A planned five-film Wizaring World expansion became one of the most contentious casting decisions in recent blockbuster history. When Johnny Depp stepped into the role of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald in November 2016, the announcement drew immediate backlash—and when he departed the franchise three films later, the ripples reshaped the entire series. Here’s what the controversy involved and where things stand now.
Release Year: 2018 · Director: David Yates · Lead Actor: Eddie Redmayne · Grindelwald Actor: Johnny Depp · Theater Date: November 16
Quick snapshot
- Full reasoning behind Warner Bros. asking Depp to resign
- Whether Fantastic Beasts 4 will ever reach production
- How much the controversy affected domestic box office
- 2016-11: Depp cast, sparking controversy
- 2018-11-16: Film theatrical release
- 2020-11: Mads Mikkelsen announced as replacement
- Fantastic Beasts 4 remains unannounced
- The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) concluded the trilogy
- Warner Bros. has not confirmed further sequels
The film holds a specific place in Wizarding World chronology. The details below ground the rest of this article.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Title | Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald |
| Director | David Yates |
| Release Date | November 16, 2018 |
| Starring | Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Johnny Depp |
| Series Position | Second in Fantastic Beasts |
| Worldwide Gross | $654.9 million |
| Production Budget | $200 million |
| Follow-up Film | The Secrets of Dumbledore (UK: April 8, 2022) |
Is Fantastic Beasts 2 hit or flop?
The financial picture is complicated. The film grossed $654.9 million worldwide against a $200 million budget—numbers that would signal a hit for most franchises (Wikipedia box office data). Yet within the Wizarding World timeline, it underperformed: it became the lowest-grossing installment until its sequel arrived.
Big budgets and brand recognition no longer guarantee audience enthusiasm when the storytelling feels overstuffed.
Box office performance
Domestically, the film opened to $62.2 million—a 16% drop from the first Fantastic Beasts’ $74.4 million opening weekend (Wikipedia opening weekend comparison). The US and Canada haul reached $159.6 million, while international markets contributed $495.3 million.
Critical reception
Reviews proved divisive. Critics cited overloaded character introductions and excessive setup for future installments. The film was nominated for Best Production Design and Best Special Visual Effects at the 72nd British Academy Film Awards (Wikipedia BAFTA nominations), suggesting technical excellence even as narrative coherence drew scrutiny.
Why was Johnny Depp replaced as Grindelwald?
Johnny Depp was cast as Gellert Grindelwald in November 2016, but domestic violence allegations from his ex-wife Amber Heard surrounded the announcement from the start (Wikipedia casting history). J.K. Rowling publicly defended the casting, stating she had reviewed evidence and believed Depp was falsely accused.
Recasting announcement
In November 2020, Mads Mikkelsen was announced as Depp’s replacement, with Warner Bros. reportedly having asked Depp to resign following the Depp v News Group Newspapers Ltd court case (Wikipedia recasting details).
Depp’s response
“I’ll be honest with you I felt bad for JK having to field all these various feelings from people out there.”
— Johnny Depp, Entertainment Weekly interview (Entertainment Weekly interview)
“JK has seen the evidence and therefore knows I was falsely accused and that’s why she has publicly supported me.”
— Johnny Depp, Entertainment Weekly interview (Entertainment Weekly interview)
Rowling’s public defense positioned her as taking a personal risk on the actor, a stance that later proved costly when the studio reversed course.
Is Crimes of Grindelwald connected to Harry Potter?
The film sits directly inside the Wizarding World timeline as the second Fantastic Beasts installment and the tenth film overall in the franchise.
Shared universe links
The sequel introduces younger versions of characters readers know from the original series. Jamie Campbell Bower returns as young Gellert Grindelwald in flashbacks (ScreenRant character analysis). Jude Law’s Albus Dumbledore joins the cast, with Rowling having confirmed that Dumbledore was in love with Grindelwald (ScreenRant relationship confirmation).
One continuity wrinkle surfaced: Minerva McGonagall’s appearance in the film rewrites her canon birth year from 1935, creating a timeline inconsistency (ScreenRant continuity check).
Timeline connections
The first film concluded with Grindelwald escaping MACUSA custody, and the sequel picks up that thread directly (Harry Potter Wiki plot summary). Principal photography commenced July 3, 2017, with the film arriving in theaters November 16, 2018.
The franchise uses each installment to bridge gaps in the original Harry Potter lore, but the bridges occasionally require ignoring established canon.
Is Fantastic Beasts 4 happening or cancelled?
When the franchise launched, Warner Bros. announced plans for five films total (Harry Potter Wiki franchise plans). The third film, The Secrets of Dumbledore, released April 8, 2022 (UK) and April 15, 2022 (US)—delayed from its original November 2021 slot (Wikipedia release timeline).
