Set in the magical universe of the famous Harry Potter series authored by J.K. Rowling, the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set to captivate audiences with a storyline that unfolds long before the iconic Hogwarts School comes face to face with dark forces.
Instead of Hogwarts, the film takes place in New York during the 1920s, where the protagonist, Newt Scamander, inadvertently releases magical creatures he has been caring for, leading to chaos in the bustling city of New York. Simultaneously, in Europe, the wizarding world associated with Harry Potter is also facing the threat of the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald.
Although the official release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is yet to come, the film’s creators, including Rowling, have expressed confidence about the upcoming sequel. Reportedly, the next installment will be set in Europe, featuring the return of Johnny Depp as the dark wizard Grindelwald.
According to production details, Johnny Depp will reprise his role as Grindelwald in the sequel and will make a brief appearance in the first film as a setup for his character’s significance.
Regarding the casting of Johnny Depp as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, director David Yates and producer David Heyman have shared that the choice was firmly established early on, emphasizing that they were looking for an actor who could bring depth and intrigue to the character.
“The purpose of casting is to select the best actors, those who can inspire and engage the audience and fit the characters they portray. As soon as we mentioned the character of Grindelwald, we immediately thought of one person, knowing that he would create quite a stir. Today, that person is a star, but tomorrow he could just as easily be the target of fan backlash, yet he remains a genius in the acting profession.”
For those unfamiliar, Grindelwald is a well-known dark wizard in the Harry Potter universe who has been mentioned several times, particularly in the seventh installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. If you have read J.K. Rowling’s novels, you would know that Grindelwald was once close friends with Albus Dumbledore, and the two sought to find the Deathly Hallows together for an extended period.
During a conflict among members of the Dumbledore family, Albus accidentally killed his sister Ariana and then became embroiled with the Elder Wand, a powerful magical artifact with a dark history.
