Although it wasn't perfect, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM managed to successfully launch a new series in the HARRY POTTER franchise while also establishing its own identity, and according to executive producer David Heyman, the upcoming sequel will be even more dynamic, alive, and immersive than its predecessor. As it's certainly not like a producer to overly hype their own film, I'm inclined to believe him.
Joking aside, it does appear that FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD will be expanding the world quite a bit, complete with a bevy of new locations and characters, which Heyman hinted at when he spoke with Entertainment Weekly recently.
We delve deeper into Jo’s wizarding world — we’re in Paris, we’re in London and New York — the world is expanding. As you can tell from the image, we’re following quite a few characters. The new film has a very different feel than the first. It’s got a thriller quality. And it’s also a story about love and passion and all its forms — paternal, romantic, political. And it’s just a thrilling and very fun adventure. We took all we’ve learned from one and just expanded that and created a richer, deeper and more thrilling film which I’m excited to be a part of.
David Heyman also commented on the direction of David Yates, "Cinematically it’s more dynamic. The camera is more alive and much more immersive. It has a more contemporary cinematic approach."
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD will open in 1927, a few months after the events of the first film in which Newt Scamander helped to capture the infamous dark wizard Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), and, 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 (Jude Law). 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 (Katherine Waterston), Queenie (Alison Sudol) and Jacob (Dan Fogler), but his mission will also test their loyalties as they face new perils in an increasingly dangerous and divided wizarding world.
In addition to the returning characters from the first film, which includes Ezra Miller as the enigmatic Credence, the sequel will also star Claudia Kim as a Maledictus, the carrier of a blood curse that destines her ultimately to transform into a beasts, Callum Turner as Newt's older brother, Theseus Scamander, a celebrated war hero and the Head of the Auror Office at the British Ministry of Magic, and we'll also be properly introduced to Leta Lestrange, played by Zoe Kravitiz, who had once been close to Newt but is now engaged to his brother.
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD will hit theaters on November 16, 2018.