Fantastic Beasts’ Eddie Redmayne Says Jude Law’s Dumbledore Is Perfect

While the decision to cast Johnny Depp as the titular villain in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has been met with no end of controversy, just about every Potterhead seems to love the casting of Jude Law as the young Albus Dumbledore. As Harry Potter fans will know, the youth of the Hogwarts headmaster is alluded to throughout the books and a little bit in the films and now, we’ll finally get to see it explored on screen. And by the sounds of it, Law is the “perfect” person to do the character justice.

At least, that’s the word that co-star Eddie Redmayne used to describe him in an interview with Screen Rant. The actor, who plays protagonist Newt Scamander in the prequel/spinoff series, spoke highly of Law’s portrayal, touching on what elements of the character he’ll bring out in his performance.

“I had talked a little bit with Jo [Rowling] about what Newt and Dumbledore’s relationship was in the first film because it was alluded to. And then when they cast Jude, who I’ve known for a long time, it made such sense because there was a kind of debonair quality to him, but also like a playfullness that felt entirely appropriate, but also there’s kind of a weight to his… he’s got a weightiness, Dumbledore… Not physical weightiness [laughs] But when Jude arrived on set, he just looked so perfect. It all made complete sense.”

While the popular image of Dumbledore is as a wise, old man, he does have a lot of playfulness to him mixed in with his gravitas. So, it’s encouraging that Law will bring that to his version of Albus. What’s more, he’s one of the most talented wizards to have ever lived, so it’s easy to imagine him cutting a rather debonair figure in his youth.

It’s interesting that Redmayne tails off as he starts to discuss the “weight” that Law brings to the part, though. No doubt there’s some dramatic stuff the actor got to sink his teeth into in the film as he confronts his former friend turned enemy, Gellert Grindelwald. Fans will know that the pair were best pals before Grindelwald’s ambition got the better of him. J.K. Rowling has also confirmed that Dumbledore was in love with Gellert, meaning he may be in a very conflicted place in the movie.

Law is the third actor to play the iconic wizard on film, following on from Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, and we’ll finally get to see his portrayal when Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald arrives in theaters on November 16th.