This time last year, if someone had told you that fans were actively planning to boycott anything set in the Harry Potter universe, you’d have called them insane. After all, the Wizarding World has reigned for close to two decades as one of the most popular and beloved multimedia properties on the planet, with anything even tangentially associated with The Boy Who Lived guaranteed to be a massive success.
However, the Fantastic Beasts franchise has been beset by problems for a while now, ones that aren’t limited to the disappointing critical and commercial performance of The Crimes of Grindelwald that had many people believing the prequels were running out of gas when director David Yates was only 40% of the way through the five-film saga.
There’s been the constant backlash aimed at creator and Fantastic Beasts screenwriter J.K. Rowling that could have an adverse effect on the third installment’s box office chances, and now Johnny Depp fans are livid that the actor was forced to resign from playing the villainous Gellert Grindelwald after coming out on the losing side of a libel battle against a British tabloid.
Depp’s supporters are currently calling for a complete boycott of Fantastic Beasts 3, and you can check out just some of the reactions to the situation below.
No Johnny Depp
No Fantastic Beasts 3.
Boycott FB3. Warner Bros made a big mistake.
Amber Heard is clearly the Abuser. So FUCK WARNER BROS FUCK AMBER TURD#JusticeForJohnnyDepp #BoycottWarnerBros #BoycottFantasticBeasts #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser— Baepsae ✧̣̇‧ (@kanekiken0814) November 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/_xsyaxstylesx_/status/1324978744054837250
Aquaman 2, actually. Not only am I going to boycott Fantastic Beasts and Aquaman 2, but I am never watching another @wbpictures movie ever again.
— Sean B.🦋 (@SeanB87992235) November 7, 2020
@jk_rowling looks like people are going to boycott Fantastic Beasts 3 because without #JohnnyDepp it’s not actually going to be that fantastic. #JohnnyDeppIsInnocent #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser
— DEPPrivation🏴☠️ (@strangecure1) November 7, 2020
@warnerbros Hey since you think it's okay to invalidate male abuse survivors while allowing Amber Heard to still be in aqua man, I hope you don't mind a huge boycott of the Fantastic Beasts. No ones gonna be able to do what Depp did
— Sea by BTS – thank you for 3 years (@bangtanpopgenre) November 7, 2020
Everyone boycott fantastic beasts series#JusticeForJohnnyDepp
— Dr farhan (@farhan28652642) November 7, 2020
How the fuck is this allowed. No way in fuck will I be watching Fantastic Beasts and I'm going to tell everyone I know to boycott it. That man is a victim. What a money-hungry, greedy cooperation. Fuck you. To male victims of abuse, I'm so sorry. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp
— Mia (@sunflowerskiess) November 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/ShreyaBhushan1/status/1324959282580709377
No Johnny Depp
No Fantastic Beasts 3
Boycott Fb3 #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #BoycottFantasticBeasts #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser— . (@watdoumeanbruh) November 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/diannemarini/status/1324941914576052224
Alright, so because Johnny Depp was fired from Fantastic Beasts 3, all in favour to boycott the film till they bring him back? Grindelwald can only be Johnny Depp. #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #AmberHeardIsALiar #BoycottFantasticBeasts
— liz🌧️ (@elizabth_tng) November 7, 2020
So anyways, I’m gonna boycott Aquaman 2 and Fantastic Beasts 3. Amber Heard can star in aquaman 2, yet Johnny Depp has to resign from fantastic beasts? #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #BoycottFantasticBeasts #BoycottAquaman2
— Max 🙂 (@Theworstofhope) November 7, 2020
Normally, these sort of online movements don’t yield any noticeable results, but between the general apathy towards Fantastic Beasts and the double-edged sword of Rowling’s continued involvement and Depp’s firing, there must be a few nervous executives at Warner Bros.’ headquarters. After all, The Crimes of Grindelwald earned over $150 million less than its predecessor, and Fantastic Beasts 3 is going to have to pull something pretty special out of the bag to arrest the slide, especially given the recent controversies.
