Footage fromFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledoreshowcases first looks at Mads Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald. The film is slated to be released on Jun 12, 2025, and will continue the prequel narrative of the belovedHarry Potterfranchise. The prequel is mainly detached from the original Wizarding World, presenting new characters and events for audiences to enjoy within a familiar atmosphere of magic. Gellert Grindelwald initially was played by Johnny Depp. He made appearances within the previous twoFantastic Beastsfilms but left the role vacant after some controversy forced him to step down.
Johnny Depp’s troublesome departure fromFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledorecreated a predicament since his character’s introduction within the previous film painted him as a significant antagonist in films to come.Colin Ferrell was thought to replace Deppto continue the progress of the narrative but became unavailable because of commitments made to Matt Reeves’s upcoming filmThe Batman. After weeks of rumors speculating his involvement in the project, Mads Mikkelsen’s confirmation for the role later rose to the surface. However, the footage of Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald remained relatively secretive, leaving many to wonder if his portrayal would somehow mimic what Depp was able to accomplish. Mikkelsen noted that a bridge between his and Depp’s version of the character would be a difficult path to traverse, but fans of the actor likely feel confident in his ability to tackle the opportunity successfully.
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Warner Bros. built excitementafter announcing the film’s 2022 release date, but more has assembled with the footage of a newFantastic Beast: The Secrets of Dumbeldoreteaser. Images tailored to the nostalgia of Harry Potter fans dominate a good portion of the footage, showcasing iconic scenes from past films and theHarry Potter and the Cursed ChildBroadway play to build excitement about the next step within the journey. The official trailer will not arrive until Monday, but some treats were shared, including Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald.
Mikkelsen’s introduction toFantastic Beastis an instantaneous blur but provides audiences with a glimpse of how his new portrayal of Grindelwald will look. The suit donned by Depp’s character seems to be relatively the same, with a few alterations, but the spiked hair and blonde aesthetic to his look are noticeably absent. These notable physical changes demonstrate a different approach to the role, but more will come to the surface once the trailer is officially released. It is also interesting to see how Grindelwald is introduced, surrounded by a sea of Muggles within an unknown manner.
The look does not paint the most precise picture, but it hints thatWarner Bros. could reveal moreonce additional footage is released.Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbeldorecomes with an abundant amount of mystery, but audiences can assume that Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s relationship could see a deeper exploration. Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Katherine Waterston, and Don Fogler will make their return to the Wizarding World, but the role of Grindelwald undoubtedly takes center stage.
