The new addition to the Fantastic Beast franchise, Mads Mikkelsen, has opened up on replacing Johnny Depp as the new dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
Recall that Depp stepped down after losing a libel case against UK news outlet, The Sun, that alleged he was abusive towards his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard.
Warner Bros., as a result, was forced to demand that the Pirates of the Caribbean star tender his resignation.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly on the new role and replacing Depp, Mikkelsen tells fans what to expect from him.
“Well it’s going to be me, so that’s a difference,” Mikkelsen quipped, then he got serious. “No, 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. 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.”
Asked about his reaction to landing the role, which came about under such dramatic circumstances, the Harry Porter actor said:
“Job wise, it’s obviously super interesting and nice,” Mikkelsen said. “It’s also a shocker that it came after what happened(Depp’s lawsuit loss), 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.”
Fantastic Beasts 3 will now be released on July 15, 2022.
