Warning: there are MAJOR SPOILERS for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ahead! If you haven't seen the movie yet and don't want to know about a big twist, turn back now and click on another one of our articles.
Colin Farrell's Percival Graves had a sinister air around him in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and not just because he was one of the Wizarding authorities tracking down Newt Scamander and his escaped beasts. As the story continued, it was revealed that he had ulterior motives, and following the climactic showdown, it was revealed that dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, played by Johnny Depp, was Graves the whole time. The fate of the real Graves went unaddressed for the remainder of the movie, and it doesn't look like there will be any resolution with that, as Colin Farrell won't return for the Fantastic Beasts sequels.
While speaking with Snitch Seeker, producer David Heyman clarified that there was a real Percival Graves in the Wizarding community, and that "someone" (Grindelwald) assumed his identity using Polyjuice Potion. Heyman then admitted that he doesn't know what happened to Graves afterwards, but he doubts the wizard will be seen again. When directly asked if moviegoers would see Colin Farrell back for Fantastic Beasts 2, Heyman stated:
There's no plans to bring Colin back for the sequel.
Percival Graves being "unmasked" as Gellert Grindelwald was without a doubt the biggest twist that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them provided. Even with the recent revelations within the last few months that Grindelwald would be alluded to in the movie, Graves was implied to be the main antagonistic force, and technically that was correct. What moviegoers didn't know going in was that that man wasn't the real Graves. Given how the beginning of Fantastic Beasts set up Gellert Grindelwald's notorious and deadly reputation, it's hard to imagine him leaving Graves alive after assuming his identity.
Barring some last minute change, David Heyman made it perfectly clear that Colin Farrell's contributions to the Wizarding World have concluded. Johnny Depp's time with the series, on the other hand, isn't finished by a long shot. Despite being imprisoned by the U.S. Wizarding authorities, Gellert Grindelwald will return in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2. The sequel will also see the dark wizard's former friend, Albus Dumbledore, being brought in, although it remains to be seen whether the two men will directly cross paths. Besides those tidbits, all that's been confirmed so far about Fantastic Beasts 2 is that it will see Newt Scamander adventuring through the U.K. and France, as well as fully introduce Newt's former flame, Leta Lestrange.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is now playing in theaters across the country, and the sequel will work its magic in theaters on November 16, 2018.
