Summary

• Johnny Depp's controversial exit as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3 sparked major backlash and legal battles, leading to recasting with Mads Mikkelsen.
• Despite the criticism, Mads Mikkelsen's portrayal as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3 received positive reviews, overshadowing Johnny Depp's performance.
• Warner Bros. faced challenges with the franchise after Depp's departure, as recasting Grindelwald didn't lead to a significant box office boost.

Johnny Depp was recast as the Gellert Grindelwald actor for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, and the decision was controversial and headline-grabbing for multiple reasons. Depp's Grindelwald was first introduced at the end of 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them before the actor went on to star in the sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Since then, a combination of controversy and poor box office returns for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore ended the franchise after just three movies.

Grindelwald is in Fantastic Beasts 3, but he isn't played by Jonny Depp, with Mads Mikkelsen instead taking over as the Grindelwald Actor. While once among the biggest movie stars in the world, WB recast Jonny Depp as Grindelwald for Fantastic Beasts 3, thanks to the controversies and legal cases surrounding the actor. In particular, the allegations of domestic abuse made by his ex-wife Amber Heard, and the court ruling that followed, saw Depp exit Fantastic Beasts 3 and Mikkelsen step in. However, Jonny Depp's presence in the Harry Potter spinoff had been controversial since the start.

Johnny Depp Grindelwald Casting Backlash Explained

Public Allegations From Amber Heard Created Major Controversy Around The First Grindelwald Actor

Johnny Depp's casting as Gellert Grindelwald for Fantastic Beasts 2 was announced in November 2020, shortly before the release of the first movie. Even then, there was a backlash to the Johnny Depp Grindelwald casting. Amber Heard filed for divorce and took out a temporary restraining order against Depp in May 2020, alleging that the Grindelwald actor had been verbally and physically abusive towards her during their relationship.

Discussion around the Grindelwald actor continued to dominate coverage of Fantastic Beasts, with even some talk of a boycott.

Because of the allegations around Jonny Depp, there were many complaints over his presence in Fantastic Beasts, to the point that J.K. Rowling came out with a statement defending the decision. In a post published in December 2017 on JKRowling.com, the author wrote:

"...Around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise. Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role. As David Yates, long-time Potter director, has already said, we naturally considered the possibility of recasting. I understand why some have been confused and angry about why that didn’t happen... Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies."

While WB, Rowling, and director David Yates stuck behind the Johnny Depp casting, the backlash intensified in the lead-up to the second movie, titled Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, ensuring Depp's dark wizard played a very central role. Discussion around the Grindelwald actor continued to dominate coverage of Fantastic Beasts, with even some talk of a boycott. As reported by Digital Spy, Rowling herself admitted that

"There will be those who are not satisfied with our choice of actor in the title role."

Why WB Asked Johnny Depp To Resign From Fantastic Beasts 3

Ongoing Legal Disputes Led To Grindelwald Being Recast

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard settled in August 2016 and finalized their divorce in January 2017. This did not end the controversy though, nor that of the ongoing Johnny Depp role in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, despite him being confirmed to return for Fantastic Beasts 3. An April 2018 article published by The Sun referred to Depp as a "wife beater," which led to the actor suing the newspaper's parent company, News Group Newspapers (NGN), and The Sun's then-executive editor Dan Wooton, for libel.

The biggest reason why Depp left as the Grindelwald actor stemmed from the libel lawsuit against NGN.

The Grindelwald actor claimed that not only were Heard's allegations lies, but she had been the abuser in the relationship and had orchestrated a "hoax." Later that same year, it was reported Warner Bros. had concerns over how Depp's controversy would impact Fantastic Beasts 3, but the actor remained attached to the project through to the beginning of production in September 2020, filming one scene for the movie, before departing in November 2020.

The biggest reason why Depp left as the Grindelwald actor stemmed from the libel lawsuit against NGN. Despite Depp's claims, the court found in favor of NGN and Wooton. Their lawyers presented 14 separate incidents as evidence of abuse from Depp to Heard, and 12 were found to have passed the reasonable civil standard, meaning The Sun's report was found to have "substantial truth." Depp attempted to appeal the verdict but was unsuccessful.

