Fantastic Beasts 2: Dumbledore's Sexuality Won't Be 'Explicitly' Referenced

When J.K. Rowling ended the Harry Potter books way back in 2007, she had also revealed that the character of Albus Dumbledore was actually gay. Dumbledore's ex-lover Grindelwald will be the focus of the Fantastic Beasts sequel, and with Dumbledore appearing as well, director David Yates explains that their homosexuality won't be "explicitly" shown.

Talking to Entertainment Weekly, Yates explains that the film will focus more on Grindelwald's criminal nature instead of his personal relationship with Dumbledore. The filmmakers also wanted to avoid any controversy that might come with the reference. Yates says:

"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."

With that in mind, it doesn't outright mean that the Fantastic Beasts films won't explore Dumbledore's sexuality at all. After The Crimes of Grindelwald, the franchise still has three more movies to pump out—enough time to keep exploring the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald.

J.K. Rowling had even said back in a 2016 press conference:

"Well, I'm very comfortable with the question. I can't tell you everything I would like to say because this is obviously a five-part story, so there's lots to unpack in that relationship. I will say that you will see Dumbledore as a younger man and quite a troubled man because he wasn't always the sage [mentor]. He was always very clever, but we'll see him at what I think was the formative period of his life. As far as his sexuality is concerned, watch this space."

The way that conservatists are already bashing on the witchcraft element of the Harry Potter franchise, the more I can imagine the same groups finding issue with the movie having a gay main character. Personally, I'm all for it, but I think the producers will want this movie to be the least controversial version that it can be.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is set for a release on Nov. 16.

See Also: Each Fantastic Beasts Movie Will Take Place in a Different City