Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, or justThe Crimes of Grindelwald, is a direct sequel toFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and the second instalment of theseries of films based onFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, one of the companion books toJ. K. Rowling'sHarry Potter series, overall, being the tenth film set in thewizarding world. The film is directed byDavid Yates, with a screenplay byJ. K. Rowling. Returning starsEddie Redmayne,Katherine Waterston,Dan Fogler,Alison Sudol,Ezra Miller,Carmen Ejogo,Kevin Guthrie, andJohnny Depp, withZoë Kravitz,Callum Turner,Claudia Kim,William Nadylam, andJude Law joining the cast.

The plot followsNewton Scamander andAlbus Dumbledore as they attempt to take downGellert Grindelwald, while facing new threats in a more divided wizarding world. The story takes place inNew York,London, andParis starting around19 March,^[3]1927.^[4] Filming began on 3 July, 2017. It was released in most countries on16 November,2018, the same day thescreenplay was published^[5] although it was technically released days earlier in certain countries such as France and Argentina.

Synopsis[]

Grindelwald has made a dramatic escape from MACUSA custody. The villainous Grindelwald has been busy 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 studentNewt Scamander. Newt will again be joined byQueenie andTina Goldstein in the next film, as well as his No-Maj friend,Jacob Kowalski. However, the mission against Grindelwald will ‘test their loyalties’ as the wizarding world becomes more divided and dangerous.^[6]

Plot[]

In 1927, the powerful Dark wizardGellert Grindelwald is being held prisoner by the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA). When departing New York for transfer back to London, he is freed by follower and former MACUSA employee,Abernathy. Grindelwald dispatches the guards and escapes.

Three months later,Newt Scamander is appealing to theBritish Ministry of Magic to restore his right to travel, after losing it during his visit to New York City. He meets withLeta Lestrange, an old friend fromHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, who is engaged to his brotherTheseus. During his appeal, Newt is offered his travel rights returned if he agrees to work for the Ministry of Magic, alongside his brother, in locating theObscurialCredence Barebone, who has resurfaced in Paris; Credence is believed by many to be the last survivor of a long pure-blood line of wizards. Newt rejects the offer, and theAurorGrimmson is dispatched in his place. After leaving the Ministry, Newt is summoned to meet withDumbledore, who also asks him to travel to Paris to find Credence.

Newt returns home to find American friendsQueenie Goldstein andJacob Kowalski, who have followed Queenie's sisterTina to Europe. After a fight concerning the ban on marriage between wizards and Muggles, Newt realises that Jacob has been put under a love spell. After another argument, he lifts the spell. An angered Queenie leaves alone to find Tina. Newt and Jacob follow both to Paris.

In Paris, Tina attends a freak show at the Circus Arcanus, searching for Credence. Credence and circus attractionNagini escape during the show, releasing many of the animals. Credence and Nagini, searching for Credence's birth mother, find the nurse who put him up for adoption, but Grimmson arrives and kills her under Grindelwald's orders and escapes Credence'sObscurus. Meanwhile, Tina meetsYusuf, yet another interested party looking for Credence. Newt and Jacob follow Yusuf to Tina, and Yusuf explains that he has sworn to kill Credence, believed to be his half-brother and a member of theLestrange family.

Newt and Tina infiltrate theFrench Ministry of Magic for documents to confirm Credence's identity and are discovered by Leta and Theseus. Their search leads from the Ministry to the Lestrange family tomb, where Yusuf and Leta explain their relation and Leta reveals her brother died as an infant, and thus cannot be Credence. The trail seems to have been fabricated to lead Credence to the tomb, where Grindelwald is holding a rally for his followers, with Queenie in attendance and Jacob in search of her.

