J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts Franchise Finds Its Dumbledore in Jude Law

J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film franchise has found its young Albus Dumbledore in Jude Law. It’s probably a bad sign that I laughed when I heard the news, right?

Variety had the exclusive this morning and reiterated David Yates is set to direct. The film will star Eddie Redmayne once again as Newt Scamander and while still focusing on the Wizarding World, is said to be moving on from New York. Variety writes:

Richard Harris made the role famous in the first two “Harry Potter” pics. Michael Gambon late took over the role after Richard Harris’ death in 2002.

The studio had been considering every major British actor in the biz — from Christian Bale to Benedict Cumberbatch to Mark Strong to Harris’ son “Mad Men” alum and “The Crown” actor Jared Harris.

[Spoilers for Fantastic Beasts to follow.]

I think Law is a great actor and is probably a good fit for Dumbledore but I can’t help but not like it for some reason that I can’t really put into words right now. It doesn’t help that he’ll be playing opposite Johnny Depp, who was revealed as Grindelwald in the first film. I rewatched Fantastic Beasts recently and groaned just like I did in the theater when Colin Farrell’s Graves is revealed to be Grindelwald in disguise. I enjoyed the film but that part took me right out of the magic. Law starred with the actor previously in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus along with Farrell.

“As fans ourselves, we are thrilled to have Jude Law joining the Fantastic Beasts cast, playing a character so universally adored,” Toby Emmerich, president and chief content officer of Warner Bros. Pictures, said. “Jude has been a member of the Warner Bros. family for years and we’re excited to embark on this new adventure with him.”

“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,” said Yates. “I know he will brilliantly capture all the unexpected facets of Albus Dumbledore as J.K. Rowling reveals this very different time in his life.”

Yates has said of the sequel, “currently the beasts feature slightly less in the second film, and Grindelwald takes more of a foreground. Currently. But we love the beasts so much. There’s an amazing beast in the second movie–a Chinese beast, actually–that is featured. We’re exploring how we can get a couple more beasts into the second film, with Jo.”

Rowling, who is scripting the 5-film franchise, has said of her direction, “We’re talking about the first time a wizard rose and threatened the world order..This was always where I was interested in going. This is what I wanted to do.” While it’s been confirmed that Dumbledore is gay and had feelings for Grindelwald, Rowling has not confirmed whether the feelings were reciprocated or if he was just using the wizard. We saw some background of his plans in Fantastic Beasts, to gain control over an Obscurial. It’s led many to believe Dumbldore’s young sister Ariana was one and this is what led to her and their mother’s deaths.

What do you think of the news, Potterheads?

5 Responses to “J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts Franchise Finds Its Dumbledore in Jude Law”

  1. […] other recent Wizarding World news, Jude Law was cast as a young version of Albus Dumbledore for the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them films. I’m still coming to terms with it as […]

  2. WheelchairNinja says:

    With three unnamed sequels, I hope one of them can be a Quidditch Through the Ages movie focusing on a team trying to get to the national championships. Make up for the huge letdown that was showing every part of the World Cup in GoF except the actual game…

    • I WAS SO ANGRY ABOUT THE WORLD CUP IN GoF

      • WheelchairNinja says:

        I know, right??? I get that big fancy CGI broomfests cost a ton of money, but the way they built up the hype with them going to the game and entering the stadium and then BOOM the game is over made it feel like the projectionist had missed a reel! That plus Dumbledore’s utterly out of character “DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THAT GOBLET!!” and all the guys suddenly having the same shaggy mophead hairstyle made it my least favorite Potter movie.