Fantastic Beasts 3: Mads Mikkelsen officially replaces Johnny Depp

Mads Mikkelsen has officially replaced Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts 3.

Deadline has reported that Warner Bros. has confirmed this significant casting change for the film franchise. Earlier reports were that Mikkelsen was on the top of the list of director David Yates for the character of the Dark Wizard Grindelwald. The role was previously played by Johnny Depp in the first two of the five-movie series: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Depp was asked by Warner Bros to withdraw from the role after he lost a protracted legal battle he against a British tabloid for describing him as a “wife beater” in articles that covered his controversial marriage to Amber Heard (Aquaman). But the judge ruled in favor of the newspaper. Depp reportedly was then asked to leave after shooting one day on the film despite having a five-picture deal. And Warner Bros. has then been scrambling to find a replacement for him. While several actors were considered, Mikkelsen was always a top contender.

Fantastic Beasts 3  will see the return of main cast members Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander along with Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Callum Turner, William Nadylam, Poppy Corby-Tuech, Jessica Williams, Victoria Yeates, and  Jude Law playing young Dumbledore.

Yates will direct from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, who will also produce alongside David Heyman, Lionel Wigram and Tim Lewis, while Neil Blair, Danny Cohen, Josh Berger and Courtenay Valenti will serve as executive producers.

Mikkelsen is a fantastic actor who has starred as the titular character in Hannibal and has also been seen in various big films like Casino Royale, Doctor Strange, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He will be seen next in Chaos Walking starring alongside Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley.

Fantastic Beasts 3 was originally scheduled to be released on November 12, 2021 but this has been changed to summer 2022.