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Jude Law reflects on his time as young Dumbledore
The shift towards a new magical era: TV series focus
Jude Law thoroughly enjoyed embodying the young Albus Dumbledore in the two latest installments of the Fantastic Beasts franchise. However, he recently shared that his spellbinding journey as the iconic wizard might have reached its conclusion. As Warner Bros. turns its attention to a television series based on J.K. Rowling’s original seven Harry Potter novels, the future of Fantastic Beasts seems uncertain.
“I know it’s certainly on hold,” stated Law regarding the continuation of the Fantastic Beasts series. “My guess would be that, now that they’re doing Harry Potter as a TV show, they’ll probably put their energy into that. I certainly haven’t heard that there’s anything on the horizon.”
An enchanting beginning, followed by fizzling magic
The Fantastic Beasts franchise debuted in 2016 with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The film, which featured a script co-written by Rowling herself, enchanted audiences worldwide, grossing an impressive $814 million at the global box office. However, its sequels, The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022), struggled to replicate the same magic. With mixed reviews and diminishing box office returns of $654 million and $407 million respectively, the enchantment quickly waned.
The rise and potential fall of an epic saga
Initially, the vision for Fantastic Beasts aimed to span five films, chronicling the adventures of Newt Scamander, played by Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne. Newt, a British wizard and magizoologist, finds himself amid a growing conflict spearheaded by the dark wizard Grindelwald. Despite the gripping premise and robust character arcs, even Redmayne expressed uncertainty about the franchise reaching its five-movie potential.
“I think they probably have [seen the last of Newt],” Redmayne candidly noted. “That was a very frank answer, but yeah. And that’s as far as I know. I mean, you’d have to speak to the people at Warner Bros. and J.K Rowling, but as far as I know, that’s it.”
Inside the mind of Dumbledore: Law’s experience
Reflecting on his journey, Law reminisced about his initial discussions with Rowling in 2017. Those meetings laid the foundation for his portrayal of Dumbledore, fleshing out the character’s intricate backstory and emotional depth. Rowling’s detailed notes, including insights into Dumbledore’s self-perception as a monster, enriched Law’s portrayal and allowed him to navigate the complex identity of the beloved character.
“I had a pretty clear sense of where it was going to go,” Law recalled. “Rowling gave me many notes, including one that Dumbledore saw himself as a monster. And that’s why he liked Newt, because Newt took care of monsters.”
The heart and struggles of Dumbledore
The movies also explored Dumbledore’s internal conflicts, particularly his identity as a gay man and his troubled love for Grindelwald. This fateful relationship, rooted in a tragic past where a duel with Grindelwald led to his sister’s death, continuously haunted Dumbledore. Law highlighted how Dumbledore’s lingering guilt and the sense of being unlovable due to his misguided heart deeply resonated with him.
“Because of Dumbledore’s past,” Law noted, “he always felt guilty that he had been misled because he was in love. It followed him. He found himself to be unlovable because he trusted his heart.”
Taking on this role provided Law with a profound sense of connection to Dumbledore’s extraordinary powers and empathetic heart. He stated that playing Dumbledore allowed him to find “a nice place” within the magical universe, embracing the wizard’s blend of immense power and deep vulnerability.
“I liked his heart, and I liked playing him because of that. I always enjoyed stepping in his shoes,” Law concluded.
A magical future ahead
While the fate of the Fantastic Beasts series hangs in the balance, it’s clear that the magical world J.K. Rowling has created continues to evolve. With the Harry Potter TV series on the horizon, fans have much to look forward to in this ever-enchanting universe. Stay tuned for more updates and dive back into the magical stories that have captivated audiences for decades.
