Every actor who played Grindelwald in Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts

There were many learned Grindelwald actors over the Harry Potter Franchise, especially as Fantastic animals Brought him into the spotlight. Each iteration of the infamous wizard Gellert Grindelwald was wildly different from the others, with each actor bringing their own distinctive flavor to the role. Gellert Grindelwald is mentioned several times over this Harry Potter Books. However, his first official introduction was as an old “friend” hidden in Dumbledore’s past in the Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows book.

It is revealed that Grindelwald and Dumbledore were very close in the past and planned to bring the wizarding world out of the shadows and subdue the non-magical population. Dumbledore realizes the error in the plan and, after the death of his sister Ariana, distances himself from Grindelwald. Grindelwald went ahead with his plan, but was finally stopped by Dumbledore in a great duel. This backstory was explored in Fantastic animalsWhich ended early. There were five trained Grindelwald actors, some of whom appeared in the original Harry Potter series and others in Fantastic animals.

Jamie Campbell Bower

Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1

Jaime Campbell Bower was the first actor to play Gellert Grindelwald and the one who has remained the most consistent throughout both franchises. He first took on the role in Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1 As a young man, Grindelwald studied photography and flashbacks. Grindelwald’s backstory with Dumbledore is briefly explored, however The film puts more focus on Grindelwald’s connection to the Elder Wand Instead. Physically, he looks like Grindelwald is described in the books, with haunting good looks that attract people to him.

While Jamie Campbell Bower’s appearance was reduced to non-speaking in Deathly HallowsHe still managed to put the character, so the audience can understand the kind of person he was with his looming presence while in photographs with a young Dumbledore, as well as his agile movements while stealing the Elder Wand. Bower later reprized the role in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Once again, his role was kept in flashbacks, as Jude Law’s Dumbledore thinks back on when he and Grindelwald created a blood pact, so they could never harm one another.

This scene is one of Few that show Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s relationship in a way that suggests they are romantically involvedWith them, they drag their hands and stare into each other’s eyes. The appearance of Bowers’ version of Grindelwald has also been updated with him now having heterochromia, the condition of two different colored eyes, which was added for the Fantastic animals films.

Michael Byrne

Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1

Along with Jamie Campbell Bower, Michael Byrne also plays Gellert Grindelwald Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Part 1. He plays the character in the current timeline of the Harry Potter series, now an old man in prison paying for his past crimes. The older Grindelwald only appears in one scene, similar to the one in the Deathly Hallows Book, where Grindelwald is questioned by Voldemort about the parental level. Byrne’s portrayal of Grindelwald is completely different from the character in the book.

The book version of Grindelwald sees the error of his ways and refuses to tell Voldemort what he wants to know, eventually leading to the character’s death. Byrne’s film version of the character, however, delights in telling Voldemort that the Elder Wand lies with Dumbledore in his tomb, even laughing when Voldemort goes off to retrieve it. Although he was not featured in the sequel series, Byrne’s version of Grindelwald remains completely different from the performances shown in the Fantastic animals films.

While Grindelwald did terrible things in all three films, He never takes pleasure in the thought of hurting DumbledoreInstead of merely showing anger, sadness, or indifference at any mention of his name. Byrne’s difference from the other Gelert Grindelwald performances, however, could explain the lack of knowledge, how deep Grindelwald’s feelings were for Dumbledore at that time. Deathly Hallows It was made. Regardless, Byrne’s performance is the most different version of Grindelwald to this day.

Colin Pearl

Fantastic beasts and where to find them

Colin Farrell was the first actor to play Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic animals series, although it was on a technicality. Grindelwald was teased as a background threat in Fantastic beasts and where to find themInstead set the American auror, Percival Graves, played by Colin Farrell, to be the main villain of the film. but in the end, Newt Scamander reveals Graves to be Grindelwald in disguise. So, although Colin Farrell outwardly looks like a different character, all of his words and actions are those of Grindelwald.

Farrell’s interpretation of Grindelwald focuses on his evil side, spending most of Fantastic beasts and where to find them Hunt down a child who is an Obscurial to use for his plans. Farrell also manages to slip in hints too Fantastic animals Grindelwald turns by showing fake kindness to those he hurts (a trait later seen in Grindelwald performances) and immediately finds ways to bring Dumbledore into conversation.

Perhaps the biggest hint that Farrell is playing Grindelwald is the similar intro shots of Percival Graves and Grindelwald. Both are introduced with a shot of the back of their head with the same haircut.

Johnny Depp

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Originally, Johnny Depp was set to be Grindelwald’s apprentice throughout the world Fantastic animals Series. He first made a cameo at the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them With Farrell slowly turning in deep, revealing the twist that Grindelwald was the villain all along. in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of GrindelwaldHe is finally given center stage and audiences are able to see who the character is for an entire film, not just restricted to cameos or flashbacks.

