Jude Law cast as Young Dumbledore in ‘Fantastic Beasts’ sequel
I actually enjoyed the Fantastic Beast flick, in all its raging mediocrity. That said, while I’ll probably see it, the sequel holds no juice with me. As well, this casting does very little to change that.
Jude Law has been tapped to play young Dumbledore in the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” sequel.
David Yates is returning to direct and Eddie Redmayne will be back to star alongside Johnny Depp, who will play the villain Grindelwald.
Albus Dumbledore is one of the most iconic characters in J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world. Richard Harris made the role famous in the first two “Harry Potter” pics. Michael Gambon later took over the part after Harris’ death in 2002.
The two-time Academy Award nominee will portray Dumbledore long before the wizard became the headmaster at Hogwarts and Potter’s mentor. Set decades before the original “Harry Potter” films and books, Dumbledore is still serving as the wizarding school’s transfiguration professor in “Fantastic Beasts 2.”
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 — for the role.
Rowling, who made her screenwriting debut on “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” has also written the script for the second installment, which is set in an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world, where Newt Scamander and company have to decide on their allegiances.