“Fantastic Beasts” and Dumbledore’s Hidden Past
Anybody who has been a Harry Potter fan for quite a long time will know that October 19, 2007, is a historical date. This was the day that J.K. Rowling introduced the idea that Albus Dumbledore is gay. This solidified his spot as the first gay character in the Harry Potter canon, finally giving fans a much-needed LGBTQ+ character. While this was a huge step at the time, his sexuality was never an important plot point. It only played a small part during Deathly Hallowsthrough his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, but that is all about to possibly change.
During the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them press conference that occurred today in New York, JKR has finally given us a bit more information that suggests the possibility of LGBTQ+ issues may be getting more screen time with the new franchise. When asked if we would get to see Dumbledore’s sexuality play into the new series, Rowling said,
I can’t tell you everything I’d like to say because obviously, this is a five-part story. I will say that you will see Dumbledore as a younger man and quite a troubled man. As far as his sexuality is concerned, watch his face, and you will see.
This sentence, even while hidden behind all the things that she isn’t allowed to say at this moment in time, gives way to a level of speculation about Dumbledore that hasn’t been present in a very long time.
This is the first time that we’ll be seeing Dumbledore in, what Rowling called, his “formative years.” It is a time before he’s hardened himself to love and before he was the wise man that Harry came to know during his Hogwarts years. However, what is going to be most interesting is finally seeing a more human side to Dumbledore.
After being such an unbreakable character across the course of the original novels, and only showing his human nature near the end, it’s going to be an intriguing take on Dumbledore to see him in the years where he wasn’t as wise, showing the hidden side of him that was only glimpsed at during the time in the caves and from stories that Aberforth Dumbledore told. Seeing Dumbledore in his vulnerable youth and struggling with his sexuality will be a goldmine of veritable plot lines.
With the casting of Johnny Depp as Grindelwald, and the look for young Dumbledore already underway, it’s curious to see how and if Dumbledore’s love of Grindelwald will affect the plot of the story. But it’s something I – and fans around the world – am desperate to see.
Much is still unknown about the future of the Fantastic Beasts movies, but this does seem to hint that Dumbledore himself will be playing more into the series than previously expected. Out of all the possible ways to include Dumbledore in the new series of movies, I think that the most interesting ways to connect it would be Newt Scamander helping Dumbledore obtain Fawkes. Not only does this tie into the fantastic beast side of things, but it’s also a very natural way to allow Dumbledore and Scamander to come together while also introducing Fawkes, a very important aspect in the original series.
What do you think? Are you excited to finally see more of Dumbledore and his sexuality, or do you wish the story would stick with Scamander and his group of friends?
