Following his dismissal from the role of Gellert Grindelwald earlier this month, Johnny Depp's replacement has officially been confirmed to be rumored top contender Mads Mikkelson, despite the actor himself dismissing such reports last week. Assuming everything else goes according to plan, Mikkelson may play Grindelwald not only in the upcoming third installment, which is already filming, but the anticipated fourth and fifth film of the Fantastic Beasts franchise.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, along with Depp's departure, the currently untitled third film is now set to release in theaters on July 15th, 2022, after previously holding a November 12th, 2021. This release pushback also had to do with original Harry Potter film scribe Steve Kolves returning to co-write the third film's script after J.K. Rowling's solo efforts in the first two Fantastic Beasts films were received far less than the Harry Potter films.
Fantastic Beasts 3 co-stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, and Jude Law. It is once again directed by David Yates.
Good actor. Boring franchise.