One of JK Rowling's most famous characters, Albus Dumbeldore, is to be played by Jude Law in the sequel to Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them.
Law, who recently had a critical hit with The Young Pope, is to play a younger Dumbledore in the film.
Law will portray Dumbledore long before the wizard became the Headmaster at Hogwarts, as he has been known in the Harry Potter books and movies.
Film viewers will meet him decades earlier, when Dumbledore is still serving as the wizarding school’s Transfiguration professor.
He is also a contemporary of Gellert Grindelwald, the charismatic dark wizard.
J.K. Rowling has also written the screenplay for the second movie.
Toby Emmerich, President of Warner Bros. Pictures said: "As fans ourselves, we are thrilled to have Jude Law joining the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ cast, playing a character so universally adored.
"Jude has been a member of the Warner Bros. family for years and we’re excited to embark on this new adventure with him.”
Director David Yates added: "Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I’m looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him. I know he will brilliantly capture all the unexpected facets of Albus Dumbledore as J.K. Rowling reveals this very different time in his life.”
Jude Law earned Oscar nominations for his work in Cold Mountain and The Talented Mr. Ripley, winning a BAFTA Award for the latter.
Principal photography begins this summer on the new Fantastic Beasts adventure.
Slated for release on November 16, 2018, the film, which is the second of five planned “Fantastic Beasts” movies.
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