Mads Mikkelsen has hinted that Johnny Depp may return to the Fantastic Beasts franchise after the actor revealed that he had been asked to leave the film series.

After Depp lost his libel action over domestic violence charges originating from his marriage to ex-wife Amber Heard, the Danish actor took over as the evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald in 2020.

Mads Mikkelsen Says Johnny Depp May Return to 'Fantastic Beasts'

Johnny Depp portrayed Grindelwald in the first two Fantastic Beasts films, 'Fantastic Beasts' and 'Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.' Mads Mikkelsen replaced Johnny Depp in the third sequel, 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,' which was released in theaters in April 2022, shortly before Depp's widely publicized trial began.

However, Johnny Depp might return to 'Fantastic Beasts' after winning a $50 million defamation case against Heard in June. After his headline-grabbing legal struggle, Mads Mikkelsen suggested that the door may be reopened for Johnny Depp. According to Deadline, Mads characterized taking over the role as extremely daunting and discussed the reason for Johnny's withdrawal from the film - his libel action against his ex-wife.

The Hannibal actor also praised Johnny Depp, stating that taking over the part from the Hollywood star was intimidating. Since she filed for divorce in 2016, Depp and Heard have been entangled in court disputes. Johnny Depp filed a lawsuit against News Group Newspapers, its flagship tabloid The Sun, and its executive editor Dan Wootton after the publication called him a wife abuser and accused him of abusing Amber Heard, Newsweek via MSN reported.

Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard for $50 million two years later, saying she defamed him in an op-ed piece in the Washington Post in 2018 which she claimed to be a survivor of domestic abuse. Amber Heard countersued for $100 million, alleging that Johnny Depp's lawyer Adam Waldman made defamatory remarks about her accusations, referring to them as a hoax.

According to the actor's representatives, he has lost career chances and high-profile roles as a result of the allegations, including being pulled from the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise. Following a six-week trial, jurors ruled in his favor.

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Johnny Depp To Direct First Feature Film in 25 Years

With Modi, Johnny is ready to make his first feature film in 25 years on the Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani. Modi, based on Dennis McIntyre's play Modigliani, will depict the artist's period in Paris in 1916. During his lifetime, his portraits and nudes with stretched features and bodies were not well regarded. However, they were sought for after his death from meningitis in 1920, as per Daily Mail.

The idea was unveiled by Depp's UK-based production business IN.2, the European branch of production company Infinitum Nihil, who noted Depp, 59, will direct and co-produce the picture alongside Al Pacino and Barry Navidi. Navidi and Depp worked together on the unfinished 1995 film 'Divine Rapture.' Previously, Navidi and Pacino collaborated on projects such as 'The Merchant of Venice' in 2004, 'Wilde Salomé' in 2011, and 'Salomé' in 2013.

Depp's most recent directing job was for 'The Brave,' a 1997 film starring himself and Marlon Brando. According to the statement, 'Modi' will begin manufacturing in the spring of 2023. Following his recent court fight with ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp is resuming his showbiz career, according to USA Today.

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