Following Johnny Depp’s controversial exit as Grindelwald in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts 3, reports have immediately circulated online about Warner Bros. Pictures potentially enlisting Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen to take Depp’s place as the third installment’s villain. However, it looks like casting negotiations haven’t taken place yet, with Mikkelsen claiming that his involvement is all just a rumor.
“Oh, that is on the rumor basis as we speak,” Mikkelsen said in a recent interview with IGN. “So I know as much as you do from the newspapers. So I’m waiting for that phone call.”
Even though the acclaimed Danish actor immediately denied his Grindelwald casting, it’s understandable if he is just trying to play coy about it, possibly due to the studio’s request for secrecy or because he’s still in the early stages of negotiations.
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Sources previously reported that David Yates, currently at work shooting the next installment in the Harry Potter prequel franchise, came up with a list of potential actors to replace Depp in the villainous role and that Mikkelsen was his first choice and now the studio is in early talks with the 54-year-old Danish star to take over the part. Depp was asked to depart due to his losing his lawsuit against a British tabloid for libel, but is reportedly still being paid his full salary for the film despite only having shot one day of film.
Fantastic Beasts 3 will again feature the return of Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein, Ezra Miller as Credence, Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore, and Jessica Williams as Professor Eulalie Hicks. Warner Bros. is currently recasting the role of Gellert Grindelwald following Depp’s exit.
The third installment will again be directed by David Yates from a screenplay written by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves. The third movie in the franchise is currently filming in the UK.
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The previous film in the Harry Potter prequel franchise, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, earned $653 million at the worldwide box office. The first two Fantastic Beasts movies were directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling, and produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, and Lionel Wigram.
Fantastic Beasts 3 is set to hit theaters on July 15, 2022.
