Warner Bros. has released the firstFantastic Beasts 2trailer, offering fans a look at the highly anticipated sequel.David Yates, who not only directed the firstFantastic Beastsbut also the final fourHarry Potterfilms starting withOrder of the Phoenix, returns to the director’s chair for the second of a planned five-filmFantastic Beastsfranchise that further reveals the Wizarding World—albeit in the 1920s instead of present day.
J.K. Rowlingreturns to pen the script forFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which finds magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and his friends enlisted by a young (and very handsome) Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) to help track down the villainous Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), who is amassing an army to rule over all impure muggles and non-magic folk.
While the firstFantastic Beastsoffered a first look at the American Wizarding World with a New York City setting,The Crimes of Grindelwaldmoves the action to Paris for the most part, uncovering yet another corner of Rowling’s ever-expanding Wizarding World. Indeed, the plan for the franchise is for each filmto take place in a different city. But the firstFantastic Beasts 2trailer also takes us back to a very familiar location right off the bat – Hogwarts, where we meet Law as Dumbledore. He certainly does have that twinkling eye down, eh?
Young Dumbledore aside, the new trailer also teases Deathly Hallows connections, teases a few of the titular beasts, and offers glimpses at the rag-tag bunch of wizards and No-Maj’s we mat in the firstFantastic Beastfilm.The Crimes of Grindelwaldbrings us closer to the mythology the Wizarding World we all know and love, and I’m curious of Newt and Jacob’s slapstick adventures can still hold our interest when the shadow of Hogwarts, the Potters and all the familiar faces of the original series grow ever-larger. The trailer certainly teases plenty of enchanting images, so we’ll see how it all comes together whenFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwaldopens in theaters on November 16th.
The film also starsKatherine Waterston,Alison Sudol,Dan Fogler,Zoe Kravitz,Ezra Miller,Callum Turner, andClaudia Kim. Watch the firstFantastic Beasts 2trailer below.
Here’s the official synopsis forFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald:
At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.
