Rumour: Could Johnny Depp be replaced in Fantastic Beasts by Shakin’ Stevens?

Following Johnny Depp’s departure from the Fantastic Beasts franchise, speculation has been rife as to who would replace him as evil wizard Grindelwald, with Mads Mikkelsen, Stormy Daniels, and that bloke from the pub who insists he’s Daniel Radcliffe’s cousin all being mentioned.

However, it seems now that the rumour mill has coalesced around one name – eighties hitmaker Shakin’ Stevens.

Stevens, or ‘Shaky’ to his friends, is known to have been seeking a way to re-enter the limelight, is roughly the correct height for the role, and would bring a talent for pastiching 50’s rock and roll that has been sadly lacking from the previous films.

“I’m pretty convinced that Shakin’ Stevens will be the next Grindelwald,” said Harry Potter expert Stewart James.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, Mads Mikkelson would have been fine, but Stevens has just had more hits – This Ole House, Green Door, Merry Christmas Everyone – I mean, to the best of my knowledge, Mikkelson has never even cracked the Top 40.”

It is understood that negotiations between Shaky and Fantastic Beasts producers are nearly concluded, with only which of his songs he will be performing as Grindelwald left to be decided.

“They’ve rewritten the film to conclude with a giant magic pop concert that will feature Shakin’ Stevens as Grindelwald singing his songs to cast a spell over all the muggles,” said a Warner Bros insider.

“Producers want Oh Julie, You Drive Me Crazy and Lipstick, Powder and Paint. Shaky wants to do stuff off his new album.

“As soon as this is sorted, there will be the announcement that Shakin’ Stevens is playing Grindelwald.”

It is also rumoured that, following the interest from the Fantastic Beasts franchise, Shaky’s stock in Hollywood is high and he is now being considered for the role of Candyman in the new reboot, for Goose in the flashback scenes in Top Gun: Maverick, and for the lead role in the upcoming Phase 5 Disney+ series She-Hulk.

 

Weekend Film Guide – available early, which is nice.

(Image by Fryta 73. Cropped. Licence details)