Mads Mikkelsen is officially replacing Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in the third Fantastic Beasts movie.
Despite Mikkelsen claiming recently it was just a ‘rumor’ the news was confirmed on Wednesday by Entertainment Weekly.
There were no further details in the report, but the move comes after Depp, 57, took to Instagram November 6, revealing he had ‘been asked to resign by Warner Bros.’ from the Grindelwald role, which he played in 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them and 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Production started on Fantastic Beasts 3 on September 20 in London, though the studio had waited to see how Depp’s defamation lawsuit against British tabloid The Sun
It also comes after news that Depp was denied permission to appear his ‘wife beater’ libel loss in the High Court, after they found a story that he beat ex-wife Amber Heard to be ‘substantially true.’
Meanwhile, Danish actor Mikkelsen was said to be the top choice of director David Yates, according to Deadline, as the sequel still remains on track to hit its summer 2022 release date.
Production started on Fantastic Beasts 3 on September 20 in London, though the studio had waited to see how Depp’s defamation lawsuit against British tabloid The Sun would pan out.
When a British judge ruled in favor of the publication – which Depp had sued for referring to him as a ‘wife-beater’ in regards to his relationship with ex-wife Amber Heard – Warner Bros. decided to sever ties with the veteran actor.
Depp had only shot one scene of the sequel, though his ‘pay-or-play’ contract allows him to keep the full $10 million he was paid for the role.
Taking over: Warner Bros. hasn’t wasted any time in replacing Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts movies, with Mads Mikkelsen eyed to take over the role
Resign: Depp took to Instagram revealing he had, ‘been asked to resign by Warner Bros.’ from the Grindelwald role, which he played in 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them and 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
The actor also has a defamation lawsuit against Heard in Virginia, which required the actor to be in court for three consecutive days in November, which would have also altered the Fantastic Beasts 3 shooting schedule.
The studio notified the production that Depp was taken off the schedule on November 5, according to The Hollywood Reporter, a day before Depp made his resignation public.
Re-cast: The studio released a brief statement shortly thereafter, indicating that the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be re-cast
The studio released a brief statement shortly thereafter, indicating that the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be re-cast.
‘Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beats franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date,’ the statement began.
‘Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theaters worldwide in the summer of 2022,’ the statement concluded.
Production: ‘Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theaters worldwide in the summer of 2022,’ the statement concluded
Slipping: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald slipped significantly, earning $159.5 million domestic and $654.8 million worldwide
Mikkelsen’s star has risen in recent years with key roles such as Hannibal Lecter on the TV show Hannibal, and Galen Erso in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Depp debuted as Grindelwald with a surprise cameo at the end of 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
He returned to star alongside Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander and Jude Law’s Albus Dumbledore in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
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