A lot of people were saddened with Depp’s exit in the movie franchise but some were equally excited to see how the Danish actor would fare as the dark wizard.
But at the back of Mikkelsen’s mind, he wished he had done something before taking on the role.
“I don’t know if it was fair”
In an interview with The Sunday Times, the actor says he wished he could have spoken to Depp about replacing him ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’.
"I mean, obviously, they were going to do the film, and obviously he was not involved any more," Mikkelsen said.
"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.”
"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,"
The ‘Hannibal’ star says he will give his own take of Grindelwald and try not to copy what Depp has done as it would be considered “creative suicide”.
Depp was forced to resign from the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise after he lost his libel lawsuit against a British tabloid that branded him as a “wife beater” in regards to his messy divorce with Amber Heard.
It’ll be awhile until we get to see this ‘new’ Grindelwald as ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ is slated for release on 15 July 2022.