Fantastic Beasts 2: J.K. Rowling On Decision To Skate Around Dumbledore’s Sexuality

Gellert Grindelwald is a name that’s associated with a great many things in the Harry Potter universe – prince of darkness, the bastard of Durmstrang Institute…you name it.

But perhaps more so than anything else, Grindelwald resonated with Potterheads for his passionate and at-times dangerous relationship with the great Albus Dumbledore.

Jude Law has signed on to play the legendary wizard in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Warner’s forthcoming fantasy sequel that drew the ire of Harry Potter fans for its decision to cast Johnny Depp in the title role. Now, the Internet is up in arms again – and rightly so. Just yesterday, director David Yates announced that The Crimes of Grindelwald won’t address Dumbledore’s sexuality “explicitly;” rather, it’ll skate around the character’s love life on the belief that fans are already knowledgeable about Grindeldore…Dumblewald? You get the drift.

Here’s that quote from Yates, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly:

Not explicitly. But I think all the fans are aware of that. He had a very intense relationship with Grindelwald when they were young men. They fell in love with each other’s ideas, and ideology and each other.

Not even 24 hours have passed since that comment, and series author J.K. Rowling has now weighed in with her own thoughts via Twitter – or, more specifically, she addressed the torrent of hate that has been directed her way since Wednesday.

Rowling’s advice? Patience, as Fantastic Beasts is just beginning to spread its wings as a franchise.

Being sent abuse about an interview that didn't involve me, about a screenplay I wrote but which none of the angry people have read, which is part of a five-movie series that's only one instalment in, is obviously tons of fun, but you know what's even *more* fun? pic.twitter.com/Rj6Zr8aKUk

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 31, 2018

Angled as the second installment in a five-film saga, one that will seemingly whisk viewers off to a new location with each passing sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will hope to cast a spell over Potterheads on November 16th.