Mads Mikkelsen Breaks Silence Over Taking Over Grindelwald Role From Johnny Depp

Mads Mikkelsen is opening up about taking over Johnny Depp‘s role in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 3.

The 55-year-old actor stepped into the part after Johnny parted ways with the film and Warner Bros. after he lost his libel case against The Sun earlier this year.

Mads was first rumored to take over the role in early November, but then denied the reports. Now that it has been confirmed he would step in, the Hannibal actor is opening up about how the role will change a bit.

“Well it’s going to be me, so that’s a difference,” Mads shared in an interview with EW. “This is the tricky part. We’re still working it out. There has to be a bridge between what Johnny did and what I’m going to do. And at the same time, I also have to make it my own.”

He added, “But also we have to find a few links [to the previous version of the character] and some bridges so it doesn’t completely detach from what he’s already masterfully achieved.”

Mads also spoke about the circumstances in which he took over the part.

“Job wise, it’s obviously super interesting and nice,” he shared. “It’s also a shocker that it came after what happened, which is just super sad. I wish both of them the best. These are sad circumstances. I hope both of them will be back in the saddle again really soon.”

Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production and will be released July 14, 2022.