Mads Mikkelsen confirmed to replace Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts

It’s been reported that Mads Mikkelsen is confirmed to be taking over from Johnny Depp in the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

Johnny Depp recently revealed that he would be stepping down from the role at Warner Bros’ request, after he lost his court case against The Sun newspaper, which labeled him a ‘wife-beater’.

The actor shared the news in an Instagram post, thanking fans for their support throughout the trial.

Since his announcement, a lot of fans have gone on to defend Depp, sharing their frustration with #JusticeforJohnnyDepp across social media.

Mads Mikkelsen confirmed as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3

Speculation among fans and people involved in Fantastic Beasts saw Mikkelsen become a firm favorite to take over from Depp. After a few weeks of rumors and speculation, it’s now official.

Warner Bros. announced the news on November 25, confirming that Mikkelsen “has been cast as Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the third film.”

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Despite the recasting, the storyline is all set to continue forward and take audiences on an “all-new, globe-trotting adventure.”

When will the movie be released?

Following on from Depp’s announcement, it was revealed that the third movie in the franchise will be delayed until July 15, 2022.

This is likely due to them needing to shoot all-new scenes with the new star. That being said, Depp had only just begun shooting for the movie, which is currently in production, so reshoots shouldn’t take too long.

The movie was originally planned for November 2021.

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Unlike the original Harry Potter franchise, Fantastic Beasts hasn’t quite managed to captivate fans with its storyline or characters, yet there are at least another three movies to come out of the franchise.

With news of Depp’s departure, some have been threatening to boycott the next movie altogether. However, Mikkelsen’s previous work on Marvel’s Doctor Strange, Star Wars’ Rogue One, and, most recently, Chaos Walking, could mean new audiences are introduced to the franchise.

Either way, fans will have to wait a while longer to see the magical world return to the big screen, with two more years to go.