The casting of Albus Dumbledore had many fans imagining who should play the future headmaster of Hogwarts. Following the reveal of the first cast photo for the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” sequel, the film’s producer David Heyman has now spoken about some of the casting choices.
Specifically, he told EW that the casting of Jude Law as Dumbledore was because the actor possesses many of the same qualities that they have found in the Dumbledore character:
“One of the reasons we chose Jude is he has many of the qualities we find in Dumbeldore in the Potter films. He’s got authority, he’s got a twinkle in his eye, he’s sometimes a bit elliptical. So you have that but also have this youthful energy and jubilance. So he brings that twinkle, mischief, authority, and power, but at the same time brings far more youthful energy to the film. You understand why he would be your favorite teacher and be someone you believe is an extraordinary wizard.”
Law is the third actor to play Albus Dumbledore on the big screen, following behind Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, both of whom portrayed the powerful wizard in his final years.
Law is part of a cast that also includes Ezra Miller as Credence, Claudia Kim as a Maledictus, Zoe Kravitz as Leta Lestrange, Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander, Katherine Waterson as Tina Goldstein, Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, Alison Sudol as Queen Goldstein and Johnny Depp as Dark wizard Gellert Grindlewald.
Depp’s return to the film series has attracted criticism from some fans who said he shouldn’t have been cast again after being accused of assaulting his ex-wife Amber Heard last year.
Here are some reactions on social media to the casting of Law.
im psyched for fantastic beasts 2 because jude law is albus dumbledore but im also not because johnny d*pp is Grindelwald
— iris (@KlLLlNGJOKE) November 14, 2017
Ok. Wait. So Jude Law is playing Albus Dumbledore? Huh. Also, surprising that Johnny Depp is still so financially bankable after allegations of abuse. But I guess that’s magic for ya… https://t.co/Ubb49vyKFJ
— Becky Latham (@BeckyLatham_) November 16, 2017
Jude Law is really perfect for Albus Dumbledore, I have no qualms on the casting
— Markus Antonius ⚡ (@markuspesky) November 17, 2017
JUDE LAW IS YOUNG ALBUS DUMBLEDORE IN THE NEW FANTASTIC BEASTS MOVIE COMING OUT IN 365 DAYS GUYS THIS IS SO EXCITING OH MY GOODNESS
— princetongirl (@reybabe_) November 16, 2017
In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the story opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is in production in the U.K. and France ahead of a late 2018 release.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros.