Mads Mikkelsen Discusses Taking Over As Fantastic Beasts' Grindelwald
Mads Mikkelsen recently spoke about taking over the role of Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The third film in the Fantastic Beasts series and the 11th film in the Wizarding World franchise, which began with the Harry Potter films, this latest installment is set several years after its predecessor, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Set during the 1930s, the film sees Jude Law’s Albus Dumbledore assemble an eclectic group of allies in a bid to infiltrate Grindelwald’s growing army.
Originally played by Johnny Depp in the first two films in the series, Depp was sensationally let go from the role in November 2020. Reports indicated that Warner Bros. had concerns regarding the abuse allegations that had been leveled against him by ex-wife Amber Heard and was worried about how they would impact the film’s release and reception. Eventually, he was asked to resign, and despite only filming one scene, it is reported that Depp still received his full $16 million salary for the film, owing to the conditions laid out in his contract.
Related: Why Johnny Depp Was Recast As Grindelwald In Fantastic Beasts 3
Shortly after Depp’s departure, Mikkelsen, who is known for his roles in Hannibal, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Doctor Strange, was brought in to replace him. With the film finally arriving in theaters, the cast has been busy promoting their latest efforts. In an interview with Supanova Comic-con and Gaming, Mikkelsen spoke about the hurdles of joining the cast so late in the game, calling his introduction into the role "fast" and "swift." Check out his comments below:
Yeah, I was thrown into it a little later than the rest of the gang. I mean, they’d done two films and then they
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