Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, a 2022 fantasy film, is the third and final installment in the Fantastic Beasts series and the eleventh overall in the Wizarding World franchise. Directed by David Yates, the screenplay was written by J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, based on Rowling’s characters. It follows the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald by five years, with Albus Dumbled dispatching Newt Scamander and his companions on a mission that leads them into the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald’s forces. The ensemble cast features Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Katherine Waterston, and Mads Mikkelsen.

Originally set for a November 2021 release, the film was delayed to April 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the main cast confirmed their return in March 2020. Principal photography, initially planned for early 2020, was postponed and began in September 2020. Johnny Depp, who had played Grindelwald, filmed one scene but was asked to leave in November 2020 after the Depp v News Group Newspapers Ltd court case verdict; Mads Mikkelsen replaced him that same month. Filming concluded in February 2021.

The film premiered at London’s Royal Festival Hall on March 29, 2022, with an international release on April 14 and a U.S. release on April 15 through Warner Bros. Pictures. It received mixed reviews and earned over $407 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing film in the Wizarding World franchise.

In the plot, Albus Dumbledore admits to Grindelwald that he once supported his plan to destroy the Muggle world because he was in love with him. In Kweilin, Newt Scamander assists a qilin—a psychic magical creature—in giving birth, but Credence apparates in, kills the mother, and kidnaps the newborn. Another baby qilin is rescued by Newt, who then meets his brother Theseus and Albus in Hogsmeade. Albus reveals he cannot harm Grindelwald due to their blood troth. Grindelwald’s followers bring him the stolen qilin, which he kills to use its precognitive abilities, while Queenie secretly watches. Queenie later visits Credence, who is struggling with the revelation that he is a Dumbledore, and relays Grindelwald’s suggestion that Credence kill Albus.

Jacob Kowalski meets Ilvermorny teacher Lally Hicks, and they join Newt, Theseus, and Yusuf Kama. Newt shares Albus’s plan to defeat Grindelwald, giving Jacob a fake wand, Theseus a red and gold tie, and Lally a book. In Berlin, Anton Vogel, the outgoing Supreme Head of the International Confederation of Wizards (ICW), acquits Grindelwald of all charges, allowing him to run for Head of the ICW against Vicência Santos and Liu Tao. The qilin traditionally selects the Head by bowing to someone pure of heart. Grindelwald arrests Theseus, and Albus sends Newt to rescue him from the Erkstag prison. Credence attacks Albus in Berlin but is disarmed; Albus confirms Credence is the son of his brother Aberforth, not intentionally abandoned. Credence begins to doubt Grindelwald.

Jacob threatens Grindelwald with his wand to free Queenie, but is mistaken for an assassin. Lally creates a storm distraction, and she and Jacob escape via a book portkey. Grindelwald reanimates the dead qilin and charms it to bow to him, influencing the ICW election. He orders Credence to kill the surviving qilin. After rescuing Theseus, the brothers use the tie as a portkey to Hogwarts, where they meet Albus, Lally, and Jacob. Each carries an identical suitcase, but only one contains the qilin. They travel to Bhutan for the ICW vote. Grindelwald’s followers take their suitcases, but opening them releases Quidditch balls, fanged books, and multiplying pastries. Jacob convinces Queenie to return, but they are captured. At the election, the charmed dead qilin bows to Grindelwald, making him the new Head of the ICW; he declares war on Muggles and tortures Jacob with the Cruciatus curse.

Credence reveals Grindelwald’s qilin is dead. The surviving qilin is produced, passes Grindelwald, and bows to Albus. Albus thanks it but suggests another worthy candidate, and the qilin bows to Santos, who becomes the legitimate Head. Enraged, Grindelwald tries to kill Credence, but Aberforth and Albus protect him. Albus and Grindelwald’s spells break the blood pact, but neither can attack the other at close range, and Grindelwald disapparates. Aberforth accepts the dying Credence as his son. In New York, Jacob and Queenie marry. Newt steps outside during his speech, sees Tina, and spots Albus watching from across the street. Dumbledore thanks Newt before disappearing.