Johnny’s Thoughts on Retirement
Johnny: A Look Back at His Time in the Wizarding World
As dedicated fans, we cherish every moment Johnny has shared with us on screen, including his portrayal of Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts series. Recently, he opened up about the challenges he faced during his time working on these magical films.
Johnny recalls the surprising moment when he was asked to resign from his role, highlighting how it felt like everything came to a halt in an instant. “It literally stopped in a millisecond while I was doing the movie,” he stated, adding that he felt as if they wanted him to retire from acting altogether.
In November 2020, Warner Bros. announced that Johnny would be departing from the Fantastic Beasts franchise. They expressed gratitude for his contributions, paving the way for a recast of his iconic character.
Reflecting on this significant moment in his career, he famously remarked, “F— you. There’s far too many of me to kill. If you think you can hurt me more than I’ve already been hurt, you’re gravely mistaken.”
Johnny first introduced audiences to Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and continued his journey in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. The character went through a transformation as he was portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen in the series’ final installment, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.