Mads Mikkelsen: Terrifying on screen, funny on set
The third and newest installment of the Fantastic Beasts franchise, The Secrets of Dumbledore, is rolling into Philippine cinemas on Black Saturday, April 16.
Directed by David Yates, who helmed the final four of the blockbuster Harry Potter films, the upcoming big-screen offering from Warner Bros. Pictures further explores Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, particularly the intriguing past of one of its most beloved figures — Dumbledore.
Ahead of the premiere, The STAR attended a global virtual presscon with the lead stars, including Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen who had stepped into the role of the powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
In The Secrets of Dumbledore, Grindelwald is a wanted man for his radical beliefs and violent tactics. But he is determined to come out of hiding, lord over the wizarding world and wage an all-out war on the non-magic people or Muggles. Making him more dangerous than ever is how he operates within the system, manipulating it to his own ends and making it appear that power is legitimately gained through an election.
The only wizard who can foil his plans is Albus Dumbledore (played by Jude Law), with whom Grindelwald shares a long history. But with their previous relationship forged by a blood pact, Dumbledore enlists the help of Magizoologist Newt (Eddie Redmayne) and forms a team to stop his “old friend” turned foe.
Said Mads, “Gellert and Albus are very talented wizards who were once united in a common dream — to make the world what they felt would be a better place. It created a strong bond that lasted for quite a while… and then it shattered.”
Asked how he found the fine balance between being menacing and charming, the actor, who’s best-known for playing the title role in the celebrated TV series Hannibal, said his approach to his character was not something he found himself; rather, it was anchored on the story itself.
“It’s in David’s head. And for this character, he’s very, very linked to Dumbledore. Me and Jude, we had quite a few conversations about what that relationship looked like. So, my character is shaped out of that world,” Mads explained.
“But, I mean, you don’t start out saying or nobody actually needs to start out saying, ‘You know, I’m going to be the bad guy.’ So, we have to figure out what his mission is. What’s his goal? Why is he trying to make the world a better place in that manner, you know? So, I think that they start out having a common and a mutual goal as young adults or children, and then it gets blurry. The ways of getting to that goal were different than they imagined.”
Going deep into what brought Dumbledore and Grindelwald together and then tore them apart, it was important for Mads to make things as real and relatable as possible despite the narrative’s magical aspect.
“Yes, we have to remember there’s magic here. If you have the magic, then a lot of things happen to us as characters as well. But also, it goes the other way. We wanted this to be real. Magic we take for granted has been with us since we were born. We can’t be wearing the fanboy hat and go, oh my god, this is magic, right? So we wanted that relationship to be real — real people, real situation, real disappointment with each other. And then, we’re wearing a hat that is magical. But we kind of tend to forget it in some of the scenes,” he said.
Meanwhile, describing what it was like taking on the “new job” previously held by Johnny Depp, Mads said he was welcomed by everyone with open arms.
“Yeah, I was thrown into it a little later than the rest of the gang. I mean, they’ve done two films and then they were halfway through when I joined the party. It’s like a family visit and you just can only hope that they will adopt you. And they did,” he noted.
“Everybody, just the whole gang, is fantastic. The crew is fantastic. David is fantastic and if they’re the family, he’s the Godfather, and he’s done this so many times, he makes everybody feel at home, right? So, my journey was fast, swift, but I felt at home right away.”
In the press notes, David praised Mads as a gifted actor who is always curious to try out things, extremely collaborative and a genuine pleasure to work with.
“On set, he’s fun to be around and then can switch on a sixpence to deliver a moment that is dark and arresting,” he added.
During the presscon, David even went on to name Mads when asked by the press who among the cast members was the funniest on set.
“Obviously, I think Mads is quite funny. He’s dry, insightful, perceptive, he’s funny,” the filmmaker said. “Mean and funny (laughs).”
Fantastic Beasts co-actor William Nadylam who plays the French-African wizard Yusuf Kama, as well as Victoria Yeates and Alison Sudol who reprise their roles as Newt’s assistant Bunty and Queenie, respectively, attested to this “fun” side to Mads.
Said William, “Did I have a great time with Mads? He tells me to say yes (laughs). It was fantastic. People might perceive him as very impressive as a villain or whatever, but I just see as a fantastic actor, very, very subtle. He’s basically the ideal partner.
“And also, you know, I used to be a dancer before — it doesn’t show now because my body is stiff (laughs)— and I’ve done theater, and immediately I could feel that he was a brother to me.”
Victoria couldn’t agree more, “He dances in between takes, that’s the best bit,” with Alison vouching for him as well, “Yeah, wonderful dancing!”
Mads, in true wizard fashion, quipped, “We can’t help it, it’s a magical time.”
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