It’s been confirmed today who will play the young Dumbledore in the next Fantastic Beasts movie.

The second of five planned Fantastic Beasts movies arrives in cinemas on 16 November 2018.

Warner Bros. Pictures has officially revealed that Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, The Talented Mr. Ripley) will star as Albus Dumbledore in the sequel to last year’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The announcement reads: “In the much-anticipated new Wizarding World film, Law will portray long before the iconic wizard became the Headmaster at Hogwarts, as he has been known in the Harry Potter books and movies. We meet him decades earlier, when Dumbledore is still serving as the wizarding school’s Transfiguration professor. He is also a contemporary of Gellert Grindelwald, the charismatic dark wizard who believes wizards are superior to Muggles and No-Majs.”

With a screenplay by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, the second Fantastic Beasts movie begins filming this summer, directed by David Yates.

The story apparently “moves deeper into an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world, where Newt Scamander and our other heroes have to decide on their allegiances.”

Buy the first Fantastic Beasts movie on Amazon here.

Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures commented: “As fans ourselves, we are thrilled to have Jude Law joining the Fantastic Beasts cast, playing a character so universally adored. Jude has been a member of the Warner Bros. family for years and we’re excited to embark on this new adventure with him.”

Director David Yates added: “Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I’m looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him. I know he will brilliantly capture all the unexpected facets of Albus Dumbledore as J.K. Rowling reveals this very different time in his life.”

What do you think of the casting? Let us know below…