Johnny Depp is addressing the controversy surrounding his casting in J.K. Rowling's "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" for the first time.

The Oscar-winning actor takes on the lead of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the sequel after making a cameo in the 2016 film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." But his selection for the role was met with mixed reactions from fans after allegations of physical abuse surfaced from his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

"The fact remains I was falsely accused," Depp said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly Thursday. "I’m suing the Sun newspaper for defamation for repeating false accusations."

Related: Daniel Radcliffe discusses the backlash against Johnny Depp's 'Fantastic Beasts' casting

Author J.K. Rowling defended Depp's casting last December, explaining why she thinks the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star should keep playing Grindelwald amid fan's concerns.

"Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies," she said on her website.

Depp expressed remorse for the position Rowling was placed in following the backlash, but said the famed author knows the truth.

"I’ll be honest with you, I felt bad for J.K. having to field all these various feelings from people out there. I felt bad that she had to take that," he told EW.

Depp continued: "J.K. has seen the evidence and therefore knows I was falsely accused, and that’s why she has publicly supported me. She doesn’t take things lightly. She would not stand up if she didn’t know the truth. So that’s really it."

Related: 'Fantastic Beasts' studio, J.K. Rowling defend casting of Johnny Depp amid backlash

Depp and Heard finalized their divorce in January, after less than two years of marriage. The pair met on the set of the 2011 film "The Rum Diary" and married in February 2015, but separated in May 2016.

Warner Bros., the production company behind "Fantastic Beasts," also backed Depp last year: "Based on the circumstances and the information available to us, we, along with the filmmakers, continue to support the decision to proceed with Johnny Depp in the role of Grindelwald in this and future films."

Director David Yates and producer David Heyman concurred.

This is not the only controversy swirling around "Fantastic Beasts" casting. South Korean actress Claudia Kim's role as Nagini, who transforms into Lord Voldemort's menacing pet snake, also has come under fire.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" is in theaters Nov. 16.

Contributing: Carly Mallenbaum

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