Mads Mikkelsen In Talks To Replace Johnny Depp In "Fantastic Beasts 3"

Main image via Warner Bros. & NBC

Fans were heartbroken after Johnny Depp announced that he has officially exited the Fantastic Beasts franchise and it looks like a replacement might be confirmed soon.

Doctor Strange star Mads Mikkelsen is reportedly in talks to replace Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3.

Mads is said to be director David Yates’ top choice to play the role and the director is working with Warner Bros. to lock him in for the role.

While many fans wanted to see Colin Farrell reprise his role as Grindelwald in his Percival Graves form in the first movie, unfortunately Colin is reportedly too busy with The Batman to return to the already-shooting sequel movie.

Johnny Depp was recently reported to still be receiving his full salary from Warner Bros. because he had filmed one scene for the movie before he was asked to resign from the role.

“Like many A-list stars, Depp had a so-called pay-or-play contract, which requires that he be fully compensated whether or not the film is made and even if it is recast,” The Hollywood Reporter wrote.

“As is common with stars of his level, there was no morality clause in his contract, even though it was amended with each new instalment.”

Shooting for Fantastic Beasts 3 has already begun with the cast led by Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law but the movie has confirmed to be delayed from its original November 2021 release to summer 2022.

"Johnny Depp will depart the Fantastic Beasts franchise," Warner Bros. previously wrote in a statement.

"We thank Johnny for his work on the films to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 is currently in production, and the role of Gellert Grindelwald will be recast. The film will debut in theatres worldwide in the summer of 2022."

Can you see Mads Mikkelsen play Grindelwald in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Let us know who you’d like to see recast for the role!

Info via Deadline