At the rally, Grindelwald preaches "freedom" for wizards from the rules that require them to remain hidden from Muggles, using future images of World War II to call for the supremacy of wizards. Led by Theseus, Aurors surround the rally, and Grindelwald turns his followers against them, sending them to spread his message across Europe. Grindelwald creates a circle of blue flame to divide followers from enemies, and the flames incinerate the majority of the Aurors when the latter's attempt to flee. Credence and Queenie cross to join him despite protests from Nagini and Jacob. Leta appears to swear allegiance, but attacks Grindelwald to allow Tina, Newt, Jacob, Yusuf, Nagini, and Theseus to escape, sacrificing herself. As Grindelwald escapes, the remaining heroes unite withNicolas Flamel to defeat the expanding blue flame and save Paris.

Newt travels toHogwarts to meet with Dumbledore and presents avial he has taken from Grindelwald, surmising that its blood pact was the reason Dumbledore could not face Grindelwald himself. At his baseNurmengard in Austria, Grindelwald presents Credence with a wand of his own, finally tells Credence his identity: he isAurelius Dumbledore. A baby bird Credence had been caring for is revealed to be aphoenix, a bird associated with theDumbledore family. Credence then demonstrates his newfound power as a wizard by using his new wand to blast apart a mountainside.

Cast[]

(In order of appearance)

• Johnny Depp asGellert Grindelwald^[7]
• Kevin Guthrie asAbernathy
• Carmen Ejogo asSeraphina Picquery^[8]
• Wolf Roth asRudolph Spielman
• Eddie Redmayne asNewt Scamander^[9]
• Zoë Kravitz asLeta Lestrange^[10]
• Callum Turner asTheseus Scamander^[11]
• Derek Riddell asTorquil Travers^[12]
• Cornell John asArnold Guzman
• Ezra Miller asCredence Barebone^[9]
• Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson asGrimmson^[13]
• Poppy Corby-Tuech asVinda Rosier
• Andrew Turner asMacDuff
• Maja Bloom asCarrow
• Simon Meacock asKrafft
• David Sakurai asKrall^[14]
• Claudius Peters asNagel
• Bart Soroczynski asStebbins
• Jude Law asAlbus Dumbledore^[15]
• Victoria Yeates asBunty
• Dan Fogler asJacob Kowalski^[9]
• Alison Sudol asQueenie Goldstein^[9][16]
• Katherine Waterston asTina Goldstein^[9]
• Alfie Mailley asChild in Bubble
• Claudia Kim asNagini^[17]
• Ólafur Darri Ólafsson asSkender
• William Nadylam asYusuf Kama
• David Wilmot asPortkey Tout
• Ed Gaughan asFrench Policeman
• Olivia Popica asReceptionist
• Danielle Hugues asIrma Dugard
• Isaac Cortinovis Johnson asMcClaggan’s Friend
• Alfie Simmons asMcClaggan
• Fiona Glascott asMinerva McGonagall
• Jamie Campbell Bower asYoung Grindelwald^[18]
• Toby Regbo asYoung Dumbledore^[18]
• Jemima Woolnough asGryffindor Girl #1
• Hollie Burgess asGryffindor Girl #2
• Thea Lamb asLeta Lestrange (13-16 Years Old)
• Joshua Shea asNewt Scamander (13-16 Years Old)^[19]
• Alfrun Rose asRed Haired Young Witch
• Brontis Jodorowsky asNicolas Flamel
• Jessica Williams asEulalie Hicks^[20]
• Olwen Fouéré asMelusine
• Isaura Barbé-Brown asLaurena Kama
• Hugh Quarshie asMustafa Kama
• Isaac Domingos asYusuf Kama (12 Years Old)
• Keith Chanter asCorvus Lestrange Senior
• Ruby Woolfenden asLeta Lestrange (3-6 Years Old)
• Linda Santiago asCredence's Aunt
• Christopher Birks asYoung Auror - Auditorium
• Simon Wan asChang

Uncredited[]

