Why Grindelwald Looks So Different In Fantastic Beasts 3 (Not Just Recast)

After watching the first trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, audiences will immediately notice how different Grindelwald looks from the previous films. The new Fantastic Beasts 3 trailer provides a first look at actor Mads Mikkelsen in the role, taking over for Johnny Depp. Followers of the Harry Potter spinoff franchise are likely already aware of the controversy surrounding Depp’s firing from the Fantastic Beasts series and replacement by Mikkelsen, but the difference in appearance goes further than a simple recasting.

As portrayed by Depp in the first two films, Grindelwald is depicted with a shock of white hair that stood on end, a trim mustache, and different colored eyes—one pale blue and the other dark brown. The villain spends a majority of the first film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, in magically transfigured disguise as Percival Graves, played in this form by Colin Farrell. The wizard-supremacist remains in his true form during Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald as he gathers followers to help him gain power over the Muggle world.

Mikkelsen’s version of the character, as seen in the Fantastic Beasts 3 trailer, doesn’t seem to retain any of the striking physical features seen in the previous films. The Hannibal actor’s take on Grindelwald’s look is toned back, with his only truly defining feature being a streak of white hair over his forehead. Depp and Mikkelsen already look very different from one another, but the film seemingly makes very little attempt to keep the distinctive physical characterizations brought to the role by the former. There are two main possibilities for why Grindelwald looks so different, beyond the obvious recasting of actors.

The first and most likely reason behind Grindelwald’s change in appearance is likely to widen the distance between the franchise and Depp, whose recasting could solve a major Dumbledore problem. The controversy surrounding the lawsuits between Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard brought bad publicity for the Fantastic Beasts series for a long time, with many viewers uncomfortable with Depp’s prominent role prior to the release of The Crimes of Grindelwald. It’s probably that Warner Bros. and those involved in the film want to separate the movies from those issues, leading not only to Depp’s recasting, but also in the elimination of the physical features that are associated with his version of the character.

The second possible reason for the difference in Grindelwald’s look in The Secrets of Dumbledore could be that Mikkelsen’s (possibly better) Grindelwald has once again disguised himself using magical means, in order to better hide from Dumbledore, Newt, and the others seeking to find him. Given that Grindelwald has already been known to drastically alter his appearance, this would not only make sense for the character but would provide a near seamless explanation for the major difference.

Other options would be to present Mikkelsen’s version of the character as Grindelwald’s true appearance and Depp’s as another disguise. It is also possible the change in Grindelwald’s appearance may go completely unaddressed in the new movie, rather than acknowledging Depp’s flashier take on the role. Although avid audiences of the Harry Potter universe are likely more interested in seeing if Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore can save the franchise, they will also be interested to see how the film explains Grindelwald’s dramatic makeover.

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