Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore - The Complete Screenplay is the screenplay for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. It was released on 19 July 2022.[4] The book was designed by Paul Kepple and Alex Bruce at Headcase Design.[2]
The events of the screenplay follows the screenplay of the second film. It was written by J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves.[1]
Dedication[]
Like many of the Fantastic Beasts screenplays and Harry Potter books there was no dedication added into this screenplay by J. K. Rowling.[5]
Foreword[]
FOREWORD
Diving back into J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World with The Secrets of Dumbledore was both exciting creatively and challenging logistically, given that production began at the same time as the global pandemic, and we based ourselves for much of it working out of Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, England. It was here that Stuart Craig and his exceptional art department team, thwarted by various travel restrictions because of COVID- 1 9, created magical versions of Berlin, Bhutan, and China across the back lot. We also rebuilt some of the most memorable sets from earlier Wizarding World stories and films, including the Hog's Head, the Room of Requirement, and Hogwarts itself. Jo and Steve's screenplay moves deftly between the old and new while balancing a timely political story with both charm and emotion. At the heart of the tale, - one of Jo's most enduring and endearing characters, Albus Dumbledore, deals with present dangers and past regrets, while Newt Scamander leads a mission to prevent Grindelwald's rise to power. Over many months, as the world fell into a strange hibernation, we worked to translate Jo and Steve's words to the screen. In The Secrets of Dumbledore, dangerous times may favour dangerous men, but the tenacity and the pluck of Dumbledore, Newt, and the gang they assemble to take on the most lethal wizard in over a century holds out the promise that in the end, light and love may yet prevail, however challenging the odds. - DAVID YATES March 21, 2022[5]
Cover[]
The cover features the famous Hogwarts castle, at a side angle, framed in all its magnificent glory by the setting sun. Gliding over the lake is a majestic and fiery phoenix, signifying Dumbledore himself, as these creatures are known for their ties to his family.
Plot[]
Albus Dumbledore takes a train to meet Gellert Grindelwald in a Muggle restaurant, where they argue about their past, how their goals used to be aligned, and the blood troth between them, ending with Grindelwald telling Dumbledore to stay out of his way and making it clear he intends to burn down the non-magic world, with or without Albus's help. Meanwhile in the jungles of Kweilin, at night time, Newton Scamander helps a Qilin, a magical creature that can see into one's soul as well as the future, give birth, but some of Grindelwald's disciples, including members of the Zabini and Rosier families, and led by Credence Barebone, attack and overpower Newt, kill the mother, and kidnap the newborn. Unbeknownst to them, the Qilin has birthed twins, the younger of which Newt is able to save after he wakes up. A wyvern emerges from his case and flies them to safety. In Nurmengard, Grindelwald kills the Qilin to harness its ability of precognition after it doesn't bow to him. In the dead Qilin's blood's reflection, he sees Albus showing the blood pact to Theseus and Newt in the Hog's Head Inn.
Newt and Theseus head to Hog's Head Inn in order to question Dumbledore for the best course of action against Grindelwald. With Dumbledore still powerless to break the blood troth that prevents him from fighting Grindelwald, he reveals that he has plans to defeat Grindelwald and stop him from tearing the world apart with hatred, but they have to trust him. Eulalie Hicks recruits Jacob Kowalski, who is depressed with Queenie Goldstein having left him and his Kowalski Quality Baked Goods suffering from the Great Depression and initially wants nothing more to do with the wizarding world but eventually decides to help out. In the Great Wizarding Express heading for Berlin, Newt, Theseus, Bunty Broadacre, and Yusuf Kama greet the two and Newt then reveals that in order to thwart Grindelwald's future-seeing abilities, they will split up and perform different roles. He gives Theseus a tie with a large golden pin, Jacob a coreless wand, and Bunty instructions that will burn when she sees it as they set out to fulfil their roles.
Bunty has Newton Scamander's suitcase duplicated into half a dozen copies, while the rest go to Berlin in order to visit the German Ministry of Magic. Anton Vogel, the Supreme Mugwump and the Minister, refuses to help Newt and the others to stop Grindelwald for political reasons and they can only watch as Grindelwald is acquitted of all charges by the International Confederation of Wizards and can run for the position of the next Supreme Mugwump, with Theseus being captured. Reuniting with Dumbledore, he tells Newt where Theseus is imprisoned and assigns Eulalie and Jacob with the task of preventing assassination attempts on Grindelwald's competitors. Grindelwald, at Nurmengard, then has a vision Yusuf Kama going to Nurmengard, and Dumbledore going to Bhutan to confront him, with Vinda looking on. Next morning, Yusuf enters Nurmengard Castle and is promptly installed as a spy in Grindelwald's inner-circle, after Grindelwald removes Yusuf's memory of Leta's death.
