The final trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes the Grindelwald released earlier this week showcases many of the film’s most important plot points. The film follows magic creatures expert Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, who reprises his role from the first film, as he is recruited by Dumbledore, played by Jude Law, to stop the dark wizard Grindelwald from consolidating his power. Grindelwald is once again played by Johnny Depp, who appeared briefly in the first Fantastic Beasts film. Films expert point out that the trailer features many layers of subtext that provide insight into Dumbledore’s relationship with Grindelwald. When Scamander asks Dumbledore why he cannot fight Grindelwald himself, a scene is shown that features a teenage Dumbledore holding hands with a younger Grindelwald while looking into the Mirror of Erised. As fans of the series know, the Mirror of Erised is a magical item from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World that shows the viewer the deepest and most desperate desires of their heart.
Rowling has not shied away from questions surrounding the sexuality of Dumbledore. Speaking with fans, Rowling earlier revealed that Dumbledore and Grindelwald were childhood friends and that Dumbledore came to fall in love with the future dark wizard in his youth. The brief moment reveals why Dumbledore gives Scamander the task of stopping Grindelwald: despite all the evil deeds the dark wizard has done, Dumbledore still has romantic feelings for him.
The new trailer also revealed surprising backstory for one of the most important characters of the Harry Potter film series: Nagini, Voldemort’s pet snake and Horcrux. First introduced in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Nagini has previously only appeared in the guise of a snake. The trailer introduces Nagini’s human form, where she is played by actress Claudia Kim. The new film will see Nagini working as a circus performer, mesmerizing audiences as she transforms from human to snake. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Kim reveals the Nagini of The Crimes of Grindelwald is not evil, but a vulnerable woman who is facing the prospect of becoming a snake for the rest of her life. Kim also promised that Nagini will have surprising magical abilities in the film, although denied that her character wields a wand.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald premieres on November 16. A currently untitled third film in the series is also set for release on November 20, 2020.
