Mads Mikkelsen replaces Johnny Depp for third Fantastic Beasts movie
Mads Mikkelsen will replace Johnny Depp as the villainous dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the third Fantastic Beasts movie, Warner Bros. Pictures has announced in a statement.
Danish actor Mikkelsen, who has recently appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Hannibal, and Casino Royale, will play the dark wizard at the centre of the action in the Harry Potter prequels.
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Mads Mikkelsen attends the red carpet of the movie 'Druk' during the 15th Rome Film Festival on October 20, 2020 in Rome, Italy. NurPhoto via Getty Images
The movie, due for release on July 15, 2022, is currently in production at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, near London.
It also features Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler and Ezra Miller among many others.
Depp debuted as Grindelwald at the end of the first Fantastic Beasts movie, but played a much larger part in the second instalment, which charts the wizard's rise.
Johnny Depp in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Warner Bros
On November 6, Depp wrote in a statement posted on Instagram that he had been asked by Warner Bros. to resign from the role.
"I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request," he wrote.
A spokesperson for Warner Bros., which like CNN is owned by WarnerMedia, confirmed the news.
READ MORE: Why Warner Bros. finally cut ties with Johnny Depp
Earlier in the month, Depp lost a libel suit against the publisher of Britain's The Sun newspaper over the publication's claims that he was an abusive husband.
Depp referenced the decision in a statement announcing his departure and said he plans to continue his legal fight.
The first two Fantastic Beasts films were released in 2016 and 2018, respectively, and there will be five in total, according to creator JK Rowling.
