'Fantastic Beasts 2' Director Explains Controversial Johnny Depp Casting

What a week it's been to be a fan of the idea of Johnny Depp being in a Harry Potter-verse movie! First it was announced that he'd been signed for the guaranteed Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel (one of four). Now, it's come out that he's playing Grindelwald, the childhood wizard friend of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore; we only saw glimpses of their relationship, and only in Deathly Hallows. (Did you already hear there's gonna be some Yung Dumbledore, too?)

O.G. fan site The Leaky Cauldron got some time with Potter-vetted director David Yates and producer David Heyman. They dug into the reasons Depp was cast—a smart topic to explore, given the widespread adverse reaction, largely founded upon recent abuse allegations by his now-ex-wife.