Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Third and final Fantastic Beasts film, set five years after Crimes of Grindelwald.
In 2022, David Yates directed *Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore*, a fantasy film written by J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves based on Rowling’s characters. This movie serves as the third and final chapter of the *Fantastic Beasts* series and the eleventh film in the broader Wizarding World franchise. The ensemble cast includes Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Katherine Waterston, and Mads Mikkelsen. The story picks up five years after *The Crimes of Grindelwald*, with Albus Dumbledore sending Newt Scamander and his companions on a mission into the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald’s army.
Originally scheduled for November 2021, the film’s release was delayed to April 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most main cast members confirmed their return in March 2020. Principal photography was postponed from early 2020 due to the pandemic and finally began in September 2020. Johnny Depp, who had returned as Grindelwald and filmed one scene, was asked to leave the role in November 2020 after the Depp v News Group Newspapers Ltd court case verdict; Mads Mikkelsen replaced him later that month. Filming concluded in February 2021.
The movie premiered at London’s Royal Festival Hall on March 29, 2022, with an international release on April 14 and a U.S. release on April 15 through Warner Bros. Pictures. Critics gave it mixed reviews, and it earned over $407 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing film in the Wizarding World franchise.
In the plot, Albus Dumbledore admits to Grindelwald that he once supported his plans to destroy the Muggle world because he was in love with him. Newt Scamander helps a qilin give birth in Kweilin, but Credence apparates in, kills the mother, and kidnaps the newborn. Newt rescues a second baby qilin and meets Theseus, then joins Albus in Hogsmeade, where Albus explains that a blood troth prevents him from harming Grindelwald. Grindelwald’s followers bring him the newborn qilin, which he kills to use its precognitive powers, while Queenie secretly watches. Queenie visits Credence, who struggles with being a Dumbledore, and suggests he kill Albus. Jacob Kowalski meets Lally Hicks, and they join Newt, Theseus, and Yusuf Kama. Newt shares Albus’s plan, giving Jacob a fake wand, Theseus a red and gold tie, and Lally a book. In Berlin, Anton Vogel acquits Gri
- release_year
- 2022
- director
- David Yates
- screenplay_by
- J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves
- genre
- Fantasy
- box_office
- Over $407 million worldwide
- series
- Fantastic Beasts (third and final instalment)
Lore & Background
The film was originally slated for release in November 2021 but was pushed back to April 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal photography began in September 2020 after being postponed. Johnny Depp returned as Grindelwald and filmed one scene but was asked to step down in November 2020 following the verdict of the Depp v News Group Newspapers Ltd court case; Mads Mikkelsen replaced him later that month. Filming wrapped in February 2021.
Reader's Guide
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London on March 29, 2022, and was released internationally on April 14 and in the United States on April 15, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over $407 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing film of the Wizarding World franchise. The film concludes the Fantastic Beasts series and resolves the storyline of Credence Barebone, revealing him to be the illegitimate son of Aberforth Dumbledore rather than Albus's brother. The blood pact between Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald is broken during their final confrontation, and Grindelwald disapparates. The film ends with Jacob and Queenie marrying at Jacob's bakery.
Did You Know?
- Johnny Depp returned as Grindelwald and filmed one scene before being replaced by Mads Mikkelsen following the Depp v News Group Newspapers Ltd court case.
- The film was originally scheduled for November 2021 but was delayed to April 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It is the lowest-grossing film of the Wizarding World franchise, earning over $407 million worldwide.
- The qilin, a magical creature with psychic abilities, is central to the plot and is used by Grindelwald to influence the ICW election.
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