Mads Mikkelsen says it would have been ‘creative suicide’ to copy Johnny Depp into Fantastic Beasts

Mads Mikkelsen has spoken openly about replacing Johnny Depp in his latest film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

The Danish actor took over the role of Grindelwald when Depp resigned at the studio’s request after losing a defamation lawsuit against him The sun about a 2018 article that called him a “wife beater.”

In a new interview with GQ, Mikkelsen discussed the “pressure” and process to differentiate his version of the Potterverse character from Depp’s previous portrayal.

“Copying it would be creative suicide,” he explained, adding that he sees Grindelwald as an expansion rather than a hard reboot.

In the film, Mikkelsen shows a dramatically different Grindelwald: the off-white hair has disappeared and the pale eye has been toned down.

He said, “We had to make it our own.”

While Mikkelsen admitted that “there’s so much pressure” to save a franchise that was initially deemed “doomed” by the press, he said: “If you started listening to everything, you wouldn’t dare, to take a step.”

Despite all previous fears that Mikkelsen could take over Depp, he has already garnered positive reviews from critics.

“Mikkelsen slips into the role of Grindelwald so naturally, it’s easy to forget Depp ever played that role,” reads one review insider wrote.

He compared his approach to that of actor Daniel Craig, who “went to work” and remained focused during his 2006 debut as James Bond despite similar criticism Casino royale.

“That’s the only thing you can do – and so can we,” said Mikkelsen.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is coming to cinemas now.