TV Article Fantastic Beasts: Johnny Depp cast in Harry Potter spinoff, sequel The actor also has a cameo in the first film By Will Robinson Published on November 1, 2016 12:00PM EDT Photo: Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images; Jaap Buitendijk Johnny Depp is joining the wizarding world. The actor has been cast in the sequel to the upcoming Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, EW has learned. Depp, whose role is being kept under lock and key for now, also makes a brief cameo in the first Fantastic Beasts movie. Fantastic Beasts, which is directed by Potter vet David Yates, stars Eddie Redmayne as adventurer Newt Scamander and is set 70 years before the events of J.K. Rowling’s beloved book series. Rowling announced last month there would be five total movies in the spin-off series; Yates is set to direct the first sequel. Fantastic Beasts opens Nov. 18. Deadline first reported the news.