Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them opens this Friday. I’m looking forward to it and early reviews are incredible. As we learned last week, Johnny Depp will be featured in the sequel as Dumbledore’s rival, Gellert Grindelwald. Personally, I had no idea Depp was anywhere near the franchise and it sounds like it was planned to be kept a secret. So was his involvement played down for a reason? Did they want a big reveal right before opening or was there some concern given Amber Heard’s allegations of abuse? And with those allegations out there, how does outspoken social activist J.K. Rowling feel about his appearing in one of her films? I can’t answer the first question for you but J.K. was asked the second at the film’s premiere last Thursday.

Johnny Depp’s talent is indisputable.

But, given the allegations lodged against him earlier this year, he also comes with baggage. So, when it was revealed that Depp briefly appears in Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—as Gellert Grindelwald, no less—many Harry Potter fans voiced their disapproval.

E! News caught up with the one and only J.K. Rowling at the movie’s red carpet premiere in New York Thursday, where she explained why only Depp could play Albus Dumbledore’s rival (described in the Harry Potter novels as one of the “most dangerous dark wizards of all time”).

“I didn’t approach him—although he was approached with my full blessing, because I thought he’d be amazing in the part. I can’t say much, because there are surprises in the movie, but I’m really happy with his performance,” the screenwriter teased. “And I think the fans will be, too.”

Speaking of Dumbledore, Rowling revealed she has an actor in mind for the sequel.

“I have, of course, thought about this. I do have a name. I do have someone in mind, but I can’t say it. Because if that person doesn’t get cast, then the person who does get cast will blame me forever for having said it, won’t they?” Rowling told E! News. “So, I’m going to just keep quiet.”

“If it is that person,” she added, “then you will know about it.”

[From E! News]

Okay, so she doesn’t really answer anything other than she thinks he did a good job and that she gave her blessing to approach him. Johnny filmed his bit in Fantastic Beasts in January of this year and Amber made the abuse claims public in May, so maybe they felt stuck with him? It sounds like they are fully backing him, though. The director David Yates and producer David Heyman came out much stronger on their endorsement of Depp based on talent. Yates even went into this weird little monologue about how odd Hollywood is that, “it’s a weird old business — you’re a star one week, people are saying odd things the next”. No. One week your childhood crush is separating from his wife and the next it’s revealed that he’s abusive. That’s not quirky Hollywood, that’s overlooking criminal behavior. There isn’t much J.K. can do if the studio is staying with Johnny, I know, but I am still a little disappointed in her heralding him.

However, J.K. is also touting the film’s star, Eddie Redmayne. Now Eddie I can get behind because I love all of his extra-ness. Kaiser covered his appearance on Graham Norton. And when a fan gave him their homemade “beast” on the premiere’s red carpet, he wore it in his pocket. For promo for the film, Annie Leibovitz photographed some of the stars for Vogue, those photos are below. Grace Coddington styled them – I adore her work. Colin Farrell is not in them, which is a crime against humanity, but they are still great photos.

Photo credit: Annie Leibovitz/Vogue and WENN and FameFlynet Photos