Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 started filming today, and to commemorate the occasion, Warner Bros. has released details about the film’s plot, cast, and locations.
J.K. Rowling has again written the script, with the action moving from New York to London and Paris, and revolving around Albus Dumbledore teaming up with former pupil Newt Scamander to bring down Dark Wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
So here’s everything we now know about the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel…
Fantastic Beasts 2 Plot
The following official synopsis has been released…
J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay for the film, which opens in 1927, a few months after Newt helped to unveil and capture the infamous Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. However, as he promised he would, Grindelwald has made a dramatic escape and has been gathering more followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings.
The only one who might be able to stop him is the wizard he once called his dearest friend, Albus Dumbledore. But Dumbledore will need help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander.
The adventure reunites Newt with Tina, Queenie and Jacob, but his mission will also test their loyalties as they face new perils in an increasingly dangerous and divided wizarding world. The film expands the wizarding world, moving from New York to London and on to Paris. There are also some surprising nods to the Harry Potter stories that will delight fans of the books and film series.
Fantastic Beasts 2 Cast
Eddie Redmayne will return as Newt Scamander, alongside Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein, and Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski. And rather more mysteriously, Ezra Miller’s Credence will also be making an appearance.
Johnny Depp was briefly seen as Grindelwald at the end of the first film, and being the villain of the piece, his role is expanded in the follow-up. Zoe Kravitz’s Leta Lestrange was also glimpsed in a photo in the first film, and will similarly play a more prominent part in proceedings this time out.
Jude Law landed the plum role of Albus Dumbledore, Grindelwald’s friend-turned-enemy. Rowling has previously revealed that Dumbledore was once in love with Grindelwald, so might we see romantic sparks fly in the sequel?
A wizarding circus will also clearly be taking centre stage, with Ólafur Darri Ólafsson playing boss of the circus Skender, and Claudia Kim portraying a featured attraction.
Elsewhere Callum Turner plays Newt’s older brother and war hero Thesus, Kevin Guthrie appears as Abernathy, head of MACUSA (Magical Congress of the USA), William Nadylam is a wizard name Yusuf Kama, and Ingvar Sigurdsson plays a bounty hunter named Grimmson.
The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel hits screen on November 18, 2018, and is the second in a proposed five-film series.