Four Reactions to Dumbledore’s Casting Being Underway
At first, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them appeared to be a trilogy about Newt catching his beasts. Now the invisibility cloak has been removed and a shiny new five-part series about the rise and fall of Gellert Grindelwald lies ahead of us. Suddenly, Fantastic Beasts has developed far greater a connection to Harry’s story than simply through the possession of a textbook, most notably through Dumbledore. We have had clarification from David Yates that with Hogwarts being featured in the second movie, we will be paying a visit to Dumbledore before he begins a greater role in the series. Then, a matter of weeks ago, lightning struck as J.K. Rowling confirmed at the BAFTAs that casting is underway! Storms brewed across the Internet with many a reaction being shared, but if you missed the party or are just learning of this news now, then let us take a guess at how you may be feeling…
1. Cue the Inhuman Noises…
You saw the news as it unfolded live and made a variety of noises that in hindsight seem very unnatural. Let’s not forget that you thoroughly disturbed the parent who watched on in horror at the fangirl/fanboy their child has become. You wanted to stop the presses and took to every social media platform and group chat you could possibly think of. A notification flickered on your friends’ screens, only for them to watch as you post your uncontainable excitement in a variety of CAPS and GIFs. Some of this was met with mutual enthusiasm and people freaking out alongside you. Some, not so much. Instead, they were wondering what can possibly go on inside a Potterhead’s brain and evaluating their friendship with you. It sounds terribly harsh but let them continue their Dementor-filled lives of sucked-out happiness – they’re missing out on all the wizarding world fun!
2. Sighs…Wondering If It’ll Be Another Case of #NotMyDumbledore
For me, I never felt connected enough to either of the Dumbledores’ portrayals in the Harry Potter franchise. Sadly, Richard Harris never got the time to show us how far he could take our favorite headmaster’s character, and Michael Gambon was, well… Michael Gambon. I thought Gambon’s performance was okay, but you can’t go very far in the Harry Potter fandom without someone citing the Goblet of Fire incident to know that something went wrong there. Dumbledore is a complex character unlike many others, and somebody needs to do him justice. The Fantastic Beasts series is where we’ll get to see another side to Dumbledore beyond the twinkling eye. Maybe you’re concerned, but you have hope that with J.K. Rowling writing the scripts and being involved in the casting that this could be a great success.
3. IMMEDIATE THEORIZING
“WHO COULD IT BE?!” “WHO COULD IT BE?!” You cried, grabbing the nearest pen and scrawling down your predictions and dreams in what would later turn out to be illegible scribbles consumed by your dreams and overwhelming concerns. You quickly formulate a ranking of worst-and best-case scenarios. Best: Butterbeer for all! Worst: Try not to become angry-Harry in Order of the Phoenix. Maybe it’ll be Ewan McGregor? Maybe Jared Harris? How about Damian Lewis? Who knows?!
4. “Okay.”
Perhaps you’re not too fussed. You’ve seen Fantastic Beasts and loved it… However, when it comes to casting, you really don’t care who it is and what they’ve done so long as they can successfully convey a young Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore well. If that’s so, then good for you! Hopefully, you can sit enjoying your Chocolate Frogs while the rest of us have meltdowns when the casting is finally unveiled.
How do you feel about Dumbledore’s character being in Fantastic Beasts! Whom would you like to play him?
