The past few weeks have brought with it a number of unexpected changes for the upcoming Fantastic Beasts sequel, as Johnny Depp announced that he would be stepping away from his role as Gellert Grindelwald at the request of Warner Bros., sparking rumors that Mads Mikkelsen would take on the role. , only for the studio to confirm that the Hannibal and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story actor was officially taking on the role. Following confirmation of the casting decision, Mikkelsen has weighed in on the matter, expressing his excitement at the opportunity to take on the role, but also the disappointing set of circumstances that led to the decision.
“As for the job, it’s obviously very interesting and enjoyable,” Mikkelsen shared with Situation Entertainment Weekly . “It’s also a surprise that it happened after what happened, which is super sad. I wish you both the best. These are sad circumstances. I hope they will both be back in the saddle very soon.
Depp debuted as Grindelwald in 2016 with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them , the same year his then-wife Amber Heard made allegations about him regarding domestic abuse. The pair would officially separate, resulting in a series of lawsuits, while Depp reprized the role in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018. Due to Heard’s claims, many fans have expected to see Depp walk away from the franchise. , despite the fact that the studio and the creator of the franchise support their casting decisions.
While the specific details of these allegations were not directly mentioned in Depp or the studio’s statements, Mikkelsen’s comments surely imply that these disputes led Depp to leave the franchise.
This won’t be the first time an actor from the Wizarding World franchise has taken on a role, as Richard Harris played Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films, and his passing required actor Michael Gambon to inherit the role for subsequent films. . However, with Dumbledore sporting a large beard, the transition was not that noticeable to some audiences.
“Well, it’s going to be me, so that’s the difference,” Mikkelsen joked about what fans can expect from his version of the character.
However, it will be difficult to find a narrative explanation for the actor taking on the role and at the same time honoring the foundation he laid for Grindelwald.
No, this is the hard part. We’re still figuring it out, ”Mikkelson confirmed. 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 mine. But we also have to find some links [to the previous version of the character] and some bridges so that it does not completely separate from what it has already masterfully achieved «.
