'Fantastic Beasts' Sequel: Jude Law Will Play Young Dumbledore

On Wednesday, Warner Bros. announced the latest addition to the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel. The studio announced that Jude Law will play a younger version of Dumbledore in the spin-off franchise.

The British actor will join Johnny Depp and Eddie Redmayne in the story that takes place decades before the Potter era. The second installment of the Harry Potter spin-off franchise is expected to hit theaters in November 2018.

We got Dumbledore!

Jude Law is getting ready to wear young Dumbledore’s robes, as announced by Warner Bros. on Wednesday. The Oscar-winning actor who recently starred in HBO’s drama The Young Pope is following footsteps of Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, who played older versions of the character in the Harry Potter series.

This time the actor will play a younger version of Dumbledore as the transfiguration professor in the prequels, long before he assumed the headmaster role.

The right one for the role

Last year, while promoting Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, J.K. Rowling hinted that the professor could be open with his sexuality at some point of the Fantastic Beasts franchise.Rowling had already revealed in 2007 that she envisioned Dumbledore as gay. Recently the author revealed some of the character’s information who’s just joining the franchise.

She said, “You will see Dumbledore as a younger man and quite a troubled man. We’ll see him in that formative period of his life. As far as his sexuality is concerned, watch this space.”

For director David Yates, Jude Law is the one to portray the legendary character. He said, “Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I’m looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him.”Then he added, “I know he will brilliantly capture all the unexpected facets of Albus Dumbledore as JK Rowling reveals this very different time in his life.”

Law’s Dumbledore would be the counterpart of Johnny Depp’s Grindelwald, the dark wizard that threatens the Wizardly World with his megalomaniac desires. And of whom Dumbledore has feelings for, but at some point, he faces off against his former friend in a wizarding war. The movie will explore this relationship.

Fantastic Beasts Franchise

Last year, the new Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them premiered. The movie grossed over $800 million worldwide.

The movie’s screenplay was written by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, and directed by David Yates who also directed the Harry Potter series. Both of them reprise their jobs in the second installment.

The second installment is set to hit theaters in November 2018, the new franchise is planned to be a five-film series exploring the Wizard world prior to the Harry Potter series.