How Jude Law was cast as a younger, hotter Dumbledore in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'
- "Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald" is out on Blu-ray and DVD March 12.
- INSIDER is debuting an exclusive behind-the-scenes video featuring how Jude Law wound up cast a younger, sexier Dumbledore with the actor himself and "Harry Potter" author, J.K. Rowling.
- In the video, Law said he was interested in the franchise after seeing the first "Fantastic Beasts."
- Rowling says she met with Law to fill him in on details about Dumbledore she never told anyone else.
Jude Law joined the cast of "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" as a swoon-worthy, younger Albus Dumbledore years before he was Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
In an exclusive video provided to INSIDER, Law recalls he was so interested in the franchise after watching the first "Fantastic Beasts" that he reached out to see what was next for the Warner Bros.' films.
"I saw the first 'Fantastic Beasts' and I think I made an inquiry after seeing it, quite quickly, thinking, 'Ah, where else is this going to go? What are the other characters?" said Law in the video that will be featured on the upcoming "Crimes of Grindelwald" home release.
Law says he's not sure whether or not that was what got the wheels turning at Warner Bros., but it sounds like it probably helped. The actor previously starred in WB's hit "Sherlock Holmes."
"I got a call early on saying that they were looking to cast a young Dumbledore," said Law. "It was a very good day when I got the phone call saying that they wanted me to play him, and obviously my kids are thrilled."
After he was cast, "Harry Potter" author and "Fantastic Beasts" screenwriter J.K. Rowling met up with Law to fill him in on everything there was to know about the famous wizard.
"When I met Jude, we had this very intense meeting, just the two of us, where I basically told him everything about Dumbledore that I've ever known, but not told anyone else. Literally, never told anyone some of the things that I told Jude," said Rowling of letting Law in on some "Harry Potter" secrets.
Rowling said it was imperative to let Law in on Dumbledore's full backstory if he was to play the character correctly.
"I really thought it was important that from the moment we see him on screen he knows the burden that that character is carrying," Rowling added. "Without that knowledge, Jude is playing someone who appears to be playing games with people's lives, and that's not who Dumbledore is."
In addition, Law says he wound up seeking inspiration from the previous actors who played Dumbledore, Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. It also gave him the opportunity to binge all of the previous eight "Harry Potter" movies.
"Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" is available on Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and DVD special edition March 12. It's currently available on digital. You can watch the video here and below:
Read more:
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- Jude Law says he wasn't aware that Dumbledore wouldn't be 'explicitly' gay in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'
- 8 glaring inconsistencies in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' that will frustrate 'Harry Potter' fans
- The 21 biggest questions we have after seeing 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'
- 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' ends with an unexpected reveal that will divide the fandom — here's what to know
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