Actor Mads Mikkelsen, who has replaced Johnny Depp in upcoming film 'Fantastic Beasts' has said that he wished he could have spoke to Depp about playing dark wizard Grindelwald.&nbsp; 
 
Depp played the character in the previous two films of the popular franchise and was replaced in the third part after he lost a major libel suit relating to domestic abuse allegations by his former wife Amber Heard against a UK newspaper last November.&nbsp; 
 
In a recent interview Mikkelsen spoke about the film and stepping into Depp's shoes. The Danish star steered away from commenting on whether Depp losing the role was fair or not but mentioned that he would have loved to talk to the American actor about the character.&nbsp; 
 
"I mean, obviously, they were going to do the film, and obviously he was not involved any more. But I didn't have a dog in that fight. And I don't know what happened (in his private life), and I don't know if it was fair, him losing the job, but I just knew that the show was going on, and I would've loved to have talked to him about it if I had the chance, but I just don't know him in that sense," Mikkelsen, 55, told The Times.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-johnny-depp-to-get-full-salary-for-fantastic-beasts-3-despite-being-fired--342136">Johnny Depp to get full salary for 'Fantastic Beasts 3' despite being fired &nbsp;</a> 
 
Rumours of Mikkelsen playing Grindelwald started floating soon after it was reported that Depp had been asked to leave the project. A week after the reports surfaced online, Warner Bros Pictures confirmed his casting. 
 
Mikkelsen revealed the makers were in a 'hurry' to get the project going. 
 
"But they called me and they were obviously in a hurry, and I loved the script and so said yes. And I know it was controversial for many people, but that's just the way it plays out once in a while," he added. 
 
The actor reiterated that he wants to add his own touch to the character of Grindelwald while retaining a few links with how Depp played the role. 
 
"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," he said.

 
"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, but we'll have to wait for the film's release (next year) to find out," he added. 
 
Mikkelsen is currently working on 'Indian Jones 5'. Fronted by Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford, the fifth film in the popular action adventure franchise is set to be released in the summer of 2022.&nbsp;

'Fantastic Beasts' features Eddie Redmayne in the lead role and is based on JK Rowling's writing. It is part of the 'Harry Potter' universe.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-vanessa-paradis-to-amber-heard-a-look-at-johnny-depps-dating-history-312251">From Vanessa Paradis to Amber Heard: A look at Johnny Depp's dating history</a>

Actor Mads Mikkelsen, who has replaced Johnny Depp in upcoming film 'Fantastic Beasts' has said that he wished he could have spoke to Depp about playing dark wizard Grindelwald.

Actor Mads Mikkelsen, who has replaced Johnny Depp in upcoming film 'Fantastic Beasts' has said that he wished he could have spoke to Depp about playing dark wizard Grindelwald. Depp played the character in the previous two films of the popular franchise and was replaced in the third part after he lost a major libel suit relating to domestic abuse allegations by his former wife Amber Heard against a UK newspaper last November. In a recent interview Mikkelsen spoke about the film and stepping into Depp's shoes. The Danish star steered away from commenting on whether Depp losing the role was fair or not but mentioned that he would have loved to talk to the American actor about the character. "I mean, obviously, they were going to do the film, and obviously he was not involved any more. But I didn't have a dog in that fight. And I don't know what happened (in his private life), and I don't know if it was fair, him losing the job, but I just knew that the show was going on, and I would've loved to have talked to him about it if I had the chance, but I just don't know him in that sense," Mikkelsen, 55, told The Times. Johnny Depp to get full salary for 'Fantastic Beasts 3' despite being fired Rumours of Mikkelsen playing Grindelwald started floating soon after it was reported that Depp had been asked to leave the project. A week after the reports surfaced online, Warner Bros Pictures confirmed his casting. Mikkelsen revealed the makers were in a 'hurry' to get the project going. "But they called me and they were obviously in a hurry, and I loved the script and so said yes. And I know it was controversial for many people, but that's just the way it plays out once in a while," he added. The actor reiterated that he wants to add his own touch to the character of Grindelwald while retaining a few links with how Depp played the role. "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," he said. "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, but we'll have to wait for the film's release (next year) to find out," he added. Mikkelsen is currently working on 'Indian Jones 5'. Fronted by Hollywood veteran Harrison Ford, the fifth film in the popular action adventure franchise is set to be released in the summer of 2022. 'Fantastic Beasts' features Eddie Redmayne in the lead role and is based on JK Rowling's writing. It is part of the 'Harry Potter' universe. From Vanessa Paradis to Amber Heard: A look at Johnny Depp's dating history

Mads Mikkelsen on replacing Johnny Depp in 'Fantastic Beasts': I would've loved to talk to him about the character

It's been a month since actor Mads Mikkelsen was named as Johnny Depp's replacement in the 'Fantastic Beasts' series. Depp, who was ousted from the third film after he lost the libel case against a UK tabloid which had called him a wife beater, had famously played Grindelwald in the fantasy series based on JK Rowling's books.&nbsp; 
 
Mikkelsen, 55, spoke to Associated Press about the transition and admitted he had not spoken to Depp, 57, about the portraying the wizard villain.&nbsp; 
 
"No, I don’t know him. I met him once," Mikkelsen said. "I wish I had his phone number but unfortunately, that’s not the case." 
 
