Dark Wizard Down: 5 Actors Who Could Replace Johnny Depp as Grindelwald

Whether or not the Internet agrees (spoiler alert: it does not), it appears as though Johnny Depp‘s role as Gellert Grindelwald will be recast, as Warner Bros. has asked the beloved actor to step down widely thought to be due to his losing his court battle against The Sun publication due to its allegations involving the abuse claims with his ex-wife Amber Heard.

It seems as though Warner Bros. may be taking the wrong side of this public domestic battle, but Depp has willingly left the character behind, meaning that a new actor must rise to the sinister occasion of portraying Grindelwald. While no actor may be able to truly replace Johnny Depp, there are a handful of talents that may come close, so here are a few choices as to who could bring the darkness to the darkest wizard in Harry Potter history.

1. Colin Farrell

The case for Colin Farrell to portray Grindelwald is possibly the strongest, but also the most complicated. Farrell played Grindelwald in disguise in the first Fantastic Beasts film, arguably making for a more sinister and popular version of the character. If the writers of the third installment can figure out a reason as to why Grindelwald would go back to his old disguise, then finding a way to put Colin Farrell back into the series will undoubtedly pay off.

2. Mads Mikkelsen

Mads Mikkelsen has become the front runner for the role of Grindelwald, reportedly being in talks with Warner Bros. to don the trademark glass eye and bleached hair. However, before the official talks, there was plenty of fan art showing just how menacing and accurate Mikkelsen would look as Gellert Grindelwald. Whether or not these images contributed to his potential casting, Mikkelsen is suited to play any villain, especially a dark wizard that is the caliber of the Fantastic Beasts antagonist.

3. Robert Downey Jr.

While Robert Downey Jr. is usually the star hero in his projects, he is one of the highest-paid actors in the world for a reason, and that reason is that he can truly bring any character to life. More specifically, Downey Jr. would be able to maintain the general look of Grindelwald (RDJ and Johnny Depp have always borne a slight resemblance), but also put his own evil spin on the already established dark wizard. When it comes to putting new and interesting twists on already established characters, Robert Downey Jr. is a bit of an expert, and would certainly be able to provide new insight into a demented personality.

4. Pilou Asbaek

Educated Game of Thrones fans should recognize Pilou Asbaek as one of the main antagonists of the last two seasons, and while his character was not well received, he still managed to bring an unruly and savage villain to life. Perhaps he is not as well known as Johnny Depp or the other actors on this list, but Asbaek could still embody the perfect look and personality of Grindelwald. When it comes to sheer potential as the character, Asbaek may possibly be head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.

5. Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig could certainly maintain the same amount of star power that Johnny Depp brought to the Fantastic Beasts franchise, but may also be able to elevate the character. Being a natural Brit, Craig can focus on his performance more than his accent and has a cold demeanor that would be great for portraying Grindelwald. Craig has played various bone-chilling villains in the past, so there is no doubt that he would be just as sinister in the role as Depp was.

Who should play Gellert Grindelwald? Let us know in the comments!

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