"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2," officially titled Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), is the second film in the Fantastic Beasts series, part of the larger Wizarding World franchise created by J.K. Rowling. Directed by David Yates and written by J.K. Rowling, the film continues the story set in 1927, focusing on Newt Scamander and Albus Dumbledore as they confront the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who has escaped custody and is rallying followers to his cause of wizard supremacy over non-magical people
. The plot follows Newt Scamander as he navigates complex alliances and new threats while trying to locate Credence Barebone in Paris. The film explores themes of loyalty, identity, and power struggles within the wizarding world. Key characters include Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), and Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), with Jude Law portraying a younger Albus Dumbledore
. The film features magical creatures with significant roles, such as Nagini, who is revealed to be a cursed woman, and various other fantastic beasts that add to the magical atmosphere. The story also delves into the backstory of the Lestrange family and the blood pact between Grindelwald and Dumbledore, which prevents them from dueling each other directly
. Critically, the film received mixed reviews but was noted for its darker tone, spectacle, and the expansion of the Wizarding World lore. It was praised for performances, especially Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law, and for the visual effects of the magical creatures, though some critics wished for more focus on the beasts themselves
. In summary, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is a fantasy adventure film that continues the saga of Newt Scamander and the rising threat of Grindelwald, blending magical creatures, complex characters, and a deepening plot within J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World
