Jude Law cast as young Dumbledore for Fantastic Beasts 2

BAFTA-winning actor Jude Law will be playing a younger version of wizard Albus Dumbeldore in the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

According to a report on The Guardian, Law will be joining the ranks of renowned actors Richard Harris and Michael Gambon in playing the great wizard and mentor of Harry Potter. He will be Dumbledore against Johnny Depp’s Gellert Grindelwald, who made a brief appearance at the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Law has recently appeared in Paolo Sorrentino’s drama, The Young Pope, as the titular character.

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books provide some background on the early life of Albus Dumbledore including his friendship with (and unrequited love for) Grindelwald. After a major disagreement, they both engage in a historic magical duel which Dumbledore wins.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which starred Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, was a big box office hit in 2016, making over $800m worldwide. Rowling also revealed that there would be five films in this series.

The second film in the Fantastic Beasts series will be directed by David Yates. Yates had this to say about Law’s casting:

“Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I’m looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him…I know he will brilliantly capture all the unexpected facets of Albus Dumbledore as JK Rowling reveals this very different time in his life.”

Dumbledore eventually becomes the Headmaster at Hogwarts, but in the upcoming films he will be a Transfiguration professor. Jude Law will be seen as the antagonist in the upcoming King Arthur film as well as in the music drama, Vox Lux, opposite Rooney Mara.

Watch this space for more news about the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.