Losing his libel lawsuit created, at the very least, a PR disaster for Warner Bros., as it meant other UK publications could refer to him in those same (or similar) terms. The optics, as well as moral obligations, of keeping him as the Grindelwald actor in Fantastic Beasts 3 were seemingly too much to bear. Depp technically wasn't fired from Fantastic Beasts 3, but he was asked to resign by WB, which he did.

As Variety reported, AT&T's merger with WarnerMedia also likely had an influence. This had already resulted in sweeping changes at WB, and their sources suggested reason for the major change:

"An overall lack of tolerance for the kind of controversy that every major studio has had to weather at one time or another when courting mercurial - but historically popular - talent like Depp."

As reported by THR, Depp was still paid his full salary — believed to be $16 million — despite only shooting one scene for the movie, as he had a "pay-or-play" contract, meaning he'd be paid regardless of whether the film happened or not.

What Happened To Johnny Depp After Being Recast

The Grindelwald Actor's Career Took A Notable Slump

Since leaving and being recast as the Grindelwald actor for Fantastic Beasts 3, Jonny Depp's movie roles largely dried up. Depp's only movie roles since leaving are City of Lies, which was filmed in 2016 and 2017 but was pulled from the release schedule in 2018 before eventually releasing in March 2021, and Minamata, which also filmed before the verdict in Depp's libel lawsuit and subsequent exit from Fantastic Beasts 3. Both films were small releases, with a combined box office take of less than $5 million.

Depp had reportedly been attached to a Harry Houdini TV show, led by producer Jerry Bruckheimer (with whom he worked on the Pirates of the Caribbean movies), but he is no longer involved. Likewise, Disney had already started to move on from Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, with a once-planned Margot Robbie-led reboot, despite a petition for Depp's Jack Sparrow to return. The actor, however, remains the face of Dior's Sauvage fragrance line.

The story between Depp and Heard might have come to an end after Depp sued Heard for defamation. This $50 million defamation suit Depp filed after Heard wrote an article in The Washington Post in 2018, headlined, "I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change." Depp wasn't directly mentioned, but the actor claims it severely damaged his reputation, with Heard then launching a countersuit.

Depp won the lawsuit against Heard, with the jury awarding him $10 million in damages. Heard won one claim in her countersuit for only $2 million. Both appealed the verdict, but they settled out of court with Heard agreeing to pay only $1 million, which Depp said he would donate to charity (via BBC News).

Who Replaced Johnny Depp As Grindelwald In Fantastic Beasts 3

Mads Mikkelsen Stepped In As The Grindelwald Actor For The Third Movie

Mads Mikkelsen replaced Depp as the Grindelwald actor for Fantastic Beasts 3, with the official casting confirmed in late November 2020. The Grindelwald actor is best known for playing the titular role in NBC’s Hannibal, as well as portraying Galen Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Kaecilius in Doctor Strange. Mikkelsen was almost immediately touted as one of the front-runners and eventually agreed to take over the role.

After being cast as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3, Mikkelsen said he’d wanted to speak to Depp about replacing him but “didn’t know him in that sense.” On the same topic, Mikkelsen added:

"I know it was controversial for many people, but that's just the way it plays out once in a while. I didn't want to copy what Johnny had done. I think he's a masterful actor, so copying him would've been creative suicide. I had to figure out something that was definitely my own, and yet also act as a bridge to what he had done. My take is different, and the look is a little different.”

Mikkelsen looks different in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, with the shock white hair mostly gone — save for one white stripe — and the different colored eyes seemingly changed as well, meaning his version is distinct from what came before, as WB and Fantastic Beasts look to move on from Johnny Depp.

