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Is Mads Mikkelsen better than Johnny Depp? ‘Fantastic Beasts’ fans seek Grindelwald-Dumbledore kissing scene

The studio has confirmed that Mikkelsen will play the evil wizard, Grindelwald, in the third installment of 'Fantastic Beasts' whose production is underway at Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden

Two weeks after Johnny Depp was asked to step down from the next installment of the 'Fantastic Beasts' movie franchise, Warner Bros has announced his replacement for the role of  Gellert Grindelwald. And certainly, who is better than Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen to essay Depp's role?

The studio has confirmed that Mikkelsen will play the evil wizard, Grindelwald, in the third installment of 'Fantastic Beasts' whose production is underway at Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden, outside of London. A source told TheWrap that no scenes were needed to be reshot despite Depp's exit. The film is expected to hit the theatres in July 2022. 'Fantastic Beasts 3' co-stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Jude Law and Ezra Miller. The 'Danish Girl' actor will be seen as wizard Newt Scamander. David Yates has helmed the film, written by J.K. Rowling based on her guide book 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'.

While fans of the 'Fantastic Beasts' franchise are excited about Mikkelsen essaying Grindelwald, they are eager to see him share a kiss with Dumbledore. Many of them have requested the author to bring these two characters together, who were said to be romantically associated after the 'Harry Potter' books were released.

Commenting on Grindelwald and Dumbledore's complex relationship, Rowling had once said, "Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was… Do we say it excused Dumbledore a little more because falling in love can blind us to an extent? But he met someone as brilliant as he was, and rather like Bellatrix he was very drawn to this brilliant person, and horribly, terribly let down by him."

Fans are hoping that Grindelwald and Dumbledore would be shown together locking lips in the 'Harry Potter' prequel series. One excited fan wrote in response to Mikkelsen replacing Depp, "Dear @jk_rowling, I demand a Dumbledore-Grindelwald kiss scene. I couldn't care less when it was JD, BUT Mads Mikkelsen? Sign me up, woman I'm ready."

Meanwhile, some fans were seen debating over who makes the better evil wizard, Depp or Mikkelsen. One Twitter user wrote, "I think Mads is gonna be amazing Grindelwald.. Will definitely watch." Another said, "I didn't particularly care for Depp as Grindelwald in the first place, mostly because as he was styled and portrayed there is no way you could convince me /Jude Law/ wanted to hit that. Mads, however...." One wrote, "I'd rather have Depp, but since Mads is another one of my favorites I can accept it. But they better give a good explanation why he looks different."