Depp was later asked to step down from the Fantastic animals series and the role of Grindelwald by Warner Bros. after real-life controversies arose in Depp’s life. Along with the film’s poor reviews, Depp’s Grindelwald performance was met with criticism, with critics and audiences feeling it was similar to Depp’s performances in other films and disliking the character’s new design with bleach blonde hair. And completely different colored eyes.

However, at a closer look, His performance is most similar to how Grindelwald was put in the Harry Potter Books. Grindelwald’s manipulation and intelligence have been cited as his greatest assets and Depp’s version of the character is the one that exemplifies these traits.

His Grindelwald behaves more like a puppet master who leads people to do horrible things, as opposed to forcing them. Depp is also the learned Grindelwald actor who looks the most like Jamie Campbell Bower, which makes it more believable that they are the same person at different times in their lives. Nevertheless, Depp did not return to play Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of DumbledorePartly because of the controversy about his legal proceedings at the time.

Mads Mikkelsen

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Mads Mikkelsen has been chosen to replace Depp as Grindelwald. Similar to Depp, Mikkelsen got the chance to play Grindelwald for an entire film, as opposed to a cameo or flashback. Michelson received the most praise for his portrayal of the character, despite Luke’s lukewarm reaction to Secrets of Dumbledore. Along with a new look with a more subtle color difference with his eyes and more understated hair color, Michelsen brought a quiet menace to the characterExuding confidence when intimidating the other characters.

The only downgrade for Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3 Is that a lot of Grindelwald’s motivations or actions don’t make much sense in continuity to the Wizarding World or to how his character was previously set up. However, Mads Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald stands out from the rest due to the focus on his romantic relationship with Dumbledore. Audiences, especially LGBTQ+ viewers, were tired of the small teases of same-sex relationships between the two wizards and wanted it to be fully explored.

While Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore It didn’t completely embrace the storyline, it put more focus on it than the previous films by Mickelson and Jude Law share the screen time together. After a lot of recasting, Grindelwald became the role with the most different actors. Grindelwald’s portrayals should be the same person, not completely different versions of the character.

Perhaps, however, this constant recasting of Grindelwald over the Harry Potter Series And these Fantastic animals Series is a coincidence Mirror to the character of Grindelwald and how he has many masksMany sides to him, and no one can ever tell who he really is.

The Grindelwald recast can’t save the Fantastic Beasts franchise

Mads Mikkelsen can’t save the franchise

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Seemed like one last effort to save the franchise, and a The newly learned Grindelwald actor was unfortunately not enough. The Secrets of Dumbledore Tried hard to save the franchise. Not only is Grindelwald recast but Harry Potter Screenwriter Steve Cluves was brought in to help JK Rowling pen the screenplay.

In addition, the LGBTQ+ storyline between Dumbledore and Grindelwald finally saw the light of day, which was something fans wanted to see from the beginning. Even with all the changes, The Secrets of Dumbledore Proved to be a box-office disaster, with many of the same criticisms for The Crimes of Grindelwald Being leveled in it. The franchise was supposed to consist of five total films, however Fantastic Beasts 4 Will probably never happen.

It looks like Secrets of Dumbledore Was unable to save the franchise, and the Harry Potter The franchise will instead continue with a new Max series of ​​the original books, ignoring the Lifeline phase of the story. While Mads Mikkelsen was a particular highlight of the third Fantastic animals movie, his stand-out performance unfortunately wasn’t enough to save the film, and the Harry Potter Prequel franchise died a quiet death.

Grindelwald never felt as imposing as Voldemort

Voldemort always felt more threatening

One of the biggest reasons that fans could not get as attached to these Fantastic animals Series as they did to the Harry Potter Cinema was because there was a lack of inherent danger. While Grindelwald possessed a danger, and he almost had an entire government system working for him, Voldemort was always more imposing. Both had followers, however Voldemort’s evil hold over his Death Eaters was always more dangerous than Grindelwald’s mostly charismatic leadership. of his followers.

There is also the idea that Voldemort tried to kill a baby, and his main goal was to kill a child to become all-powerful; Making Voldemort’s target a young boy made him seem even more dangerous. The Fantastic animals The franchise was almost obsessed with showing Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s relationship, and that made the movies very different in feel. However, at the same time, this made Grindelwald much less threatening than Voldemort during the original franchise.

The Fantastic animals Films tried hard to make Grindelwald a legitimate antagonist and cast some amazing actors, from Colin Farrell to Johnny Depp to Mads Mikkelson. Their great talent allowed them to deliver great performances as the movie villain. However, the writings and the battles that he was involved in made him less wise to Voldemort, even if Grindelwald was supposed to be much more powerful. The franchise can be successful if Fantastic animals made Grindelwald as sad as Voldemort.