The story in the FANTASTIC BEASTS movies has evolved across three chapters into a globe-trotting epic with a massive collection of characters. Now that the third movie, THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE, is upon us, we wanted to sort out the most important players.

From the familiar friends and foes to a host of new characters we haven't met before, here's your guide to the characters of FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE.

Funny that a humble magizoologist should end up at the center of a swirling conflict between magical and No-Maj peoples on the eve of war, but that's where Newt Scamander finds himself. He'd probably be happiest studying and caring for a whole host of magical creatures — many of which he keeps on hand in his enchanted suitcase-cum-zoo. In THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE, Newt has been charged by Dumbledore to track down Credence, the better to keep him from joining forces with Gellert Grindelwald.

The most significant legacy character from the Harry Potter series to appear in the FANTASTIC BEASTS movie, this younger Dumbledore is just as protective of secrets and history as the elder educational statesman who guided Harry Potter through the wizarding world. Albus's history with Grindelwald and Credence fuels his determination to exert a guiding hand in this story.

As a sort of proto-Voldemort, Grindelwald sees wizards as a dominant species. Creating a not-terribly-subtle parallel with Adolf Hitler, Grindelwald aims to prove the superiority of magical peoples. If that ultimately means the elimination of Muggle and No_Maj populations, well, that's just fine with him. A one-time love for Dumbledore complicates and informs but ultimately doesn't change his thinking. But that history is manifested in a blood bond that prevents one from taking direct action against the other — and so the two big-time wizards have assembled a chessboard worth of helpers and soldiers.

When Newt first arrived in America way back in FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, he met the aspiring No_Maj baker Jacob Kowalski. An unlikely friendship and allyship ensued between the two men, especially after Jacob met Queenie, the sister of an American auror. Jacob's ability to think on his feet might be one of the most useful talents that Dumbledore and Newt have on their side — even though he is distraught by Queenie's choices. 

While Queenie is in love with Jacob, that love led her to throw in with Grindelwald, who promised to remove obstructions to a union between two people from different worlds. But Grindelwald hopes to use Queenie's own magical empathy to aid his search for Credence.

He's the most mysterious character in the series! Seemingly an orphan, Credence harbored a powerful obscurus, which nearly destroyed a city. For a time he was thought to be a long-lost Lestrange child but in THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD he was revealed to be Dumbledore's brother, Aurelius. Grindelwald sees the increasingly bitter and powerful Credence as the key to defeating Albus Dumbledore.

Newt's brother is a British auror at the Ministry of Magic. He has joined Newt on his mission due to a difficult confluence of forces. First is the bond between brothers; then there's the fact that Dumbledore requests Theseus's help. Above those motivations like a dark cloud is the fact that Theseus's wife to be, Leta Lestrange (Zoë Kravitz), sacrificed herself to thwart Grindelwald's plans.

Stepping into the role somewhat vacated by Katherine Waterston's character Tina Goldstein (who appears briefly in the movie) is Lally, a practitioner of defensive magic. She helps carry Jacob back into the story as she assists Dumbledore's plan.

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE opens on April 15.

All images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.