The reviews for the film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore are in. They are mixed, but most critics agree on one point. That Mads Mikkelsen performed better as Grindelwald than Johnny Depp did. So much so, that it seems Mads Mikkelsen should have been cast as Grindelwald from the start.
Depp had played the said role in the earlier installments of the franchise. In November 2020, it was announced that Depp would not return as the character in the latest installment of the Wizarding World franchise. That decision was made on the heels of legal trouble that Depp faced in relation to his ex-partner, Amber Heard. The fans were divided on the issue at that time. However, it seems that Mikkelsen made sure that the recasting of the character would not be an issue.
The Critics Praise Mikkelsen
In contrast to the reviews of the film, Mikkelsen has received mostly positive feedback from critics.
Insider’s Kirsten Acuna’s praises the charm of Mikkelsen and states that his performance out-trumped that of Depp. She says, “Mikkelsen slips into the role of Grindelwald so naturally that it’s easy to forget Depp had ever played the role. With Depp, I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to follow a wizard who comically looked like another bizarre invention out of the actor’s menagerie of eccentric characters he’s played over the years. In contrast, Mikkelsen plays Grindelwald with a suave, charming charisma that convinces you of why anyone would be seduced by this alluring, handsome wizard and be suckered into fighting a war for him”
In the context of the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, The Times of London’s Kevin Maher says, “Mikkelsen’s simmering intensity adds a new layer of menace to the character but also suggests a credibly torrid romantic history with Dumbledore.”
The praise doesn’t end here, Robbie Cullen of The Telegraph believed that Mads Mikkelsen “should have been cast from the start,” while Time Out’s Caroline McGinnstates that Mikkelsen “makes a fantastically sinister replacement for Johnny Depp.”
What do you guys think about Mikkelsen’s role as Grindelwald? Do you prefer Depp’s performance? Let us know in the comment section below.
About Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Based on the author J.K. Rowling’s book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this film is the third one in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. The events here take place decades before Harry Potter’s birth.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore releases on the 15th of April 2022 in the United States.
