We never thought it possible, given their level of social-cultural dominance, but we’ve spent the last few years actually feeling pretty bad for Harry Potter fans. It’s been one setback after another for them: First, the Fantastic Beasts movies weren’t as good as one might have hoped (though, to be fair, most big franchises these days get underwhelming prequel series), with the last one, The Crimes of Grindelwald being actually quite terrible. Second, the sequel play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was released to very mixed reactions from fans, even though it sold well and was well-attended during its various theatrical runs. Third, the whole FB enterprise was placed into doubt when Johnny Depp’s personal life imploded, which resulted in his removal from the franchise that he was supposed to help anchor. Fourth, J.K. Rowling decided to devote her time and billions to one of the worst causes imaginable, which had even the most stalwart fans questioning their loyalties and having the kind of hard “separating the art from the artist” discussions that they never really thought possible. Perhaps the only thing that Potterheads had to look forward to was the video game Hogwarts: Legacy, and that got punted to 2022.
So it’s into this stew that the trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore has been dropped, and who knows if it’ll be enough to make anyone feel a little bit of the old spark again, as it looks like another Fantastic Beasts movie. On the other hand, it features Mads Mikkelsen, who took over the Grindelwald role from Depp during production, and that’s enough to pique our interest in this just a little bit.
Peep it:
Here’s a synopsis that is surprisingly clear and concise for a movie this large and shrouded in mystery:
“Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?”
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore hits theaters on April 15. We’ll see how it is, but one thing we can shake is just how weird the title is. It almost feels like a glimpse into a universe where Chuck Tingle decided to write Harry Potter erotica. Well, more than he already does.