Mads Mikkelsen eyed to take over for Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts movies
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.
Depp, 57, took to Instagram last Friday, 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.
Mikkelsen is said to be the top choice of director David Yates, according to Deadline, with the sequel still on track to hit its summer 2022 release date.
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, 57, took to Instagram last Friday, 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.
When a British judge ruled in favor of the publication, who 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 Depp.
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.
Producction: 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
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.
The studio released a brief statement shortly thereafter, indicating that the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be re-cast.
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.
Depp debuted as Grindelwald with a surprise cameo at the end of 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
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
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.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them earned $234 million domestic and $814 million worldwide during its theatrical run.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald slipped significantly, earning $159.5 million domestic and $654.8 million worldwide.
Slipping: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald slipped significantly, earning $159.5 million domestic and $654.8 million worldwide