Despite the decidedly mixed reviews, one thing many critics can agree on about the upcoming “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is that writer J.K. Rowling has taken the time to put a little bit of the current-day political climate in this chapter of the Wizarding World. So, it comes as no surprise that when actress Zoe Kravitz is asked about the film, the topic of the current political situation is brought up.
In a new interview with the LA Times, Kravitz is asked the typical questions that actresses encounter regarding #MeToo, Time’s Up, and the like. Except, in this case, those questions are posed to Kravitz because of the surprising political nature of ‘Fantastic Beasts’ and the fact that much of the political metaphor surrounds the character of Grindelwald, played by the controversial Johnny Depp.
READ MORE: Johnny Depp Wants To Remake ‘Titanic’ In A Bathtub And Has A Solution To Terrorism
So, when Kravitz is asked if she believes that the villainous character is a metaphor for President Trump, she replied, “I think it could be Trump. I think it could be Hitler. … I think this film is incredibly timely and relevant, and what’s so interesting to me about Grindelwald and how Johnny plays him is there’s something seductive about what he’s saying. It’s not just, ‘OK, that’s the bad guy.’ You want to lean in and listen to him, and everyone you’re meeting in the film has to make a choice about who they are and what they believe in.”
Kravitz continues, “I think we are in that time right now in the world where people need to make a choice. Show up, vote, speak to your family members about white supremacy. I hope that people will leave the film feeling encouraged to make the decisions to take that leap.”
Of course, bringing up Johnny Depp’s role in the film leads to the controversy surrounding his casting, which was supported by Warner Bros. and Rowling. Kravitz admits that she was “stoked” to work with Depp and explains why she doesn’t want to really discuss his situation, which includes alleged domestic violence against his ex-wife Amber Heard.
“I don’t think that’s any of my business. And I also believe in second chances for certain people, depending on what we’re talking about. But I’m not the head of casting at Warner Bros. I’m here to do my job; he’s here to do his job,” said the actress.
However, when she continues her answer, Kravitz compares the situation with Johnny Depp with what controversy surrounds Woody Allen. And in doing so, the actress explains why Allen films probably won’t be in her future.
READ MORE: Javier Bardem Defends Woody Allen Once Again: “I Don’t Agree With The Public Lynching”
She continued, “I wouldn’t work with Woody Allen, but I also don’t think Woody Allen would want to have me in his films because he doesn’t put people of color in his films and they’re all set in New York City. The melting pot of the world, and there’s no black people.”
This all leads to the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ actress explaining how she decides which people she works with, especially in today’s Hollywood, where many directors and actors have found themselves in a ton of controversy.
“I think it’s a case by case thing, and I think it should be a case by case thing. Forgiveness should be a part of this movement, depending again on who we’re talking about. Someone like Harvey Weinstein, I think he’s past the point of forgiveness,” she explains.
As mentioned, Kravitz will next be seen in the film “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” which hits theaters on November 16.