Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is going to open up the world of Harry Potter in a lot of new ways. Since it’s set seventy years before the story we know, it’s been rumored that certain characters will appear in these films. Looks like we just got confirmation of a very important one.
Albus Dumbledore will show up in the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The character would be around forty-five years old at during the time the movie takes place. It’s likely that his story will coincide with that of Gellert Grindelwald, a friend and love interest to Dumbledore.
It’s exciting to know we’ll get to see Dumbledore before he was the Headmaster of Hogwarts. The big question is: who will play him? Casting is underway and it’s sure to be a coveted role. Considering how good they have gotten at de-aging actors with CGI, why not recast Michael Gambon? His contribution to the role is undeniable. But, they probably want someone younger. That ensures their continued presence for multiple movies.
Depp as Dumbledore?
Could this be the role Johnny Depp is playing? Rumors persist that he’s playing Grindelwald but nothing is confirmed. Regardless, it’s clear that Warner Bors. wants to make this sequel hit hard. The projected success for the first Fantastic Beasts film isn’t as high as they might have hoped. People are still wondering how this will link up to the Harry Potter story they know and love. Naturally, fans are jazzed for this film but the general audience doesn’t seem quite as enthusiastic. Landing some big names and recognizable characters for the sequel is a good business move.
In any case, this is invigorating but cautious news. Prequels have a bad reputation – and for good reason – and doing too much prequelizing might hurt this new series. Let’s hope they do a good job with both the new and old characters.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens on November 18.
