Actor Mads Mikkelsen is joining the cast of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them 3, replacing Johnny Depp's character of Gellert Grindelwald. Photo / Getty Images
Actor Mads Mikkelsen is joining the cast of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them 3, replacing Johnny Depp's character of Gellert Grindelwald.
The 55-year-old opened up about taking over the role, when Depp departed from the film franchise after losing his libel case against The Sun earlier this year.
The actor was first rumoured to take over the role in early November, but initially denied reports.
However, now that it has been confirmed, the actor has opened up about his new role.
"Well it's going to be me, so that's a difference," Mikkelsen shared in an interview with EW.
"This is the tricky part. We're still working it out. There has to be a bridge between what Johnny did and what I'm going to do. And at the same time, I also have to make it my own."
He added, "But also we have to find a few links [to the previous version of the character] and some bridges so it doesn't completely detach from what he's already masterfully achieved."
Mikkelsen also touched on the interesting circumstances in which he took over the part.
"Job-wise, it's obviously super interesting and nice," he shared. "It's also a shocker that it came after what happened, which is just super sad. I wish both of them the best. These are sad circumstances. I hope both of them will be back in the saddle again really soon."
After Depp's departure, Warner Bros released a statement and said, "Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise. We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theatres worldwide in the summer of 2022."
Mads Mikkelsen is best known for his role in Doctor Strange as Kaecilius, Hannibal and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Meanwhile, Johnny Depp will receive over $15 million for the latest Fantastic Beasts film despite only having filmed one scene before being booted from production.
Depp agreed to vacate his villain role in the Harry Potter prequel series after losing a libel suit against The Sun newspaper over being called a "wife-beater".
However, he will still receive his full salary for his work on the film due to a detail in his contract.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Depp has only filmed one scene for the film since production began in September, but due to his 'pay or play' contract – which is common with many A-list stars – he will be fully compensated whether or not the film is made or recast.
The next Fantastic Beasts entry was set to feature Depp, Jude Law and Eddie Redmayne with equal screen time, but with an eight-figure salary, Depp would have been the highest earner of the three. His high payday comes thanks to his box office track record in the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies, The Hollywood Reporter claims.
Doubt had been cast over Depp's future in the films since 2017, following his ex-wife Amber Heard's initial accusations of abuse. According to sources who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio wanted to allow due process to take its course before making a decision.
The 57-year-old actor reacted via social media, saying he had been "asked to resign by Warner Bros from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request".
He said, "I'd like to thank everybody who has gifted me with their support and loyalty.
"I have been humbled and moved by your many messages of love and concern, particularly over the last few days.
"Finally, I wish to say this.
"The surreal judgment of the court in the UK will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal."
Despite saying in 2017 that she was "happy" to have Depp continue in the role, Fantastic Beasts writer J.K. Rowling – who has a close working relationship with Warner Bros – did not push back on the move to cut the actor from the franchise this time around.
Rowling had written in a December 2017 statement: "Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies."
Depp lost his high-stakes libel case against The Sun newspaper, which had labelled him a "wife beater" over his volatile relationship with his former spouse.
At the end of an often lurid defamation trial in London's High Court, Judge Andrew Nicol found the newspaper's claims were "substantially true".
He said: "I have found that the great majority of alleged assaults of Ms Heard by Mr Depp have been proved to a civil standard.
"The claimant has not succeeded in his action for libel."
An amicable settlement was reached – but the terms remain confidential.