Warner Bros. has officially named Mads Mikkelsen the new Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3, replacing the departing Johnny Depp, who appeared as Grindelwald in both Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Depp resigned from the Fantastic Beasts franchise after he lost a libel trial against the Rupert Murdoch-owned British newspaper, The Sun, at the beginning of November. The Fantastic Beasts actor had filed the suit after the tabloid repeated claims by Depp's ex-wife, Aquaman star Amber Heard, that the Pirates of the Caribbean star was physically abusive towards her during their tumultuous, short-lived marriage.
Mikkelsen recently downplayed the reports that he would be joining Fantastic Beasts 3. "Oh, that is on the rumor basis as we speak," Mikkelsen said. "So I know as much as you do from the newspapers. So I'm waiting for that phone call."
Depp left the film a few days ago after Warner Bros. asked him to step down from the Grindelwald role. "In light of recent events, I would like to make the following short statement," Depp wrote on Instagram. "Firstly, 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. Secondly, I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request. Finally, I wish to say this. The surreal judgment of the court in the U.K. will not change my fight to tell the truth and I confirm that I plan to appeal. My resolve remains strong and I intend to prove that the allegations against me are false. My life and career will not be defined by this moment in time. Thank you for reading."
Depp's departure led to a delay for the film's release. Originally scheduled to debut on Nov. 12, 2021, Fantastic Beasts 3 will now premiere on July 15, 2022. The movie will take place several years after The Crimes of Grindelwald and will be partly set in Brazil.
Directed by David Yates and written by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, Fantastic Beasts 3 stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Ezra Miller and Jude Law. The film arrives in theaters July 15, 2022.
Source: The Wrap