Actors and Actresses ︎◆ Fantastic Beasts ︎◆ Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbledore

Mads Mikkelsen wants to create his version of Grindelwald without erasing Johnny Depp’s work

Chosen to replace Johnny Depp as Gerardo Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts, actor Mads Mikkelsen wants to create his own version of the character, but with respect to the interpretation of his predecessor, so that the viewer does not feel the change abruptly when watching the third film in the franchise.

The dynamics of how this will be done, however, is still unclear. That’s what Mads Mikkelsen told Entertainment Weekly while rebutting his new film, Another Round, a Danish drama with no preview of its debut in Brazil.

“That’s the tricky part.” We’re still working on how it’s going to be done. There’s got to be a bridge between what Johnny Depp’s already done and what I’m going to do. I have to turn the paper into something of mine, but we have to find connections [com a outra interpretação] so it doesn’t look so different from what Depp has done wonderfully well,”he said.

Mads Mikkelsen replaces Johnny Depp as Grindelwald
Mads Mikkelsen replaces Johnny Depp as Grindelwald

Grindelwald replacement

Mikkelsen was hired after Depp left the role at the request of Warner Bros. The actor received the invitation with enthusiasm, while being saddened by the circumstances that led to him being hired.

“I wish you both the best. These are sad circumstances. I hope the two will be back in new work very soon,”Mikkelsen said, referring to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, who were embroiled in a lengthy court battle following mutual accusations of domestic violence.

Who is the new Grindelwald

Mads Mikkelsen is a 54-year-old Danish actor. On stage since 1996, he is considered one of the main personalities of contemporary cinema in Denmark. Mikkelsen collects awards and, in 2012, won the most important of his career, the Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for the film The Hunt.

Mads Mikkelsen, the new Grindelwald
Mads Mikkelsen, the new Grindelwald

Mikkelsen played the James Bond antagonist in 007: Casino Royale (2006), a role that led him to international fame, and Doctor Strange’s villain (2016), Kaecilius. His participation as the serial killer protagonist of the television series Hannibal (2013–2015) also garnered fans and industry recognition.

In his new film, Another Round,Mads plays a Danish teacher, who decides to test a theory with his co-workers: that of life is better if you spend the whole day a little drunk.

Johnny Depp’s exit

Despite leaving the role of Grindelwald, Johnny Depp isexpected to receive his full salary of about $10 million for the third film in the Fantastic Beastsfranchise, for which he filmed only one scene.

After the actor’s departure, the premiere of the third Fantastic Beasts was postponed. The film was scheduled to hit theaters in November 2020, but was rescheduled for November 2021 and now for July 2022.

Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts
Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures/Disclosure)

Fantastic Beasts 3 was scheduled to be filmed from March 2020. Pre-production and testing had already been completed, but the coronavirus’s arrival in England halted production.

Months later, with permission from the British health authorities,filming began on September 20, 2020,without official announcement by Warner Bros. Pictures, just as it happened with The Batman.

The Hollywood Reporter also reported that Depp’s departure will not cause changes in the filming schedule, as the studio was already climbing Mikkelsen to the role.

Johnny Depp wanted Amber Heard in the role of Queenie
Queenie Goldstein, played by Alison Sudol, on Fantastic Beastposters

Fantastic Beasts 3

Mads Mikkelsen will act alongside Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander), Katherine Waterston (Tina Goldstein), Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein), Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski), and Jude Law as interpreter for Professor Albus Dumbledore, Grindelwald’s rival.

Written by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, Fantastic Beasts 3 is directed by David Yates. The film will have scenes set in Rio de Janeiro and Berlin, capital of Germany.

Johnny Depp alongside Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law
Johnny Depp (Grindelwald) alongside Eddie Redmayne (Newt) and Jude Law (Dumbledore) in fantastic beastposter (Image: Warner Bros. Pictures/Disclosure)

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