Fantastic Beasts 2 plot revealed as filming gets underway

Following the success of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them last year, Warner Bros. announced four more sequels as part of a five-movie franchise. The first of those movies has begun production and the official plot of it was revealed hinting a lot more of young Dumbledore.

The first movie followed Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he ventured off to the States with a suit case full of beasts but ended with the return of infamous dark wizard, Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). The follow-up will continue to feature Newt, but will also follow Dumbledore’s mission to take down his old friend. Jude Law has already been announced to play the role of young Dumbledore, taking up after Michael Gambon’s performance in the original Harry Potter movies.

Here’s the official description of the plot for Fantastic Beasts 2:

“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. 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.”

Among the plot points that will be explored is Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s now defunct friendship and its intricacies. JK Rowling has stated in the past that there may have been some sort of amorous aspect to their friendship (particularly on Dumbledore’s part) and the Fantastic Beasts films will continue to unwrap that storyline.

The movie is set to take place in the 1920’s again, which means Grindelwald’s defeat in 1945 is still some ways to go in future Fantastic Beasts sequels. We also have to imagine the movie will explore the only touched upon storyline of Newt Scamander’s relationship with a Leta Lestrange.

J.K. Rowling is returning to pen the script while David Yates will return to direct his sixth Harry Potter movie.

Fantastic Beasts 2 is scheduled to hit theaters November 16, 2018.