Tag: Gellert Grindelwald

Posted on in Film News

Mads Mikkelsen Officially Playing Franchise Villain Grindelwald In ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ and Beyond

In an official press release from Warner Bros., they have confirmed that Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Casino Royale, Hannibal, Doctor Strange) has replaced Johnny Depp as the Fantastic Beasts franchise villain Gellert Grindelwald. Depp announced his forced resignation of the role on social media and this led to a Deadline report that placed Mads as director David Yates’ top contender to fill the part.

Filming is already underway on Fantastic Beasts 3 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford, England.

He joins fellow cast members Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Callum Turner, William Nadylam, Poppy Corby-Tuech, Jessica Williams, Victoria Yeates, and Jude Law.

The studio is also developing Fantastic Beasts 4 and Fantastic Beasts 5. We have to assume that Mikkelsen will be playing the role in those films as well.

Fantastic Beasts 3 will be released on July 15th, 2022.

SOURCE: WARNER BROS.

Posted on in Film News

‘Doctor Strange’ Actor Mads Mikkelsen In Talks To Replace Johnny Depp As The Villain of ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’

Deadline reports that Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen (Doctor Strange, Casino Royale) in talks with Warner Bros. to take the role of Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3, replacing Johnny Depp. Mads being director David Yate’s choice to take the role.

Put Mads Mikkelsen atop the list of actors being considered to replace Johnny Depp in the David Yates-directed Fantastic Beast 3, the third installment of the Harry Potter spinoff based on the JK Rowling fantasy franchise. Sources said he is Yates’ choice to play Grindelwald and he is in early talks.

Mikkelsen is no stranger to playing villains including the iconic Hannibal Lecter in the series Hannibal and feels like an organic casting choice for The Potterverse. It’ll be interesting to see if this version of the villain would be taking visual cues from Depp’s incarnation or if they’ll try something a bit different.

Johnny Depp announced his forced exit from the franchise via Instagram likely connected to the ruling against him in his libel case against The Sun. However, despite only shooting a single scene will be reportedly payed $10 million by the studio as part of his pay or play deal.

Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently filming in London and is expected to be released on July 15th, 2022.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

Johnny Depp Officially Resigns Grindelwald Role In ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ – WB Will Recast

Johnny Depp won’t be in Fantastic Beasts 3 after all, the actor took to his Instagram account to make a public statement about the studio asking him to resign the role of villain Gellert Grindelwald.

You can read Johnny’s post below.

The studio is said to be looking to recast the role as filming has been underway at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford, England making it a little difficult to pivot to a new villain given how Grindelwald was being lined-up to be a baddie in the next three films.

Colin Farrell had played a version in the first installment before morphing into Johnny Depp and we’ll keep our fingers crossed they’ll go back to him, given how much hype the Irish actor is getting for playing The Penguin in The Batman with heavy special effects makeup.

It feels like Warner Bros. was waiting on the results of Johnny Depp’s libel court case against The Sun (concerning articles calling him a “wife beater”) before making any concrete calls, Depp had recently lost that trial and alludes in his statement to that being a reason for the exit.

There has also been some behind the scenes chatter that Depp will also be removed from Disney’s Pirates of The Caribbean franchise as well, despite two separate projects in the works from the studio.

Warner Bros. has also had to deal with multiple anti-trans comments from Fantastic Beasts franchise screenwriter and Harry Potter author/creator J.K. Rowling, the writer sticking to guns and seemingly inflaming upset fans by doubling-down on that transphobia.

Rowling and director David Yates had previously stood by Depp.

SOURCE: JOHNNY DEPP