• Deepak Anand as Wizard
• Sabine Crossen asMrs Lestrange
• Adam Ewan asYaxley (1920s) (Incorrectly credited by some sources as 'Yarwood')
• Alexandra Ford asAcolyte
• Jan Freygang as Wizard
• Liv Hansen as Ministry of Magic Witch
• Aykut Hilmi asShafiq
• Phil Hodges as Prisoner 001
• Adrian Mozzi as Wizard
• Jag Patel as Senior Wizard
• Israel Ruiz as Ministry of Magic Wizard
• Joakim Skarli as Ministry of Magic Wizard
• Johanna Thea as Ministry of Magic Witch
• Nicki Vickery as Senior Wizard
• Kayt Webster-Brown asWife
• Mike Evans as Grindelwald Supporter
• Unknown asNon-Magique father
• Unknown asNon-Magique toddler
• Unknown asSebastian

Beasts[]

List of deaths[]

Production[]

Development[]

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was announced inOctober2014 byWarner Bros. At the time, the film was unnamed and the second part of planned trilogy of films based onFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It was scheduled for release on 16 November, 2018, two years after the release of the first film,Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

In the spring of 2016,David Yates first read the script, a full year and two months before they started shooting the film. David stated in the screenplay that, "The script felt layered, emotional, and that most precious of things: itself". In July of that year, David, director ofFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, revealed to the public thatJ. K. Rowling had written the screenplay for the second film. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Yates said "we've seen the script forPart 2, for the second film, which takes the story in a whole new direction – as you should, you don’t want to repeat yourself. The second film introduces new characters as she builds this part of theHarry Potter universe further. It's a very interesting development from where we start out. The work is pouring out of her."

In October 2016, the proposed trilogy ofFantastic Beasts films was expanded to five films, including the news thatEddie Redmayne would return in all of the films as lead characterNewton Scamander. Yates was also contracted to direct the sequel, with Rowling,David Heyman,Steve Kloves andLionel Wigram serving as producers. Yates later revealed that he was on-board to direct all the films in theFantastic Beasts series.

Pre-production[]

After a cameo asLeta Lestrange in the first film,Zoë Kravitz returned for the sequel with a larger role. It was revealed on 1 November, 2016, thatJohnny Depp had been cast in the film in an unspecified role that was later revealed to beGellert Grindelwald. Depp's casting in the film caused some fans to criticise his involvement due to previous allegations of domestic violence. J. K. Rowling commented on the issue, stating that "the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the films." She did not consider recasting the role since Depp and with his ex-wife, actress Amber Heard, hoped that the settlement of their dispute would enable both of them to continue working and move on from the controversy.

David Yates revealed thatAlbus Dumbledore would be a character in the film. However,Michael Gambon would not be returning to the role, and a younger actor would play the character instead. In the same interview, he stated the film would be set in the United Kingdom and Paris. Several actors were considered from the role of the younger Dumbledore, including Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Mark Strong. Jarred Harris, son ofRichard Harris who played Dumbledore in the first twoHarry Potter films was also in the running. Eventually,Jude Law was announced to be playing Dumbledore in April 2017.

Ezra Miller was reported as preparing to film for the sequel, confirming his return asCredence Barebone.Callum Turner was added to the cast in the role asNewton Scamander's older brother,Theseus Scamander. At the start of principal photography on 3 July, 2017, additional cast members were announced, includingClaudia Kim,William Nadylam,Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson,Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, andKevin Guthrie. A plot synopsis was also released.

Filming[]

Filming began on3 July2017 at Leavesden Studios. On22 September 2017,David Sakurai was cast to playKrall, one of the ambitious and sulky henchman of Grindelwald.

Jude Law was reported to have finished his participation in the film by September 2017. On 5 October 2017, several other additions to the cast were announced, includingBrontis Jodorowsky asNicolas Flamel andJessica Williams in an undisclosed role, which has since been revealed to beEulalie Hicks. Filming wrapped on20 December2017.