Dumbledore walks across Berlin with Credence following him as Grindelwald has ordered him to kill Dumbledore. Aware of Credence's spying, Dumbledore quickly faces him and they fight due to Credence's anger about being abandoned. Dumbledore defeats Credence after a fierce fight, and it's revealed that he is not Albus's brother but rather his nephew as Aberforth's son. Meanwhile, in Berlin, Anton Vogel defends his stance on Grindelwald running as a candidate for the next Supreme Mugwump to other high-profile ICW members. Grindelwald is on the same street, driving a car with Vinda. He sees a vision of Jacob Kowalski pulling out his coreless wand to threaten him. Jacob and Eulalie are able to prevent the assassination of Vicência Santos but Jacob's reckless face-off with Grindelwald allows Grindelwald to frame him for attempting to kill Grindelwald and he and Lally barely escape, giving Grindelwald an incentive to turn the wizarding world against the muggle world. Queenie aids in their escape by launching a chair at Helmut and his henchmen to distract them, and buy Jacob more time to escape. Meanwhile Newt enters the Erkstag prison and successfully rescues his brother despite the Manticore and the guard attempting to stop them.
The group reunite at Hogwarts and go to the Hog's Head for dinner. As Grindelwald uses Necromancy in order to zombify the Qilin he killed, subsequently having a vision of another Qilin and getting angry at Credence, Dumbledore confronts his brother about his responsibilities to Credence and Newt learns the truth about Albus's past as Credence, disillusioned with Grindelwald, contacts them via a mirror asking to return home. Albus comes up with a plan to save everyone with Credence's help, and the next day, he tells the others that they must go to Bhutan to stop Grindelwald, as the election will be held there.
Travelling to Bhutan with a device provided by the Room of Requirement, they are able to defeat all of Grindelwald's disciples, with Yusuf revealing his true allegiance in process. Grindelwald uses the zombified Qilin to be announced as the Supreme Mugwump and immediately declares war on the Muggles, torturing Jacob for his attempts to assassinate him. However, Credence, Queenie, and Newt are able to expose him and Bunty reveals the true Qilin. It chooses Vicência after Dumbledore refuses to be the next Supreme Mugwump. His plans having been foiled, Grindelwald angrily attempts to kill Credence, but Albus and Aberforth save him. As he was protecting Credence rather than attacking Grindelwald in the clash, the blood pact finally breaks and Dumbledore immediately battles Grindelwald. The intense battle ends with their wands on each other's head and their hands on the other's heart, reaching a stalemate, and Grindelwald subsequently retreats.
The dying Credence is taken away by his father as the Phoenix mournfully follows them. In the aftermath of the election, Jacob and Queenie marry with most of the group and Tina attending. Dumbledore watches from a distance as he thanks Newt for all he's done before walking away alone.
Behind the scenes[]
- Neil Blair, who represents J. K. Rowling, has confirmed on Twitter that a screenplay would be released for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.[6]
- On 24 March 2022, the official title and cover of the book were revealed.[7]
- Interestingly, the cover of this edition is different from the previous two screenplays, which were both designed and illustrated by MinaLima.
- At the The Graphic Art of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – A MinaLima Exhibit, MinaLima mentioned to fans, asking why the screenplay was not covered by them, they replied that, "they didn’t have enough time to design the art and screenplay book because the movie got bumped up as such thing takes quite a long time."[8]
- Unlike the first two Fantastic Beasts screenplays, this screenplay was released three months after the release of its film, whereas the first two were released on the same days as their corresponding films. The title was also changed from "The Original Screenplay" to "The Complete Screenplay".
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The third Fantastic Beasts film confirms new details including cast members and location
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore - The Complete Screenplay, Scene 303
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fantastic Beasts the Secrets of Dumbledore: The Complete Screenplay (Fantastic Beasts, 3) Hardcover – July 19, 2022 Amazon
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wizarding World: "Keep visiting WizardingWorld.com or register with us and remember to opt-in to our newsletter for more updates on the Fantastic Beasts films – including the publication of the screenplay of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore in the English language by Little, Brown (U.K.), Scholastic (U.S.) and Pottermore Publishing (ebook) which was published on 19 July 2022. More languages will also follow on that date."
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 PHANTASTISCHE TIERWESEN: DUMBLEDORES GEHEIMNISSE (DAS ORIGINALDREHBUCH)
- ↑ Neil Blair on X: "👍 details to follow …." responding to "Can you put some minds at ease and confirm if we're getting a script book for TSOD? Some people are panicking bc minalima are saying they're not *currently*working on it. Thanks!"
- ↑ Cover for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore screenplay revealed
- ↑ There is sadly no recording though someone who attended the event said this.