Fantastic Beasts 3 titled The Secrets of Dumbledore; film to release on 15 April, 2022

The upcoming third instalment in the Fantastic Beasts series is titled The Secrets of Dumbledore, Warner Bros announced as the studio moved up the theatrical release of the film by three months. The movie, which was earlier scheduled to be released on 15 July next year, will now open on 15 April, 2022. The official logline of the film reads: “Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander 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?” Harry Potter veteran David Yates is returning to direct the third movie, reported Variety. Fantastic Beasts is a prequel spin-off film franchise set in the same Wizarding World as Harry Potter, both created by JK Rowling. The new film will see magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who becomes a confidant of a young Dumbledore, portrayed by Jude Law, amid the rise of the totalitarian Grindelwald. The cast also includes Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, and Jessica Williams. Mads Mikkelsen will take up the role of Grindelwald after the departure of Johnny Depp from the series. Warner Bros asked him to step down as the dark lord Grindelwald, a role he played in the first two Fantastic Beasts films, following the news he lost his libel case against a British tabloid that published an article in 2018 alleging he was a “wife beater.” Steve Kloves, who worked on many of the original Harry Potter movies, is co-writing the script for the third Fantastic Beasts film with Rowling, who made headlines last year for her comments on the transgender people. Watch the announcement teaser here

With inputs from Press Trust of India.