JOHNNY MEETS GRINDELWALD
The Wizarding World’s notorious outlaw Gellert Grindelwald was briefly revealed two years ago in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and his name is right there in the title of its new sequel, The Crimes of Grindelwald. Yet actor Johnny Depp, 55, has remained silent about his crucial character – until now. Below, Depp lends insight into the mysterious villain his castmates say is the movie’s most unexpected revelation.
Were you a Harry Potter fan before all this? I read the books when my kids were smaller and watched the films with them. The books were superb. What J.K. [Rowling] delivered is really a difficult thing to do as a writer – to create a whole new universe and a set of rules. You never felt like you were being slathered with exposition or being condescended to. So I was pretty familiar with them and hugely impressed. What drew you to playing Grindelwald?
I found the character fascinating and complex. My instinct reaction is he was like a human version of Finnegans Wake: James Joyce’s novel begins and ends in the middle of a sentence. You come in in mid-thought and then it’s a very confusing ride. In the first film, Colin Farrell played Grindelwald, disguised as Percival Graves. Did his performance influence things? It does and then it doesn’t. As Grindelwald [was pretending to be] Graves, his responsibility is to portray Graves. I suppose the more contemplative moments of Colin’s – the more silent moments – for me, that’s when I would see bits of Grindelwald. Based on some things your castmates have said, some fans will make Donald Trump comparisons. Is that fair? I don’t see Donald Trump comparisons at all. To me there’s something almost childlike in [Grindelwald]. His dream is for the wizard world to stand tall and above. It’s a fascistic element, and there’s nothing more dangerous than somebody who is a dreamer with a specific vision that’s very strong and very dangerous and he can make it happen. But no character wakes up and goes, “I’m going to do the worst things possible today and be evil as hell.” I do believe Grindelwald is an oddly likable character. Unlike Voldemort, who ruled by fear and force, Grindelwald is charming and manipulates people to get what he wants. Yeah, exactly. He psychologically motivates people to his ends.
What does Grindelwald think of Dumbledore at this point?
I think he’s just waiting. He’s looking forward to [their inevitable showdown]. I think there’s probably a lot of residue left over from days gone by. They quite bonded, you know? When you loved someone, and cared for someone, and it arrives into a [combative] arena – as it has with Dumbledore and Grindelwald – it’s very dangerous when it becomes personal. There’s been lots of focus on Dumbledore’s sexuality and how much should be in the film, but what about Grindelwald’s? I think it should be left up to the audience to feel it first. It makes the situation with Dumbledore all the more intense. I think there’s a jealousy with Scamander. He sees Scamander as Dumbledore’s protégé – his boy, in a way. That in itself is enough for Grindelwald to want to take Scamander down in a way that is ferocious and eternal. Controversy surrounded your participation in the film [due to a domestic-violence allegation by ex-wife Amber Heard]. The director, studio, and Rowling issued statements in support [of you]. Is there anything you’d say to fans who are on the fence about supporting the film? I felt bad for J.K. having to field all this. But ultimately, the fact remains I was falsely accused, which is why I’m suing The Sun newspaper for defamation for repeating false accusations. J.K. has seen the evidence and therefore knows I was falsely accused, and that’s why she has publicly supported me. Anything else you want fans to know? It’s a major responsibility, being handed the keys to this car. My intense loyalty is to not just J.K. and David Yates but to the people who go and see the films as well, the people who have invested their lives into this magnificent, incredible world. I went full tilt into the character knowing the responsibility that I had. It’s good to take the audience on a ride they’re not necessarily expecting, yet with great respect to the world they’ve come to understand and know. I hope to give them something they haven’t seen before.