"The only approach I can have is to connect the bridge of what he did and what I'm going to do and we’ll see what it is," Mikkelsen added. 
 
In an interview to Entertainmnet Weekly a few weeks back, Mikkelsen has opened up about the differences between his and Depp's portrayals of Grindelwald. 
 
"Well it's going to be me, so that's a difference," he joked and added, "No, 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." 
 
Mikkelsen&nbsp;said he was hoping to make the two versions of the character connect. "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," Mikkelsen added.&nbsp; 
 
Mikkelsen will be the third actor to portray the wizard in the franchise. In the first installment, Colin Farrell played a disguised version of the villain while Depp appeared in the part in a small portion at the end of the first film. He had a full fledged role in the second film.&nbsp;

It's been a month since actor Mads Mikkelsen was named as Johnny Depp's replacement in the 'Fantastic Beasts' series. Depp, who was ousted from the third film after he lost the libel case against a UK tabloid which had called him a wife beater, had famously played Grindelwald in the fantasy series based on JK Rowling's books.

It's been a month since actor Mads Mikkelsen was named as Johnny Depp's replacement in the 'Fantastic Beasts' series. Depp, who was ousted from the third film after he lost the libel case against a UK tabloid which had called him a wife beater, had famously played Grindelwald in the fantasy series based on JK Rowling's books. Mikkelsen, 55, spoke to Associated Press about the transition and admitted he had not spoken to Depp, 57, about the portraying the wizard villain. "No, I don’t know him. I met him once," Mikkelsen said. "I wish I had his phone number but unfortunately, that’s not the case." "The only approach I can have is to connect the bridge of what he did and what I'm going to do and we’ll see what it is," Mikkelsen added. In an interview to Entertainmnet Weekly a few weeks back, Mikkelsen has opened up about the differences between his and Depp's portrayals of Grindelwald. "Well it's going to be me, so that's a difference," he joked and added, "No, 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." Mikkelsen said he was hoping to make the two versions of the character connect. "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," Mikkelsen added. Mikkelsen will be the third actor to portray the wizard in the franchise. In the first installment, Colin Farrell played a disguised version of the villain while Depp appeared in the part in a small portion at the end of the first film. He had a full fledged role in the second film.

Mads Mikkelsen did not speak to Johnny Depp about playing Grindelwald in 'Fantastic Beasts' series 

The gates to JK&nbsp;Rowling&#39;s wizarding world are set to re-open with &quot;Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,&quot; but the jury is still out on whether the five-movie spinoff will conjure up the magic that turned &quot;Harry Potter&quot; into a global entertainment phenomenon.

With no best-selling books this time around, &quot;Fantastic Beasts,&quot; featuring a story penned by Rowling, will test if the young audience that drove eight Potter films to gross $7 billion worldwide for Warner Bros, will turn out for a film set 70 years before Harry Potter first entered Hogwarts school.

Set in New York City in 1926, the film that will be released worldwide on Nov. 18 holds big potential. If successful, it could dramatically expand the Potter brand of books, toys, costumes and theme parks as Rowling geographically extends a magical world previously confined to the United Kingdom.

&quot;Spin-offs are usually rip-offs, but in this case, with J.K. Rowling attached, I think it&#39;s a great idea,&quot; said Jeff Bock, senior box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations.

Ten days ahead of release, with no reviews yet, Bock and other analysts are predicting a $75 million-$100 million opening weekend for the movie in North America - about half the gross for the last Potter movie in 2011.

Published in 2001, &quot;Fantastic Beasts&quot; began life as a slim textbook, belonging to Harry Potter, listing imaginary creatures and illustrated with basic pen and ink drawings.

Warner Bros later approached Rowling to turn the book into a movie. She came up with a story that centers on actor Eddie Redmayne&#39;s Newt Scamander, a &quot;magizoologist&quot; whose case full of creatures escapes.

The new story was welcomed by longtime Potter producer David Heyman and director David Yates.

&quot;Sure, you don&#39;t have the security of having 150 million people having read the books. But the advantage of people not knowing the story, not being upset when something is left out, is a gift,&quot; Heyman said.

