Even though the Fantastic Beasts series takes place over 60 years before the main events of the Harry Potter series begin, the prequel movies will still have some close ties their predecessors. One of these main connective threads will be through a younger Albus Dumbledore appearing in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2. Casting is currently underway to find the person to play the character previously portrayed by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, but Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts mastermind J.K. Rowling already has someone in mind for the role.
During the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them red carpet premiere in New York yesterday, J.K. Rowling told E! News that she knows who she would like to play younger Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts 2, but she has a good reason for not revealing who that actor is. As she put it:
Well I have of course thought about this, and I do have someone in mind, but I can't say it because if that person doesn't get cast, then the person who does get cast will blame me forever for having said it, won't they? So I'm gonna just keep quiet, and if it is that person then you will know about it.
Although Albus Dumbledore's connection to the Fantastic Beasts series was established when he was mentioned in an earlier trailer for the first movie as one of Newt Scamander's former teachers, it was confirmed last week that the future Hogwarts headmaster will appear in the sequel. However, like J.K. Rowling, director David Yates has been unwilling to share who is currently being looked at. That said, Rowling once said she specifically had Robbie Coltrane in mind to play Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies, and that came to pass. If Rowling's wish was fulfilled before that series kicked off, one would think that over a decade and half later and the Wizarding World mythology being a staple of modern pop culture, she would have more pull over who is cast in the Dumbledore role, if not have her preferences be more heavily considered.
While it's likely (though not guaranteed) that Dumbledore's role in Fantastic Beasts 2 will be major rather than minor or a mere cameo, it remains to be seen how exactly he'll be used beside his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald (who will be played by Johnny Depp) being explored. There's also no time frame on when the new actor playing Dumbledore will be announced, but many fans (including us) have already thought of candidates who would be right for the role. It would be interesting to know if one of those names is the same person J.K. Rowling has in mind.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 will be released on November 16, 2018, while the first movie in the prequel series hits theaters next Friday, November 18.
