Director David Yates, who helmed the first
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them film as well as the last four
Harry Potter films is returning to helm the sequel to that 2016 film in which we will see Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander team-up with a younger and very different Albus Dumbledore in the form of
Sherlock Holmes star Jude Law as they endeavour to
"prevent the devious Gellert Grindelwald from raising pure-blood wizards to rule over all non-magical beings."
However one aspect of this uprising and conflict between Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald that won't be a part of the story is their previous love affair, speaking to Entertainment Weekly the director was asked whether Dumbledore's sexuality which is quite pertinent to his rivalry with the Voldermort precursor would be explicitly displayed in the film -- to which he so typically and dishearteningly replied:
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.
Dumbledore's sexuality was revealed back in 2007 by JK Rowling during the publication of the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, speaking of his and Grindelwald's relationship Rowling stated that Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald (who will be played by Johnny Depp in the film) during their teenage years. But Grindelwald later became consumed with dark magic, leading to an all-out duel.
This tragic and conflicting love affair between Gellert and Albus was one of the more interesting areas many were looking forward to seeing in the upcoming film, with even JK Rowling herself promising that their relationship with eachother would be explored and unpacked as the saga of this period in the wizarding world unfolds stating "We’ll see him at that formative period of his life. As far as his sexuality is concerned … watch this space.”
That space it appears however, as it so often is, will be between the lines and beneath the surface.
“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.”
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD hits theaters November 16, 2018