Moviegoers are getting ready to return to the wizarding world, asFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themhits theaters later this month. The movie may not be directly related to theHarry Potterstoryline, but it will definitely have some connective tissue. It turns out the sequel will have a pretty significant crossover, because the famed wizard Dumbledore is going to be featured inFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2.
Dumbledore, or to be more proper, Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, is a massive pillar of theHarry Potter universe, so there has been hope that he will show up inFantastic Beasts. DirectorDavid Yatesrecently confirmed toScreen Rantduring a press day that a young Dumbledore will definitely show up inFantastic Beasts 2. Here is what he had to say about it.
“In the second movie Dumbledore comes back. He’s got a couple of good scenes with Newt… We’re discussing who would play Dumbledore, any suggestions would be good. [Laughs]”
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themtakes place in the 1920s and Dumbledore doesn’t take over as the headmaster of Hogwarts until the 1950s, so that leaves a lot of room for him to show up in this new franchise. AsDavid Yatespoints out, they don’t yet have an actor to play him. Recently,Johnny Deppwas cast in an unspecified role, but there has been speculation that he will be playing Gellert Grindelwald, “a dark wizard who was once a friend of Dumbledore’s.” Maybe we’ll eventually get to see the famous Grindelwald/Dumbledore duel? One can only hope. But casting is underway to see who will play a young version of Dumbledore in this new franchise.
Harry PottercreatorJ.K. Rowlingis making her screenwriting debut withFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, so this movie is about as authentic as can be. Originally, Warner Bros. had plans for a trilogy, but last monthJ.K. Rowlingrevealed that they have plans for as many as five movies. So whoever is cast as Dumbledore will likely be along for a pretty long ride. We don’t know a whole lot about Dumbledore in the time period that these movies take place in, soRowlingandDavid Yateswill have a lot of creative freedom to explore the character in his younger years. He was about 150 years old when he died, so he still wasn’t what you would call a young man in that time period, but definitely young compared to 150.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themtakes place in New York in 1926 and followsNewt Scamanderas he tries to round up a bunch ofmagical creatureswho manage to get loose in the city. In addition to Oscar winnerEddie Redmayne, the cast also includesKatherine Waterston,Dan Fogler,Alison Sudol,Ezra Miller,Samantha Morton,Jon Voight,Ron Perlman,Carmen Ejogo,Jenn Murray,Faith Wood-BlagroveandColin Farrell.Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themopens in theaters on November 18 withFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2set for release on June 02, 2025.
