Johnny Depp does not play Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, and it should remain that way if Warner Bros decides to produce another JK Rowling-led Fantastic Beasts movie. Mads Mikkelsen replaces the former Pirates of the Caribbean actor in The Secrets of Dumbledore, who critics largely regard as one of the few elements that work in an otherwise underwhelming Harry Potter prequel. If a fourth Fantastic Beasts movie gets made, Mikkelsen should be its Grindelwald, as bringing Depp back would make the series feel even more disjointed.
Gellert Grindelwald appears in the conclusion of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them as Colin Farrell's Percival Graves is revealed to be Depp's Grindelwald in disguise. In the next movie, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Johnny Depp takes center stage, and Grindelwald gives Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) considerable trouble as he tries to ignite a muggle-wizard war. However, after controversies surrounding Johnny Depp caused Warner Bros to force him to step down from the project, the third film, The Secrets of Dumbledore, sees Mads Mikkelsen take on the role - looking and acting very different to Depp's more eccentric take on the character.
Bringing back Johnny Depp as Grindelwald for the fourth Fantastic Beasts movie is just about the worst and most confusing thing Warner Bros could do. Counting the reveal of Colin Farrell as Percival Graves in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this odd scenario would mark the fourth time the actor playing Grindelwald has changed between movies. While there is currently no indication that Warner Bros will cast Depp as Grindelwald again (despite some commenters on social media advocating his return), bringing Depp back would just make an already messy series even less consistent.
While some enjoy Depp's take on Grindelwald, there are some quarters that find it strange and more typical of the actor's zanier characters, such as his performances as Willy Wonka and the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton movies. However, this is not solely Depp's fault, as the design choices for the first version of Grindelwald are quite bizarre, with his shock-white hair and pale skin clashing with his appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. Having changed his look with Mads Mikkelsen's take on Grindelwald, it would be incredibly jarring to see Newt, Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) go up against the old, wackier Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 4 again.
Additionally, Mikkelsen is one of the few redeeming elements of The Secrets of Dumbledore, bringing a subtle darkness to the role that makes characters like Credence Barebone/Aurelius Dumbledore (Ezra Miller) feel palpably uneasy in his shadow. If there is to be a Fantastic Beasts 4, Mikkelsen stands alongside some of the best actors in the series, such as Jude Law, Eddie Redmayne, and Zoe Kravitz, and it would be a mistake to replace him. Despite what some online commentators desire, Warner Bros should not bring back Johnny Depp after his replacement has excelled as the Wizarding World's original dark wizard, Grindelwald. Mikkelsen's solid performance in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and the ridiculous move that would be re-casting Grindelwald prove that Depp should never be involved with the franchise again.