Status updates
No official announcement has confirmed a fourth installment. The studio has remained silent on future sequels since The Secrets of Dumbledore concluded its narrative arc.
Production rumors
Industry speculation has circulated about whether Fantastic Beasts 4 will reach production, but nothing has been verified from primary sources.
The five-film plan effectively collapsed. Whether this reflects the Depp controversy, diminishing returns, or broader franchise fatigue remains officially unstated.
How are Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Voldemort related?
The film deepens the Dumbledore-Grindelwald backstory central to Harry Potter lore. Rowling confirmed that Albus Dumbledore was romantically involved with Grindelwald during their youth (ScreenRant romantic backstory), making their eventual confrontation in the original series carry personal weight.
Dumbledore-Grindelwald backstory
The two characters met as teenagers, forming a bond that shaped both their paths. The film shows that bond fracturing, with Dumbledore eventually opposing the dark wizard he once admired.
Grindelwald-Voldemort ties
Within the Harry Potter canon, Grindelwald and Voldemort never directly collaborated. Their connection is generational: Grindelwald’s rise predates Voldemort’s, and the two dark wizards operated in different eras. Grindelwald was defeated by Dumbledore before Voldemort’s birth.
The franchise chose to explore romance rather than villain collaboration, reframing the Dumbledore-Grindelwald relationship as a personal tragedy rather than a strategic alliance.
The Dumbledore-Grindelwald romance confirms Albus Dumbledore’s sexuality, a detail Rowling had previously stated but never depicted cinematically until this film.
Timeline
The franchise moved quickly from announcement to production controversies in under four years.
- : Film announced as part of a planned trilogy
- : Franchise expanded to five films announced
- : Johnny Depp cast as Grindelwald
- : Jude Law cast as Dumbledore
- : Principal photography begins
- : Theatrical release
- : Mads Mikkelsen announced as Grindelwald replacement
- : The Secrets of Dumbledore UK release
- : The Secrets of Dumbledore US release
Confirmed vs. Unconfirmed
Confirmed
- Johnny Depp appeared as Grindelwald in the 2018 film
- Jude Law portrayed young Dumbledore
- The film grossed $654.9 million worldwide
- Mads Mikkelsen replaced Depp starting November 2020
- David Yates directed; J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay
- The franchise was planned as five films
Unconfirmed
- Exact financial impact of the Depp controversy on box office
- Whether Fantastic Beasts 4 will ever be produced
- Full internal communications from Warner Bros. regarding Depp’s departure
- Future plans if The Secrets of Dumbledore had performed better
Reception snapshot
The critical consensus split along predictable lines: franchise loyalists engaged with expanded lore, while general audiences reportedly found the film overstuffed. Rotten Tomatoes aggregates both critic and audience scores, though exact figures vary by update cycle (Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator).
The film’s mixed reception foreshadowed franchise recalibration. Warner Bros. has since avoided committing to Fantastic Beasts beyond completed installments.
For Wizarding World fans, the film remains essential viewing as the only screen depiction of Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s relationship. For general audiences, the controversy may have overshadowed whatever narrative ambitions the film carried.
Related reading: Good Movies on Netflix · Misfits TV Series Guide
The Grindelwald recast amid Johnny Depp’s controversy reshaped the franchise, with key changes detailed in the FB3 cast and recasts for Fantastic Beasts 3.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cast of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2?
The cast includes Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald, Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore, Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone, and Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander.
Where can I watch Fantastic Beasts 2?
The film is available on streaming platforms including Max. Physical media and digital purchase options also remain available through standard retailers.
What are the reviews for Fantastic Beasts 2?
Reviews were mixed. Critics praised technical aspects—the film earned BAFTA nominations in production design and visual effects—while noting narrative overload from too many new characters and sequel setups.
Who played young Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 2?
Jamie Campbell Bower portrayed young Gellert Grindelwald in flashback sequences. Johnny Depp played the present-day version.
What is Fantastic Beasts 2 about?
The film follows dark wizard Grindelwald’s rise as Newt Scamander assists Dumbledore in stopping him. The plot centers on Grindelwald assembling followers while authorities hunt Credence Barebone.
When was Fantastic Beasts 2 released?
November 16, 2018, in theaters worldwide.
Is Albus Dumbledore LGBTQ?
J.K. Rowling confirmed Dumbledore’s homosexuality years before the films. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald marked the first cinematic depiction of his relationship with Grindelwald.
Sophie Kendall is Tools & Digital Culture Correspondent at WordPatch.co.uk, covering writing tools, productivity software, AI writing platforms, digital publishing and online communication trends.