Hogwarts, Grindelwald and Dumbledore

Little is known about the four future films, or how they will link up to the original Harry Potter stories. But Rowling has said they will trace the rise of a powerful dark wizard named Gellert Grindelwald, who was famous in the Potter world for dueling beloved Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in 1945.

&quot;As the series develops, the connective tissue with the (Harry Potter books) will become more overt and explicit,&quot; Heyman said.

Just as the Potter movies, &quot;Fantastic Beasts&quot; showcases Rowling&#39;s imagination, from typewriters tapping away by themselves to computer-generated creatures like the mischievous Niffler or the rhinoceros-like Erumpent.

But the darker storyline and a cast of little-known actors playing adult characters could limit its appeal to families.

&quot;Now they are catering to an older demographic with this new franchise, will it really feed into that family market base?&quot; Bock said.

For Yates, the biggest appeal of &quot;Fantastic Beasts&quot; is Rowling herself. &quot;You don&#39;t need big movie stars if you have J.K. Rowling. Her stories are the star,&quot; he said.

While there is no novel tie-in, a book version of Rowling&#39;s screenplay is currently 12th on the Amazon.com best- sellers list ahead of its release next week.

Publishers Scholastic Inc, are releasing a series of related books and character guides but the original &quot;Fantastic Beasts&quot; will not be reissued until March 2017, said Ellie Berger, president of Scholastic&rsquo;s Trade division.

Whether there will be books to accompany future films will depend on Rowling.

&quot;She is a master storyteller and she does create this world, so when she&#39;s ready to have that exist in a book, that&#39;s when she comes to us,&quot; Berger said.

(Reuters)

The film will be released worldwide on Nov. 18 and is set in New York 70 years before Harry Potter first entered Hogwarts

The gates to JK Rowling's wizarding world are set to re-open with "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," but the jury is still out on whether the five-movie spinoff will conjure up the magic that turned "Harry Potter" into a global entertainment phenomenon. With no best-selling books this time around, "Fantastic Beasts," featuring a story penned by Rowling, will test if the young audience that drove eight Potter films to gross $7 billion worldwide for Warner Bros, will turn out for a film set 70 years before Harry Potter first entered Hogwarts school. Set in New York City in 1926, the film that will be released worldwide on Nov. 18 holds big potential. If successful, it could dramatically expand the Potter brand of books, toys, costumes and theme parks as Rowling geographically extends a magical world previously confined to the United Kingdom. "Spin-offs are usually rip-offs, but in this case, with J.K. Rowling attached, I think it's a great idea," said Jeff Bock, senior box office analyst at Exhibitor Relations. Ten days ahead of release, with no reviews yet, Bock and other analysts are predicting a $75 million-$100 million opening weekend for the movie in North America - about half the gross for the last Potter movie in 2011. Published in 2001, "Fantastic Beasts" began life as a slim textbook, belonging to Harry Potter, listing imaginary creatures and illustrated with basic pen and ink drawings. Warner Bros later approached Rowling to turn the book into a movie. She came up with a story that centers on actor Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander, a "magizoologist" whose case full of creatures escapes. The new story was welcomed by longtime Potter producer David Heyman and director David Yates. "Sure, you don't have the security of having 150 million people having read the books. But the advantage of people not knowing the story, not being upset when something is left out, is a gift," Heyman said. Hogwarts, Grindelwald and Dumbledore Little is known about the four future films, or how they will link up to the original Harry Potter stories. But Rowling has said they will trace the rise of a powerful dark wizard named Gellert Grindelwald, who was famous in the Potter world for dueling beloved Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in 1945. "As the series develops, the connective tissue with the (Harry Potter books) will become more overt and explicit," Heyman said. Just as the Potter movies, "Fantastic Beasts" showcases Rowling's imagination, from typewriters tapping away by themselves to computer-generated creatures like the mischievous Niffler or the rhinoceros-like Erumpent. But the darker storyline and a cast of little-known actors playing adult characters could limit its appeal to families. "Now they are catering to an older demographic with this new franchise, will it really feed into that family market base?" Bock said. For Yates, the biggest appeal of "Fantastic Beasts" is Rowling herself. "You don't need big movie stars if you have J.K. Rowling. Her stories are the star," he said. While there is no novel tie-in, a book version of Rowling's screenplay is currently 12th on the Amazon.com best- sellers list ahead of its release next week. Publishers Scholastic Inc, are releasing a series of related books and character guides but the original "Fantastic Beasts" will not be reissued until March 2017, said Ellie Berger, president of Scholastic’s Trade division. Whether there will be books to accompany future films will depend on Rowling. "She is a master storyteller and she does create this world, so when she's ready to have that exist in a book, that's when she comes to us," Berger said. (Reuters)

Will 'Fantastic Beasts' conjure up 'Harry Potter's' global magic?

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