Music[]

• James Newton Howard returned after scoring the firstfilm, to score for thesoundtrack of this film.

Release[]

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was released byWarner Bros. on 16 November 2018. The film was released in IMAX, IMAX 3D and 2D formats.

Marketing[]

The screenplay forFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was released in book form on the same day the film was released, 16 November 2018.

Reception[]

The film has generated a generally mixed response from film critics. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 36% based on 289 reviews, with an average rating of 5.3/10, while reception is higher from those the site considers "top critics," giving the film an average of 46% with 35 reviews and an average of 5.72/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has glimmers of the magic familiar to Harry Potter fans, but the story's spell isn't as strong as earlier installments".^[21] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 52 out of 100, based on 48 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".^[22] It is the lowest-rated Wizarding World film on both websites.

Andrew Barker of Variety called the film a "cluttered expansion of the Harry Potter franchise" and wrote, "The film throws plenty of plot twists, loud noises, and multi-hued magical nebulae at us, but rarely is there much tension, or sense of adventure, or any real longing, just the feeling of watching one chess piece after another being moved into position."^[23] Writing for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw gave the film 3/5 stars, praising Law and Depp's performances, but criticising the film's excessive plotting, and saying, "This Fantastic Beasts film is as watchable and entertaining as expected... but some of the wonder, novelty and sheer narrative rush of the first film has been mislaid in favour of a more diffuse plot focus, spread out among a bigger ensemble cast."^[24] Sarah Murphy ofExclaim found the film politically relevant, writing, "With the two worlds on the precipice of war, Grindelwald is depicted as a power-hungry populist in an extremely politically divisive time. It's too close to real life to not be terrifying."^[25]

Behind the scenes[]

• The set-production name for this film was "Voltaire".^[26]
• The film features several characters first mentioned in theHarry Potter series, such asAlbus Dumbledore, andGellert Grindelwald. It also marks the first time thatNicolas Flamel is shown in a film, after being named on several occasions in thePhilosopher's Stone film, exciting many fans of the Wizarding World franchise.^[27][28]
• Stuart Craig originally said thatFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald would take place in Paris, 1926.J. K. Rowling corrected this on Twitter after it was reported by Snitchseeker.^[29]
• On22 August2017, it was reported that Hogwarts might appear in the film, as filming took place at Lacock Abbey, a location used on theHarry Potter films.^[30] Promotional images have since shownAlbus Dumbledore in theDefence Against the Dark Arts classroom set.
• The Hogwarts robes appear to have undergone a slight redesign in this film compared to the original film series, possibly reflecting the different time frame that the series is set in.
• TheGreat Hall was unavailable forFantastic Beasts' production since it is part of thestudio tour. They had to recreate the whole set for the Great Hall scene withLeta Lestrange.^[31]
• There is a deleted scene in which afterCredence Barebone was destroyed at the hands of theMACUSA inFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film), he travels slowly back to the Church.^[32]
• In2017 during the production of this film,Ariana Dumbledore andKendra Dumbledore were cast, and shot scenes for the film, but were ultimately cut.^[33]
  • It is possible that their scenes could make an appearance in the third instalment in the franchise,Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.^[33]

Inconsistencies[]

There are several inconsistencies in this film that do not reflect some of the established lore in the books. These are:

