Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald introduces audiences to a younger Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) before he became official Headmaster of Hogwarts and served as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor.
Although never explicitly expressed in either the Harry Potter books/films and in the new Fantastic Beasts film, author J.K. Rowling has asserted that canonically, Dumbledore is a gay man who held deep romantic feelings for Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) during their youth – thus, why he expresses reluctance to defeat Grindelwald.
The fact that Dumbledore’s sexuality was not explicitly spelled-out in the new film has been a source of controversy for many fans, especially those hoping to see more open LGBT representation in major blockbuster films, especially given that Dumbledore’s sexuality has been known for more than a decade now.
In regards to whether he believes audiences are ready to see an openly gay Dumbledore portrayed in the Fantastic Beasts films from here on out, Jude Law is pretty confident in this fact:
“I think the world is ready for it, and if it isn’t, it bloody well should be.”
Do you think Dumbledore’s sexuality will be more open in the next three Fantastic Beasts films? Sound off in the comments below, and be sure to continue following Heroic Hollywood for all the latest news in the Wizarding World.
Here is the synopsis for the film:
At the end of the first film, the powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise wizards and witches up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.
Directed by David Yates from a script written by J. K. Rowling, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Jude Law and Johnny Depp.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is now playing in theaters!
Source: The New York Times
