Oscar nominee Jude Law (Cold Mountain, The Talented Mr. Ripley) has joined the cast of the next Fantastic Beasts film as Albus Dumbledore. The beloved character was brought to life on the screen in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by Richard Harris. Following Harris’ death, Michael Gambon took over the role for Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2.
Per Warner Bros Pictures’ official announcement: “In the much-anticipated new Wizarding World film, Law will portray Dumbledore long before the iconic wizard became the Headmaster at Hogwarts, as he has been known in the Harry Potter books and movies. We meet him decades earlier, when Dumbledore is still serving as the wizarding school’s Transfiguration professor. He is also a contemporary of Gellert Grindelwald, the charismatic dark wizard who believes wizards are superior to Muggles and No-Majs.”
“As fans ourselves, we are thrilled to have Jude Law joining the Fantastic Beasts cast, playing a character so universally adored,” stated Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures. “Jude has been a member of the Warner Bros. family for years and we’re excited to embark on this new adventure with him.”
“Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I’m looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him,” added director David Yates who also directed Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as well as the final four Harry Potter films. “I know he will brilliantly capture all the unexpected facets of Albus Dumbledore as J.K. Rowling reveals this very different time in his life.”
Filming will begin this summer on the second Fantastic Beasts movie from author/screenwriter J.K. Rowling. According to Warner Bros, the second film of the Fantastic Beasts franchise “moves deeper into an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world, where Newt Scamander and our other heroes have to decide on their allegiances.”
J.K. Rowling, David Heyman, Steve Kloves, and Lionel Wigram are producing, and Neil Blair, Rick Senat and Danny Cohen are executive producing. Warner Bros Pictures has set a November 16, 2018 theatrical release date.
 will star in the Fantastic Beasts film franchise as a younger Albus Dumbledore.){kind=link}