Today there’s been both delight and a lot of eye-rolling in the Harry Potter fandom following a reveal in the new trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald which brings back a ‘character’ from the Harry Potter novels but in a rather different form. Some love that things weren’t what they appeared (although it may also explain a few things), while others feel the whole thing feels like a rather daft retcon – while a few have even argued it may be sexist or racist. You can decide for yourself by watching below and seeing that something very close to Voldemort wasn’t always as we’ve previously seen it.
Here’s the synopsis: ‘At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
‘In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) 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.
‘The film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp. The cast also includes, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, and Poppy Corby-Tuech.
‘“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling.’ The film will be in cinemas November 16th 2018. Take a look at the new trailer and some character art below. [Read more…]
Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher
As with Harry Potter, it seems that after a comparatively simple first instalment the world of Fantastic Beast is going to grow and become far more complex with its second instalment (there are five films planned in total). It will also be more directly linked to the Potter adventures with the inttroduction of Jude Law’s young Dumbledore, and an exploration of his battle with the evil Grindelwald which we heard about in Rowling’s book, but were given few details about.
Press release: ‘Warner Bros. Pictures announces “FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD” as the title of the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World™. Opening November 16, 2018, the film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp.
Although there hasn’t been as much hype for Justice League as we might have expected, the movie is still tracking for a $100+ million opening weekend in the US, when it arrives in cinemas on November 17th. Much of the marketing so far has concentrated on bringing together the heroes – Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash – without giving us much info on why they felt the need to get together.
When DC announced its plans for a movie universe, the centrepiece was Justive League. However, with only Wonder Woman getting a decent critical reaction in the run-up to the superhero team-up, enthusiasm for the film has been somewhat dampened. That’s not been helped by the fact that a family situation cause director Zack Snyder to leave the film, with Joss Whedon stepping in to resoot a large chunk of the movie and finish it off.