I enjoyedFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but I haven’t really had the desire to return to it like I do with theHarry Potterbooks or the betterHarry Pottermovies. However, we still have four moreFantastic Beastssequels to go, and executive producerDavid HeymantellsEWthat the first sequel,Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, will be very different than the last movie:
“We delve deeper into Jo’s wizarding world — we’re in Paris, we’re in London and New York — the world is expanding,” Heyman says. “As you’re able to tell from the image, we’re following quite a few characters. The new film has a very different feel than the first. It’s got a thriller quality. And it’s also a story about love and passion and all its forms — paternal, romantic, political. And it’s just a thrilling and very fun adventure. We took all we’ve learned from one and just expanded that and created a richer, deeper and more thrilling film which I’m excited to be a part of.”
To be fair,Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themhas the unenviable task of being both an introduction and re-introduction. We know how the wizarding world works, but we don’t know the time period or the characters, andFantastic Beastscrams in a lot—Newt Scamander trying to recover his lost creatures, Credence suppressing his powers, and the influence of Grindelwald, so hopefullyThe Crimes of Grindelwaldwill be able to hit the ground running even though there aremorenew characters, new places, and a new focus.
Heyman also says the movie will have a different look despite the return of director David Yates. “Cinematically it’s more dynamic,” says Heyman. “The camera is more alive and much more immersive. It has a more contemporary cinematic approach.”
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwaldopens June 20, 2025 andstars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Zoe Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, Johnny Depp, andJude Law.
Here’s the official synopsis:
At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.
