J.K. Rowling talks Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s relationship plus future magical films

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will be in theaters soon, and J.K. Rowling is offering some hints about what’s to come for the series.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, J.K. Rowling was asked about the Fantastic Beasts films and what fans can expect from them in the future.

The Harry Potter author expanded upon characters for the film, one in particular that many have reservations about, Johnny Depp’s villainous character, Grindelwald. (Granted, the reservations lie more with the actor than the character himself.) Rowling was asked what those watching this next installment of Fantastic Beasts should know about Grindelwald.

Rowling notes that she first spoke about the wizard way back in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, so he has always been a canon fact of the world. She says people need to know that he is very much a dark wizard who is most well known for being defeated by Dumbledore in 1945. Grindelwald also owned the Elder Wand at one point in his life. Rowling added that while she kept much about the character vague and mysterious in the Harry Potter books, she always had a clear idea of who he was.

Rowling explained to Entertainment Weekly:

"Grindelwald is essential to an understanding of how Dumbledore became Dumbledore."

This is an interesting statement as many fans of the series are aware that Dumbledore is gay and had some sort of feelings and a relationship (which has never been completely defined in canon) with Grindelwald. Yet, despite this, Crimes of Grindelwald is reported to not address Dumbledore’s sexuality. This has been frustrating for many fans as it seems like the natural way to explore this story, and fans are concerned at the lack of LGBTQ representation.

Rowling was also asked what it was like to write dialogue for Dumbledore in his younger years.

"It is no secret that Dumbledore is my favorite character in the Potter stories, so it was an absolute joy to have an opportunity to write dialogue for him again. He’s a fascinating character on so many levels."

Fans might also be wondering about the next three movies in the series, and Rowling says that she does, in fact, have most of the story mapped out.

"It’s always possible that some details will change along the way, but the arc of the story is there. It’s been an amazing opportunity to tell parts of the backstory that never made it into the original books. I’m thinking particularly of one character that I think fans will be surprised to meet in this movie."

EW also asked if the mother of all things magical could reveal one of the cities that a future film will be set in since each movie in the franchise has been confirmed to take place in a different city.

"It’s far too early to spoil anything. What I can say is that we’ll go to at least one new city in the next film, possibly two, and I’m keen to move outside Europe and North America. But you’ll just have to wait and see."

What are you most looking forward to seeing in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald? Do you have any theories about what is going to take place?