Entertainment

We finally know what the 'Fantastic Beasts' sequel is about — and this small detail in the first cast photo teases an epic wizard duel

Fantastic Beasts Grindelwald's Crimes movie sequel cast photo
The first full cast photo for "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald." Warner Bros.
Read in app
  • The newest "Harry Potter" spin-off movie is officially titled "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald." 
  • The movie stars Jude Law as a young Dumbledore, and Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald.
  • A new cast photo shows Law as young Dumbledore for the first time.
  • You can also see that Grindelwald is holding the Elder Wand.
  • We know from the books that Dumbledore eventually duels Grindelwald and wins the Elder Wand.
  • The "Fantastic Beasts" movies seem to be building up to this epic wizard battle.

"Harry Potter" fans got a dose of magical news Thursday morning when the first cast photo and official title were released for the upcoming spin-off movie: "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald." 

Entertainment Weekly reported the new movie title as well as an updated 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."

The cast photo confirms the return of Credence, an Obscurial whose fate was left ambiguous at the end of the first "Fantastic Beasts" film).

But the photo also teases the inevitable duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. If you look closely at Grindelwald's wand, you'll recognize it as the Elder Wand.

Dumbledore and Grindelwald Fantastic Beasts sequel
Jude Law as Dumbledore and Johnny Depp as Grindelwald.  Warner Bros.

As J.K. Rowling revealed in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," Grindelwald sought the Elder Wand as part of his quest (which he once shared with Dumbledore as a teenager) to unite the Hallows. 

Dumbledore avoided confronting his former friend and Dark wizard Grindelwald for years due to his shame over the death of his young sister, Ariana. But when they finally met and dueled, Dumbledore won the Elder Wand from Grindelwald.

Based on the synopsis for "The Crimes of Grindelwald" and the fact that there are three additional sequels planned, we don't expect to see this epic duel until the final film in the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise. But fans should keep their eyes and ears peeled for more references to the powerful Elder Wand and other "Harry Potter" callbacks.

"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" arrives in theaters on November 16, 2018. To learn more about all four planned "Fantastic Beasts" sequels, read our full breakdown here.

Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox.

Read the original article on INSIDER.

Follow INSIDER on Facebook.

Follow INSIDER on Twitter.

Read next

Kim was an entertainment correspondent for Insider. She was best known as Insider's resident "Game of Thrones" analyst, and authored "The Unofficial Guide to Game of Thrones." Kim moderated panels for the annual Con of Thrones fan convention and made guest appearances on podcasts including "Night's Cast," "Bald Move," and "Game of Owns." She co-hosts the "House of the Dragon" unofficial recap podcast "A Cast of Kings."Kim covered other sci-fi and fantasy series, including "Stranger Things," "Dark," "Westworld," "The OA," and more. Kim graduated from Hunter College with a degree in cultural anthropology.