Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures recently announced that Two-time Academy Award nominee Jude Law is set to star as Albus Dumbledore in the “Fantastic Beasts” sequel.
“As fans ourselves, we are thrilled to have Jude Law joining the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ cast, playing a character so universally adored. Jude has been a member of the Warner Bros. family for years and we’re excited to embark on this new adventure with him.” Emmerich commented.
Emmerich explained that principal photography begins this summer on the new “Fantastic Beasts” adventure, which will be directed by David Yates, who previously helmed the final four “Harry Potter” features, as well as “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The film also reunites producers David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram. Neil Blair, Rick Senat and Danny Cohen are serving as executive producers. Slated for release on November 16, 2018, the film, which is the second of five planned “Fantastic Beasts” movies.
“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 J.K. Rowling reveals this very different time in his life.” Director David Yates commented.
Yates pointed out that Law will portray Dumbledore long before the iconic wizard became the Headmaster at Hogwarts, as he has been known in the “Harry Potter” books and movies. We meet him decades earlier, when Dumbledore is still serving as the wizarding school’s Transfiguration professor. He is also a contemporary of Gellert Grindelwald, the charismatic dark wizard who believes wizards are superior to Muggles and No-Majs.