Johnny Depp took on a secret role in Fantastic Beasts — and caused a backlash in the process. Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Just weeks before the film’s release, Depp was revealed to have a top-secret supporting role as Gellert Grindelwald, a dark wizard who is one of the most dangerous wizards of all time and would be second only to Voldemort in the Potter universe.

Director David Yates told Screenrant that, while they had cast Depp in the role before his ugly marriage split to model Amber Heard and allegations of spousal abuse earlier this year, they stood by their choice in the wake of the scandal.

Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston star in Fantastic Beasts - as does Johnny Depp, as it turns out.Source:Warner

“The whole principal of casting the movie was go for the best actor; go for the most inspired, interesting, right fit for that character. As we started to approach Grindelwald, we thought, ‘Who’s going to take this in an interesting direction?’ In this business — it’s a weird old business — you’re a star one week, people are saying odd things the next, but no one takes away your pure talent,” Yates said.

“Johnny Depp is a real artist and he’s created several characters who have really resonated in our popular culture. He’s a really brilliant, brilliant actor and we were excited about seeing what he would do with this kind of character. He’s fearless, he’s imaginative, he’s ambitious. We thought he’d do something fun and special. So we went for him purely on that selfish basis, we don’t care if he’s famous or not famous, we just know he’s interesting.”

While he’s previously been one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors with his starring role in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise, Depp’s stocks have fallen this year following his bitter public split from Heard.

Heard alleged in the court filing that an “inebriated and high” Depp had thrown her mobile phone at her, striking her cheek and eye during a fight.

Once one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors, Depp is now plagued by scandal. Picture: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, FileSource:AP

She also claimed the Edward Scissorhands star continued to attack her and only stopped when a friend, who Heard had texted asking for help, showed up at their home.

In court documents, Heard said she “lived in fear” of the Alice Through the Looking Glass actor.

Depp’s family, friends and former partners defended him against the allegations, while Heard’s supporters provided harrowing accounts of Depp’s alleged abuse.

Depp reportedly reached a $US7 million settlement with Amber Heard in one of Hollywood’s most acrimonious divorce battles. Heard announced she would donate her entire settlement from Johnny Depp to a pair of charities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Heard said the money to the ACLU was being given to help its efforts to combat violence against women.