Monday, October 4, 2021

The Crimes of Grindelwald: Top 12 Characters We Can Expect To See

Right after the first Fantastic Beasts film came out, fans all across the world were already asking for a sequel. Thankfully, our queen JK Rowling promised at least another four movies in this new franchise that will exist within the Harry Potter world that she has created. Along with the announcement of the next film's title - The Crimes of Grindelwald, the filmmakers also released a really cute poster with both old and new characters. So this is the time to speculate how most of these  new (and old) characters might make their appearances.

1) Young Professor Dumbledore


Jude Law will be playing a young Professor Dumbledore. During the events of Fantastic Beasts, Dumbledore is still the Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts as well as a recruiter for prospective Hogwarts students. During this time, he was a regular columnist for the magazine called Transfiguration Today. We can also look forward to seeing the epic duel between him and Grindelwald, although that might only happen in the final film.



2) Credence Barebone

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Credence survives the Auror attack from the first film. Now that he is free from the clutches of his abusive adoptive mother, it will be interesting to see if he remains the shy and self-conscious boy from before or if he develops into a villain. One thing is for sure. There is no way he will be ready to embrace the Wizarding World with open arms now after he was attacked so violently for something he could barely control. There have been numerous fan theories on the significance of Credence's character and if he might be related to anyone from the original Harry Potter stories (read: the Riddles). This seems possible with reports suggesting that he will be travelling to Europe by following a circus owner...



3) The Maledictus

Seen cosying up to Credance is an Asian young woman, said to be playing a yet to be identified Maledictus, which is someone whose blood is cursed and will turn into a beast. This is the first mention of such a thing in the Potter saga, so nothing much is known about it. We are not sure if a Werewolf is a kind of Maledictus or if Muggles can carry this curse too. The only person who is mentioned to have a blood-related curse is Astoria Malfoy from The Cursed Child, although we all pretend that is not actually canon. So both Credence and this Maledictus are intimate probably because both of them are cursed, albeit in different ways and that brought them close.



4) Leta Lestrange

We only saw her in a magical photograph. Perhaps now we get to see her in person. In case you don't remember, Newt took the blame for an experiment Leta was conducting that went wrong and almost killed another student. As a result, he was expelled from Hogwarts. It will be interesting to see how much Leta has in common with the future Black-Lestrange family members. While talking about Leta in the first Fantastic Beasts film, it was clear that Newt has feelings for her but refused to elaborate any further. So, it is crucial we consider who she is snuggling with here...



5) Theseus Scamander

Elder brother of our protagonist Newt, Theseus is a powerful British Auror. He is considered a war hero after going against the Ministry of Magic and helping Muggles during World War I. Although Newt and Theseus are not estranged, they are not particularly close either, what with Theseus not approving of Newt's career in Magizoology. Newt also did not inform Theseus he was in New York despite Theseus corresponding with MACUSA all the time. Adding fuel to their predicament is Leta is engaged to Theseus while Newt clearly has feelings for her. Drama...



6) Bathilda Bagshot

Like Newt, Professor Bagshot also wrote a famous book that became a Hogwarts textbook. Unknown to many, she is also Grindelwald's British great-aunt. Her book is A History of Magic, which might as well be the name of the sequel since it would be cool to name each film after a textbook. When she was older, the alleged senile Bathilda became close with Lily Potter since they both lived in Godric's Hallow. They talked about Grindelwald and Dumbledore relationship. Bathilda even celebrated Harry's first birthday with his parents.



7) Henry Potter

Yes, this man is none other than Harry's paternal great-grandfather. Known as 'Harry' among those close to him, he was a Pure-blood Wizard who served in the Wizengamot, which is the Wizarding high court that predates the Ministry of Magic, during the First World War. He was a controversial figure in history for his outspoken criticism against the Ministry of Magic's policy of banning Wizards and Witches involvement in the Muggle War. He was fiercely pro-Muggle and helped Muggles during wartime. Many believe this was the main reason the Potter family was ultimately excluded from the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Now with the Fantastic Beasts sequels covering the time period during World War II, it is possible for Henry to return to helping Muggles being persecuted by the Nazis.



8) Leonard Spencer-Moon

The British Wartime Minister for Magic was Leonard Spencer-Moon who served from 1939 to 1948. Coincidentally, the Prime Minister of Britain was Winston Spencer Churchill. Probably both Ministers are related somehow through the aristocratic Spencer family. After all, if it is possible FDR was Churchill's seventh cousin, why can't he be related to the Magic Minister too? (Wishful thinking?) Leonard became Minister for Magic because his predecessor, Hector Fawley took  Grindelwald's "For the Greater Good" revolution lightly and was removed from office.



9) Xenophilius Lovegood

More popularly known as Luna Lovegood's single father and editor of the The Quibbler, there is more about this eccentric Wizard than meets the eye. During Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding at the Burrow, Viktor Krum accused Xenophilius of being a supporter of Grindelwald because he was wearing the mark of Grindelwald. He was referring to the necklace shaped like The Deadly Hallows' symbol. In the first Fantastic Beasts film, JK Rowling followed up on this plot point by having Grindelwald own a similar necklace. But here's the thing - what if it is the very same necklace? Xenophilius does have a neck for curious artifacts and perhaps The Deadly Hallows were some of them. Also, his only daughter Luna would grow up to marry Magizoologist Rolf Scamander, grandson of Newt and Porpentina Scamander and they would have twin sons. Another interesting Lovegood fact is that JK. Rowling initially wanted to introduce Rolf as a character in the final book where he would tell Harry and his friends about The Deadly Hallows. However, she eventually changed her mind and had his future father-in-law tell it to them. See how The Lovegoods and Scamanders are more connected that we are lead to believe?



10) Nicholas Flammel

It cannot be a coincidence that a real-life, renowned individual that was mentioned in the first book but never makes an appearance just so happens to live in France where the next film will take place. The oldest stone house in Paris was one of Flamel's houses that still stands at 51 rue de Montmorency. There is even an old inscription on the wall, with a restaurant occupying the ground floor. There is even a street close to the Louvre Museum named after him which intersects with another street named after his wife. The creator of the Philosopher's Stone and Beauxbaton alumni will probably be introduced as Dumbledore's partner in Alchemy, as referenced in the latter's Chocolate Frog Card.