Newt Scamander, the wizard who specializes in magizoology, returns in FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE. The third movie in the FANTASTIC BEASTS series promises (as the title suggests) to reveal more of Dumbledore's history even as it charts what members of the Wizarding World were really doing as countries raced towards World War II.
But it has been almost four years since the last movie; those have been four very full years! Events of two years ago feel like they're a decade old. The point is: Maybe you haven't had time to rewatch the first two movies but you remember liking them and want to see the third. How about a recap?
Fantastic Beasts
In its original print incarnation, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is a mock guidebook to the magical creatures of Harry Potter's world. In fact, the tome is mentioned as a textbook used in classes at Hogwarts, written by Newt Scamander. The actual book was, of course, penned and even illustrated by JK Rowling. But it is less a novel than an appendix.
So when Rowling and Warner Bros. announced not just a movie but a whole series based on "Fantastic Beasts," even die-hard fans wondered how it was all going to work. There wasn't a lot of story in the original book — but there were certainly many aspects of the world of magic and wizards that a new movie series could explore.
Where to Find Them
The movie FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, released in 2016, introduced Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne, as he journeyed from the UK to the United States in December 1926. His goal: To release a Thunderbird into its natural habitat. But a chance encounter with a former Auror, Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), and a non-magical baker named Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) leaves Jacob holding Newt's case of magical creatures — which are released into New York City when the baker opens what he believes to be his own sample case.
The escaped animals land Newt and Tina in hot water with Tina's employers, the Magical Congress of the United States of America, (aka MACUSA), in part because at the same time, a creature killed a US Senator. Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), the head of MACUSA, accuses Newt of conspiring with the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. In fact, Graves is Grindelwald in disguise, and he is trying to use a powerful parasitic creature called an Obscurus to reveal the magical world to the non-magic community so that wizards no longer have to live in secrecy.
To accomplish this, Graves/Grindelwald manipulates Credence (Ezra Miller). The young man has suffered a repressive upbringing that suppressed his magical abilities, leading to the growth of the Obscurus that Grindelwald tried to unleash upon New York. Newt and Tina prevent the Obscurus from destroying the city, Grindelwald is captured, Credence escapes and Tina's sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) falls in love with Jacob. Phew! It's a densely-plotted move.
The Crimes of Grindelwald
In the spring of 1927, Grindelwald escapes custody while being transferred to Europe to stand trial. That fall, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) convinces Newt to search for Credence in Paris. Newt also surmises that Queenie has enchanted Jacob into a relationship, defying laws against wizards marrying non-magical people. He removes Queenie's enchantment, after which Queenie heads to Paris to find her sister Tina, who is also searching for Credence. Newt and Jacob follow.
Others are looking for Credence, too. Bounty hunter Gunnar Grimmson and a guy named Yusuf Kama are both on the trail. Newt's brother Theseus (Callum Turner) and his fiance Leta Lestrange (Zoë Kravitz) end up in the mix, as well. Meanwhile, Credence has been confined in the Circus Arcanus, but escapes with the help of performer Nagini (Claudia Kim).
As Credence's true parentage is questioned, Grindelwald coerces Queenie to his side and the dark wizard ultimately holds a rally in which he discusses the war brewing in Europe and the potential for wizards to take part. Leta Lestrange is killed as Grindelwald consolidates his power. As Newt learns of a blood pact that prevents Dumbledore from directly attacking Grindelwald, the dark sorcerer reveals that Credence is actually Dumbledore's brother.
What's Next?
We know that the new FANTASTIC BEASTS movie jumps forward in time several years, to the point where war is ready to explode. Grindelwald's power continues to grow as Albus Dumbledore sends Newt and friends on a mission to keep the wizard in check. Throughout, one big question looms: How will the wizarding world take part (or not) in World War II?
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE opens on April 15!
All images courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.