Fantastic Beasts 2 won’t explicitly address Dumbledore’s sexuality

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Over a decade ago, HARRY POTTER author J.K. Rowling revealed that Albus Dumbledore was gay and had even been in love with Gellert Grindelwald before their falling out. The HARRY POTTER films didn't exactly address Dumbledore's sexuality, but when it was announced that the character would be featured in the FANTASTIC BEASTS franchise, fans began wondering whether the future Hogwarts headmaster's sexuality would be a part of the story. While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD director David Yates revealed that no, the sequel would not explicitly address Dumbledore's sexuality.

Not explicitly. But I think all the fans are aware of that. He had a very intense relationship with Grindelwald when they were young men. They fell in love with each other’s ideas, and ideology and each other.

That's not to say that it won't come up in the FANTASTIC BEASTS franchise, after all, there are still three more sequels to go after THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD. J.K. Rowling had previously teased that Dumbledore's sexuality would be addressed at some point in the films, saying, "I can’t tell you everything I would like to say because this is obviously a five-part story so there’s lots to unpack in that relationship. You will see Dumbledore as a younger man and quite a troubled man — he wasn’t always the sage…We’ll see him at that formative period of his life. As far as his sexuality is concerned … watch this space." As J.K. Rowling has taken on screen-writing duties for the FANTASTIC BEASTS franchise herself, rather than letting another adapt the story, I suppose we can take her at her word. David Yates further teased our re-introduction to Dumbledore as a younger man:

He’s a maverick and a rebel and he’s an inspiring teacher at Hogwarts. He’s witty and has a bit of edge. He’s not this elder statesman. He’s a really kinetic guy. And opposite Johnny Depp as Grindelwald, they make an incredible pairing.

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 (Eddie Redmayne). 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: CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD will hit theaters on November 16, 2018.