Grindewald isn’t just causing a commotion in the Wizarding World.
Fans were up in arms when the Fantastic Beasts director David Ayer said that Dumbledore’s much-discussed sexuality “would not be addressed” directly on screen.
JK Rowling casually mentioned a few years back that the beloved Hogwarts headmaster was gay and then it was revealed that he had been in love with Grindewald.
Ayer’s declaration was seen as another example of Hollywood sidestepping representation and diversity on screen while paying lip service off screen, but now it seems he has reversed his previous statement.
In a new interview with Empire magazine, the director explained what fans can expect to see in the new movie with potentially much more to come as the five-film saga progresses.
He said: “In that earlier interview, I didn’t say Dumbledore’s not gay. He is. This part of this huge narrative that Jo is creating doesn’t focus on his sexuality, but we’re not airbrushing or hiding it… the story [of the romantic relationship] isn’t there in this particular movie but it’s clear in what you see… that he is gay. A couple of scenes we shot are very sensual moments of him and the young Grindelwald.
“I think people just have to wait and see and appreciate that in movies to come that relationship with be explored much more fully.’
The young actors who will play Dumbledore and Grindewald are actually the same ones shown in the headmaster’s photograph in Deathly Hallows Part 1.
The teenage wizards met in Gordic’s Hollow in the late 1890s after Grindelwald was sent to live with his great-aunt. Dumbledore fell for the other boy’s wits and ambition. Their joint curiosity and bond set them on a quest to find out all they could about the magical objects which make up the Deathly Hallows.
Grindelwald convinced Dumbledore locating them would improve the wizarding world but he was already blinded by self-interest and Dumbledore was too enamoured to realise – until it was too late.
Back in 2007 Rowling said: “Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was. To an extent, do we say it excused Dumbledore a little more because falling in love can blind us to an extent?”
Jude Law understands why fans want to see more of the relationship and promises the love story is not over yet.
He said: “People are very passionate about these stories and that particular topic doesn’t just deal with the characters in the book but people in real life dealing with their sexual orientation. So I can understand why it was emotionally charged.
“I know the full story. This is part two. There’s more to come.”
Fans have three more movies to find out…
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will be released in UK cinemas on November 16, 2018.
EMPIRE MAGAZINE NOVEMBER ISSUE IS OUT NOW