Mads Mikkelsen to replace Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts 3

Danish actor Mads Mikkelsenhas been chosen to replace Johnny Depp in the upcoming thirdfilm in the Fantastic Beastsfranchise, Warner Bros.said on Wednesday.

Mikkelsen, 55, who is known for his role as serial killerHannibal Lecter in thetelevision series Hannibal,willplay the evil wizard Gellert Grindelwald in the spinoff moviefrom Harry Potterauthor J.K. Rowling.

Depp was forced to exit the role earlier this month afterlosing a libel case in Britain against a tabloid newspaper thatbranded him a "wife beater." Following the three-week trial in July, a judge said he believed the actor had abusedhis ex-wife and that she frequently feared for her life.

Shortly after the decision, that samejudge refused Depp permission to appeal against thecourt's ruling.He can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal, and has until Dec. 7 to do so.

Depp, who had earlier begun production on the thirdFantastic Beastsmovie in London, said he was asked to leaveby Warner Bros.

WATCH | Johnny Depp loses U.K. libel suit:

Johnny Depp loses U.K. libel suit

4 years ago

Duration 1:52

Johnny Depp has lost his court case against a British tabloid that labelled the actor a wife beater. The judge said he believed the claims were substantially true.

Mikkelsen has played roles in action movies DoctorStrangeand Casino Royaleas well as taking roles in Danishdramas such as The Huntand A Royal Affair.

The Fantastic Beastsmovies, based on the magicaladventures of Newt Scamander, are set some 60 years before theHarry Potterfilms but feature several of the same keycharacters when they were younger.

The third as yet untitled movie in the series is set forrelease in July 2022.

The first two of the five planned Fantastic Beastsfilmsearned $1.5 billion US at the global box office, according to the cinema revenue tracking site BoxOffice Mojo.