The upcoming third instalment in the Fantastic Beasts series
is titled The Secrets of Dumbledore, Warner Bros announced as the studio moved
up the theatrical release of the film by three months.
The official logline of the film reads: "Professor
Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving
to seize control of the wizarding world.
Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt
Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches, and one brave Muggle
baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts, and
clash with Grindelwald's growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so
high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?"
Harry Potter veteran David Yates is returning to direct the
third movie, reported Variety. Fantastic Beasts is a prequel spin-off film
franchise set in the same Wizarding World as Harry Potter, both created by JK
Rowling.
The new film will see magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie
Redmayne), who becomes a confidant of a young Dumbledore, portrayed by Jude
Law, amid the rise of the totalitarian Grindelwald. The cast also includes
Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, and Jessica Williams.
Mads Mikkelsen will take up the role of Grindelwald after
the departure of Johnny Depp from the series. Warner Bros asked him to step
down as the dark lord Grindelwald, a role he played in the first two Fantastic
Beasts films, following the news he lost his libel case against a British
tabloid that published an article in 2018 alleging he was a "wife
beater."
Steve Kloves, who worked on many of the original Harry
Potter movies, is co-writing the script for the third Fantastic Beasts film
with Rowling, who made headlines last year for her comments on the transgender
people.