Mads Mikkelsen Thinks Johnny Depp Might Return

The New Grindelwald Actor Hasn't Ruled Out The Original Coming Back

Mads Mikkelsen played the role of Gellert Grindelwald with aplomb, and his performance is one of the highlights of the third Fantastic Beasts film. However, the actor thinks Johnny Depp could return after winning his defamation case. While at a festival to win the Honorary Heart of Saravejo award, he spoke during the "Coffee With..." event about taking over the role — and the possibility of Johnny Depp's return:

"Obviously, well, now the course has changed—he won the suit, the court [case]—so let’s see if he comes back. He might. I’m a big fan of Johnny. I think he’s an amazing actor, I think he did a fantastic job."

However, this might not be the right choice for Warner Bros. People accepted Mads Mikkelsen's portrayal of the character. Despite the controversy surrounding Depp being resolved (for now), it doesn't mean that he'll be allowed to return as Grindelwald. After all, Mikkelsen's performance was highly praised and many thought he was a better fit for the part. Despite the Hannibal actor's statements, Depp will most likely not return to reprise his role as Grindelwald, and it's arguably for the better.

Recasting Grindelwald Didn't Help Fantastic Beasts

Dropping Jonny Depp Didn't Lead To A Box Office Boom

While Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore did do better than its predecessor, it received middling reviews and had a rough go at the box office. On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics' score is 46%, meaning it's certified rotten. However, it performed better among audiences, with an 83% score. On its opening weekend, the movie made $42.1 million, a far cry from the film's $200 million budget. Sadly, despite Mads Mikkelsen's critically successful performance, it wasn't enough to save Fantastic Beasts 3.

Warner Bros. chose not to continue with the production of the last two movies in the proposed five-movie series.

However, The Secrets of Dumbledore was able to make back its money when one considers the numbers from its worldwide release, which came in at $405.1 million. Either way, this is the second box office bungle that the Fantastic Beasts franchise has now made, with its predecessor being regarded as one of the worst Harry Potter franchise films of all time. The third movie ends with a duel between Grindelwald and Dumbledore, though it's certainly not the duel of legend.

Warner Bros. chose not to continue with the production of the last two movies in the proposed five-movie series. Instead, the company will create a new Harry Potter series on Max — a 10-season series that will re-tell the story of the Boy Wizard. This officially ends the Fantastic Beasts franchise midway through its story.

Grindelwald Wasn't The Only Recast Wizarding World Villain

Several Harry Potter Characters Have Been Recast

The Grindelwald actor wasn't the only Wizarding World villain to undergo a recast, as the character of Voldemort from Harry Potter has been played by five separate actors. While some of these actors represent him in different stages of life, the adult Voldemort was the one who faced a major recast after Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. When Voldemort was possessing Quirrell's body was played by veteran British actor Richard Bremmer (The 13th Warrior, Shanghai Nights, and Mr. Turner).

Johnny Depp wasn't the only actor to face a recast.

Voldemort became flesh in Goblet of Fire, and Ralph Fiennes took on the role. Fiennes stayed on as Voldemort for the remaining four Harry Potter movies and made the villain his own. Other actors who played Voldemort include Christian Coulson, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, and Frank Dillane. So, Johnny Depp wasn't the only actor to face a recast, but Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore turned out better for it.

Who Played Grindelwald Better?

Both Versions Of Grindelwald Were Incredibly Different

The big question whenever there's a major recasting becomes who played the best version of the character. Colin Farrell played Grindelwald in the first film, but as Grindelwald was in disguise, none of the character's trademarks were present, so he can be ruled out. Johnny Depp's turn as the villain in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was well-received. The film didn't get strong reviews, but a highlight for many was the performances of Depp as Grindelwald and Jude Law as Dumbledore.

The disappointment of the second film led to less hype for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Critical reception was better for the third outing and the main reason for that was Mads Mikkelsen. Several major reviews felt that he outperformed Depp. While figuring out the best Grindelwald actor is subjective, each brought their signature take on the character. Depp opted for a Grindelwald with more flair, while Mikkelsen was more intimidating and had strong chemistry with Law.

Key Release Dates

• 

  Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

  Release Date:

  2022-04-15