Johnny Depp Cast in Fantastic Beasts Sequel

Johnny Depp is set to join the cast of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchise, Deadline reports. The actor will have a co-starring role in the first Fantastic Beasts sequel, which is set to start filming early next year with David Yates at the helm.

Warner Bros. is keeping a tight lid on whom exactly Depp will be playing, but reports also indicate that the actor will have a brief cameo in the first installment, which is set to hit theaters on Nov. 18. Eddie Redmayne, who stars in the first installment, is set to reprise his role as Newt Scamander for the sequel(s).

One popular theory circulating online is that Depp will take on the role of Gellert Grindelwald, the famous dark wizard who rose to prominence around the time when these new films are set—a recent featurette suggests he will be the franchise’s antagonist. Depp is set to star in Murder on the Orient Express before shooting the Fantastic Beasts sequel, which is reportedly the second installment out of five films in the offing.