue".
"It's very different [than cases] where there are multiple accusers over many years that need to be examined and we need to reflect on our industry that allows that to roll on year in and year out.
"Johnny isn't in that category in any shape or form. So to me, it doesn't bear any more analysis."
The decision to cast Depp as dark wizard Grindelwald came under scrutiny last year during the height of the couple's divorce proceedings, leading JK Rowling to defend his portrayal of the character.
Saying that she was "delighted" with Depp's work, she added: "He's done incredible things with that character."