• Torquil Travers tells Newt that he wants him to "join the Ministry. More specifically, your brother's department", despite the fact that according to both the new and the old edition of thecompanion book of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, he already worked for the Ministry at the time, in theDepartment for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, more specifically, theDragon Research and Restraint Bureau.
  • Given Travers' established personality as an arrogant, harsh and mean-spirited man and taking great pride in his status as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, a position generally second only to the Minister, as well as the general contemptuous attitude held by the wizarding world towards magical beasts at the time, it isn't too much of a stretch to surmise that Travers regards the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures as being inferior and unworthy of respect in the Ministry hierarchy.
• Revealing that Credence is a Dumbledore. Credence is at least fifteen years younger thanAriana Dumbledore, andPercival Dumbledore went to prison when Ariana was eleven, meaning that there is no way he could have had a fourth child.
  • It is possible, however, that he is a more distant relative, such as a cousin. It is also possible that Grindelwald is simply lying about Credence's heritage, and the phoenix's behaviour towards Credence is spawned by some other factor entirely.
  • It may also be possible that Credence is Albus' paternal half brother as Percival could have had a child with someone else either in Azkaban or even outside (if he escaped without anyone knowing, in a similar manner asBarty Crouch Jnr did). Although it is said that Percival Dumbledore died sometime after 1890, it is still likely he lived until 1901, around the time Credence was conceived.
• Minerva McGonagall working at Hogwarts. According to a conversation between McGonagall andDolores Umbridge inHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, she has been teaching at Hogwarts for 39 years. However, she is shown here working as a teacher in the mid-1910s (based on Newt's canon birthday), a time when she wouldn't have been born, assuming McGonagall served those 39 years consecutively without any breaks.
  • Minerva could have been deliberately obfuscating about her length of time as a teacher. It is possible that she would have been teaching at Hogwarts for 39 years as Head of the Transfiguration Department (as the film shows Dumbledore teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts) and was referring to that whilst leaving out how long she had been teaching prior to assuming that title.
• Newt Scamander identifiesMatagots as spirit familiars, which is a subject of much debate and controversy in the fandom. This is becauseJ. K. Rowling has previously stated that"familiars, in the strictest sense, do not exist in the world of Harry Potter",^[34] after years of fans debating whether or notHedwig wasHarry Potter's spirit familiar.
  • Familiars, in the strictest sense, grant a boost to their owners' magical power and abilities. Matagots clearly do not do any such thing toMelusine and attack only when Leta provokes them. As such, the Matagots likely have a symbiotic/mutualistic relationship with the French Ministry in that they are kept fed and sheltered in return for providing security detail.
• According to previously established lore, theBritish Ministry of Magic has, generally speaking, very little say in the running of Hogwarts, as the appointment and dismissal of the Headmaster is up to theHogwarts Board of Governors, and the Ministry has no authority to punish students for misdemeanours at school. As who is employed to teach at the school and what subject they teach is up to the Headmaster of the day,Torquil Travers would have no power to remove Albus Dumbledore as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Rather, it would have been more consistent with prior canon if he pressured the Board of Governors to issue a demand to have the Headmaster of the day remove him from the position instead.
  • Given the serious threat posed to the stability, safety and secrecy of the wizarding world as a whole by Grindelwald's campaign, it is possible that the magical ministries were granted or undertook more authoritarian measures in the name of ensuring said security. In the previous film, Grindelwald was able to sentence Newt to death by execution whilst masquerading as Percival Graves without any protest from other MACUSA employees present despite Newt not being an American citizen. Alternatively, Travers bluntly stated that his status as Head of Magical Law Enforcement allowed him to go or do whatever he pleased so he likely thought that he could just remove Dumbledore by vocal decree and little else.
  • It's also possible that the law changed between 1927 and the 1990s.

Videos[]

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald - Final Trailer

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald - Official Teaser Trailer

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald - Official Comic-Con Trailer

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald – Maledictus Reveal – Warner Bros. UK

ActressClaudia Kim finally gets to announce the name of her character

'Fantastic Beasts 2' Cast Talks Epic Johnny Depp Special Appearance at Comic-Con (Exclusive)

JOHNNY DEPP Surprises Fans at FANTASTIC BEASTS- THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD Panel - 2018 Comic Con

Fantastic Beasts 2 - Comic Con 2018 Full Panel (Eddie Redmayne, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Ezra Miller)

Gallery[]

Posters and other promotional materials

Stills

External links[]

• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald at theInternet Movie Database

Notes and references[]