Jude Law will be playing the role of Professor Albus Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2. 

Jude Law, shown here as Alexei Karenin in ANNA KARENINA, will portray Albus Dumbledore in FANTASTIC BEASTS 2.

[Photo by Laurie Sparham/Focus Features]

Director David Yates confirmed he was pleased with the casting.  “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. 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.”

David Yates will be directing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2, and J. K. Rowling herself will be writing the script.  Eddie Redmayne will be returning as Newt Scarmander and Johnny Depp will be back as Gellert Grindelwald. Warner Brothers has announced that Fantastic Beasts 2 will be the second in a five-movie series.

Jude Law is no stranger to science fiction and fantasy fans.  He played Jerome Morrow in Gattaca, Gigolo Joe in A. I., Joe Sullivan in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Tony in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Hugo’s father in Hugo, and Pitch in The Rise of the Guardians.  He will be playing Vortigern in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, which is due to be released May 12. Jude Law has won seventeen awards for his acting, including England’s prestigious BAFTA, and has been nominated for over fifty awards. Law was nominated for an Oscar for his work in Cold Mountain and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

Toby Emmerich, President of Warner Brothers Pictures, announced “As fans ourselves, we are thrilled to have Jude Law joining the Fantastic Beasts cast, playing a character so universally adored.  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 played Dr. Watson in 2009 and 2011.

[Photo by Christopher Raphael/Warner Bros.]

Jude Law will be the third actor to portray Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.  The late Richard Harris played Dumbledore in the first two movies, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. His son, Jared Harris, had been considered for the role of the younger Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts 2 before Law was cast. Michael Gambon played Dumbledore in the remaining six films. Law’s portrayal will be a much younger Dumbledore, long before he becomes headmaster or earns the Order of Merlin.

Pottermore quoted: “In the latest edition of the Hogwarts Library book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt says in his foreword that, ‘Albus Dumbledore was something more than a schoolteacher to me,’ but to reveal more would breach the Official Magical Secrets Act as well as his former teacher’s confidence.” This, combined with Gellert Grindelwald’s jealousy of Newt Scarmander in the first movie, has some fans wondering if Dumbledore will be openly Gay in this film.  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 is scheduled to begin filming this summer, and if all goes well, will be released November 16, 2018.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress ”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.