Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - Entertainment Weekly Portraits

Entertainment Weekly released nine portraits of characters from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, each containing hints about what to expect from them in the film. 

So I thought I'd go through them each in turn and discuss my thoughts and theories on what I think we can expect. 

Firstly... Newt Scamander. He's shown in his new coat, with a curious Pickett peeking over the collar. The image says he's "wanted for questioning" which probably just refers to the task Dumbledore sets him in the film. We already know Dumbledore asks Newt to move against Grindelwald.

Tina is "on foreign assignment," which is presumably to tail Grindelwald which leads her to a reunion with Newt in Paris. Unless of course we see Newt deliver his book to her as he promised at the end of the first film.

Next up is Queenie. Immediately the first thing I notice is that she is facing the opposite way, which may be a sign to her inclinations in this next film. Her whereabouts are unknown, which sounds mysterious and perhaps hints at something happening between movies. Arounds the borders of all the images are MiniLima designs, and Queenie's design is a ring. Have Queenie and Jacob got engaged between movies?

My own little theory is that Queenie will be tempted to join Grindelwald. Perhaps he promises that in his new world he envisions she and Jacob can be together, free from the backward laws of wizarding America.

Jacob is said to be a "No-Maj of interest." It may be that Queenie's whereabouts are unknown because she's went into hiding with Jacob. It was left unclear at whether or not he retains his memories from his adventures in the first film. His little MinaLima design is a croissant, naturally. Has he opened a new bakery in Paris? 

Dumbledore is shown here with his original wand, and is said to be "under surveillance." This fits with what we saw in the trailer with the Aurors and Ministry officials interrogating him in his office at Hogwarts. There's some irony in Dumbledore being under surveillance in the 1920s, when we know from the Harry Potter books that he was also being watched closely by Umbridge and Cornelius Fudge, who was paranoid that Dumbledore was attempting a coup against the Ministry. So why is Dumbledore under surveillance in this film? Are the Ministry aware of his connection to Gellert Grindelwald? 

Credence is said to be "searching for [his] identity." We know that he's joined the Circus Arcanus, and this probably fits into his search for a sense of belonging in that he's seemingly choosing to be around other magical creatures and beasts. From the first trailer, we know that there's a Lestrange family tree in the Parisian sewers, and perhaps this indicates that the family tree was in fact created by Credence. 

On Credence's back is an embroidered handprint, which also features as his border design. 

Grindelwald's portrait speaks for itself. It describes him as a Dark wizard at large and we already know that he escapes from MACUSA custody at the beginning of the second film. His design is a skull with a tail-like wisp leading from it, ending in a flame. We've seen the ominous skull before in some earlier promotion material, but as for what it really is, I have no idea. 

I've said in the past that Leta Lestrange is the character I'm most intrigued by, so I'm thrilled with this new image and what it hints about her character. We finally know what her wand looks like; elegant and black with silver trimming. Her border design is a bird of some kind. An Augurey, perhaps? 

It says Leta is "implicated by prophecy," which I find fascinating. What prophecy is she implicated in? My theory is that it relates to the Lestrange family legacy. Will Leta somehow be vital to the downfall of Grindelwald? 

Finally we have Theseus Scamander, Newt's older brother. We know already he's a war hero and Auror, so it makes sense that he is "under Ministry orders." I believe he's tasked with following Newt, and I have a feeling it won't end well. And obviously we know he's engaged to Leta, already setting up the tension between the Scamander brothers. 

We're being spoiled with all the Fantastic Beasts news this week, and tomorrow we'll get the final trailer for The Crimes of Grindelwald. Expect a further post then... 

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - Teaser Trailer

The teaser trailer for the Crimes of Grindelwald came out a couple of weeks ago and I just wanted to write a little something about a few things I noticed/theories and predictions I've made. I say 'a little something' but we all know I can't stick to that...

Firstly, here is the teaser trailer itself:

Naturally, I'll start with the sight of Hogwarts which opened the teaser, and with Professor Dumbledore...

