Johnny Depp has signed on to star in the Fantastic Beasts sequel. Warner Bros. Pictures has not revealed the identity of Depp’s character. The three-time Oscar-nominated actor has become well-known for taking on roles in book-based films such as Secret Window (2004), Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (2005), and Alice in Wonderland (2010).
Deadline reports that David Yates, the director of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, will return to take the helm on the second movie. J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, recently announced that there will be a total of five installments in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off series. Rowling, who wrote the script for the first film, will serve as the screenwriter for the entire franchise.
Here’s more from USA Today: “Depp makes a brief appearance in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (in theaters Nov. 18)…The cameo fits into the world of Eddie Redmayne’s wizard Newt Scamander, who is introduced in the first film. Warner Bros. had managed to keep Depp’s appearance a secret until Tuesday. Word leaked out after journalists started seeing early screenings of the film.” (via E! Online)