At one point,Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themwas just set to be a standaloneHarry Potter spin-off, but that certainly isn’t the case anymore. After expanding to a trilogy,J.K. Rowlingannounced last month that this burgeoning franchise has now become five films, with the first sequel already written and set for release on June 14, 2025.J.K. Rowlingrecently hinted that the sequel may explore Albus Dumbledore’s sexuality.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Dumbledore will return inFantastic Beasts 2, although the character has yet to be cast. We do know thatJohnny Depphas come aboard as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who, in the original books, had a very close relationship with Dumbledore. While it was never explicitly stated in the books,J.K. Rowlingconfirmed during a 2007 Q&A that Dumbledore and Grindelwald had a homosexual relationship. During a press conference forFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,J.K. Rowlinghinted that we may see Dumbledore exploring his sexuality in the sequel. Here’s what the author had to say, courtesy ofScreen Rant.
“Well, I’m very comfortable with the question. I can’t tell you everything I would like to say because this is obviously a five-part story, so there’s lots to unpack in that relationship. I will say that you will seeDumbeldoreas a younger man and quite a troubled man because he wasn’t always the sage [mentor]. He was always very clever, but we’ll see him at what I think was the formative period of his life. As far as his sexuality is concerned, watch this space.”
Warner Bros. released anIMAX sneak peekvideo last month that hinted the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald would be present in this tale. It was established in the originalHarry Potterstories that Gellert Grindelwald was once friends with Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, whichHarry Potterlearned about via a chocolate frog card while he was aboard the Hogwarts Express. This movie will introduce Grindelwald at the height of his power as he calls for all European wizards to assert their domination over the muggles. DirectorDavid Yateshinted that Grindelwald will become “a much more prominent part of the stories going forward.”
DirectorDavid Yatesalso confirmed thatFantastic Beasts 2will be set in Paris, with the filmmaker returning to direct fromJ.K. Rowling’s script.Eddie Redmaynewill most certainly return as Newt Scamander inFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2, but no other fast members from the original movie have been confirmed to return quite yet. Warner Bros. hasn’t announced when production will begin onFantastic Beasts 2quite yet.
