Mads Mikkelsen took over the role of the Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore after Johnny Depp was asked to leave the franchise by Warner Bros. following his public divorce and legal battles with ex wife Amber Heard. After the Friday release of the movie, actor Mads Mikkelsen had addressed the replacement issue.
Mikkelsen told The Hollywood Reporter that he essayed his role of Grindelwald differently from what was portrayed by Johnny Depp in the earlier franchise of Fantastic Beasts. He said that he quickly watched the first two movies in the franchise and then read the script of The Secrets of Dumbledore.
The Danish actor said that he thought that it was a great story and he didn’t want to “copy anything” that Depp had done as it termed it as “creative suicide.” He said even if a role was perfect an actor wanted to make it “his own.” He acknowledged that a bridge had to be built between the present role and what came before it.
In the third film of the franchise, the team made a few changes. They toned down the platinum in Mikkelsen’s hair, when compared with the Johnny Depp version. They also changed the right eye of Grindelwald from albino to slightly reptilian. Both the changes in physical appearance were subtle ones and these changes were reflected in Mikkelsen’s subtle approach while essaying his interpretation of the Dark Wizard.
The Secrets team also made a decision that they would not mention the change in appearance of Grindelwald. Mikkelsen said that it was deliberate as everybody knew the backstory. He said that they wanted to draw in the audience from scene one and then they would accept the film.
The intense actor, who is currently one of the most popular on screen villains in several movies, also told the outlet that he tries “to make every single scene the most important scene I’ve ever done.” This acting prowess can be seen as he channels his unique version of Gellert Grindelwald, the Dark Wizard in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, now playing at a screen near you.
(Image Credit Tinseltown)
It’s Fantastic Friday and the magic is BACK. ✨ Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is NOW PLAYING only in theaters. Get tickets to see #SecretsOfDumbledore: https://t.co/T0uUlpXAM7 pic.twitter.com/1iOhMleakY
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