Jude Law Says ‘Harry Potter’ TV Show Likely Means ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Is Dead; J.K. Rowling Gave Him a Note That Dumbledore Sees Himself as a Monster

As a devoted follower of the magical world that J.K. Rowling has created, I find myself deeply saddened by the news that the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise might be coming to an end. Playing a younger Dumbledore was not just a role for me, but a journey that allowed me to delve into the heart of one of the most complex and intriguing characters in the Harry Potter universe.


Jude Law enjoyed portraying young Dumbledore in two “Fantastic Beasts” films, but he recently expressed to EbMaster that his tenure as the famous Harry Potter wizard might be finished. This is because Warner Bros. seems to be focusing more on a television series stemming from J.K. Rowling’s original seven novels instead.

Law indicated that the continuation of the “Fantastic Beasts” series seems to be paused for now. He speculates that with “Harry Potter” being adapted into a television show, the focus might shift towards that project instead. As of now, he hasn’t received any news about future plans for the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise.

The “Fantastic Beasts” series began in 2016, debuting with “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” This film, which J.K. Rowling helped write the script for, amassed a staggering $814 million globally at the box office. However, the magic waned as the subsequent films “The Crimes of Grindelwald” (released in 2018) and “The Secrets of Dumbledore” (released in 2022) received mixed reactions from critics and underperformed financially, earning $654 million and $407 million respectively.

The five-movie franchise, conceived by Rowling, revolves around Newt Scamander, a British wizard and magizoologist, played by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne. In these movies, Newt unwittingly gets caught up in the growing conflict sparked by the malevolent wizard Grindelwald. Law portrays Dumbledore in the final two films of the series.

Recently, during an interview with ComicBook.com, I myself admitted some uncertainty about whether the “Fantastic Beasts” series would manage to reach its intended five-movie milestone as planned by J.K. Rowling.

As a film enthusiast, I’m sharing my perspective: “From what I understand, it seems like Newt might not appear again. It’s an honest assessment, and yes, that’s the latest information I have. However, to get the definitive answer, you should reach out to the folks at Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling.

In an interview for EbMaster’s cover story, Law recollected his early conversations with J.K. Rowling regarding his role as a younger Dumbledore in the “Fantastic Beasts” series. Their first encounter took place in 2017, and Rowling provided him with details about the character’s complete journey within the franchise.

As a passionate cinephile, I remember vividly that J.K. Rowling shared her vision with me, and one detail she emphasized was Dumbledore’s self-perception as a monster. This insight made it all the more compelling when he found solace in Newt, who dedicated his life to caring for creatures often misunderstood and feared by many.

In the films, Dumbledore grapples with his personal identity as a man who falls in love with Grindelwald while dealing with his past. Law explained that due to a conflict with Grindelwald which resulted in the death of his sister, “Dumbledore always felt guilty about being deceived because he was in love. This guilt followed him throughout his life. He came to believe himself as unlovable because he let himself be swayed by his emotions.

He discovered a suitable niche as an actor by assuming the character of Dumbledore, thereby understanding the full extent of his extraordinary abilities.

He won my favor, both through his character and our games together. I found great pleasure in understanding his perspective, as Law put it.

Read Law’s full EbMaster cover story here.

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2024-10-30 18:16