A group of people are seen Apparating onto the bridge and entering Hogwarts, and are later shown in what appears to have been Professor Dumbledore's office in the 1920s. They appear to be Ministry officials, led by a new character named Torquil Travers. Altogether there are nine people shown surrounding Dumbledore, he appears rather relaxed by the situation. One of the wizards is Theseus Scamander, Newt's older brother. 

One thing to note is that Travers was the surname of one of Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters. 

Interestingly, Leta Lestrange is shown Apparating onto the bridge and entering Hogwarts also, but she doesn't appear to be present in Dumbledore's office.

Travers inquires about Newt Scamander, how there is a rumour that he intends to visit Paris on Dumbledore's orders. As the Minister for Magic at the time the film is set was a wizard named Hector Fawley, I presume that Torquil Travers was the Head of Magical Law Enforcement, and the witches and wizards with him are Aurors under his command. We already know that Theseus Scamander was an Auror. 


We know from an image released a while back that Newt has not been granted permission to travel after his little adventure in New York. One clip of the teaser appears to show Newt on top of the White Cliffs of Dover, accompanied by two figures. As another clip shows Newt underwater riding a Kelpie, I wonder if this is his rather unconventional (and untraceable) method of travel to the continent.

In another moment in the teaser, Credence is shown on a rooftop in Paris. Beside him is the character known only as the Maledictus, played by Claudia Kim. Credence appears to be dispelling some of his magic, as the Maledictus looks on in awe. 

Later on, Le Cirque Arcanus (The Secret or Mysterious Circus) is shown. Four people can be seen flying about in bubbles as a crowd, presumably of Muggles, mill about beneath them. There are two posters displayed on either side of the circus tent. One shows the Oni, a large, tusked creature with claws. This creature appears in Japanese mythology and is akin to a troll, or ogre. The second poster, on the left, shows a serpentine creature, with the word 'Maledictus' plastered across it...

Another clip shows a man in a trilby hat in what appears to be a large sewer system. He is staring at a wall covered in white names and markings, which is actually the Lestrange family tree. When the trailer was first released, I spent probably about an hour squinting my eyes and breaking my back, trying my best to decipher the names and markings. Then, of course, Pottermore went and published a HD still.

I am almost certain that Leta Lestrange and Credence Barebone are half-siblings, a theory that appears to be fairly popular right now. It seems that their father was named Corvus Lestrange, and indeed, they are descended from a long line of Corvus Lestranges. I'm excited to see where this will go, and what we will find out about Corvus, Leta, Credence, and the rest of the Lestrange family in this film. Who drew out the family tree? Is Credence researching his heritage? 

A Thestral-drawn carriage can be seen flying through New York in one clip towards the end of the teaser. Grindelwald is then shown in the back of the carriage, with two wands being pointed at him. I believe this to be his prison vessel, his transport taking him back to Europe so he can face the charges of his eponymous crimes. We know he escapes custody at the beginning of the film, and I assume this takes place immediately after these clips. 

A new Lego set is to be released of the above Thestral-drawn carriage. The promotion photo released appears to show Grindelwald duelling Madam Picquery. Some sources claim Seraphina Picquery stepped down from her post as President of MACUSA in 1928, but who knows what the true outcome of this duel may be...

The last few clips show a fight in a graveyard. Newt and Theseus are duelling alongside each other. One thing I noticed was how Theseus Scamander seems to hold his wand in his knuckles, between his index and middle finger, and uses his other hand to steady his aim. I'd expect nothing less from a celebrated war hero. 

Finally, shortly after the release of the teaser trailer, Warner Bros. released the first poster for the film. It shows Newt and Dumbledore back to back, wands out, while the sign of the Deathly Hallows is ominously lit up behind them.

One question I have though, is why is Dumbledore's wand different to the image previously released? 

I made a list of everything I'd spotted, enough for two blog posts, but no doubt there are countless things I've missed. Let me know what you think, and if there was anything obvious I've missed out!