Depp will earn $10m despite firing

Actor Johnny Depp will earn over $10 million despite being asked to resign from the 3rd 'Fantastic Beasts' film. The actor had reportedly filmed just one single scene as the villainous Gellert Grindelwald before his legal troubles forced Warner Bros to sever ties with him.

The other day, a UK court dismissed his defamation suit against a newspaper, which had described him as a 'wife-beater'. This enables for more publications to use similar language against the actor later on, resulting in a potentially problematic situation for the studio and the star. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros was waiting for the due procedure for regulations to play out before making a decision on Depp's future in the Harry Potter spin-off series, the third installment which has been filming in the UK since September.

But a 'pay-or-play' clause in Depp's contract means that the actor gets his upfront salary whether or not or not he's even a part of the film. The report notes, "Like many A-list stars, Depp had a so-called pay-or-play contract, which requires that he be fully compensated set up the film is made and even if it is recast. As is normal with stars of his level, there is no morality clause in his contract, though it was amended with each new installment. Technically, Depp had not been fired by Warner Bros. but asked to resign. It really is unclear what recourse it could experience if the star refused."