FANTASTIC BEASTS 2 Will Feature Teenage Versions of Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, and More
Warner Bros. has announced that they are holding open auditions for Fantastic Beasts 2 and they are looking at casting young teenage versions of classic Harry Potter characters. The five characters they are looking to cast include Newt Scamander, Leta Lestrange, Gellert Grindelwald, Albus Dumbledore, and a new character named Sebastian.
They are looking to cast 13 to 16-year-olds in the roles of Lewt, Leta, and Sebastian. As for Dumbledore and Grindelwald, they want actors from the age of 16 to 18. There are no details on how the young versions of these characters will fit into the story, but Pottermore gives us a rundown of their history:
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, readers learned that Albus and Gellert were once friends, before becoming arch-rivals. The casting of their teenage incarnations – as well as those of Newt and Leta – will be sure to intrigue Harry Potter fans, and drive further speculation about the next film’s story.
Newt Scamander’s relationships and past remain enigmatic, so any glimpse into his formative years will be huge for the character.
Leta Lestrange was mentioned in the first Fantastic Beasts film as having a ‘close friendship’ with Newt at Hogwarts, and her photograph was seen in Newt’s workshop. The casting of a young Leta would suggest that her character might have a bigger role in the sequel.
As for the adult versions of these characters, Jude Law is playing Dumbledore, Johnny Depp is playing Grindelwald, Zoë Kravitz is Leta Lestrange, and Eddie Redmayne is Newt Scamander.
The sequel is set decades before Harry Potter’s adventures at Hogwarts, and marks an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world.
If you or someone you know wants a chance to land a role in the film, I've included all the information that you need below:
Open casting calls are something of a tradition in the Wizarding World. Faith Wood-Blagrove beat thousands of other young actresses to the role of Modesty in Fantastic Beasts, and Evanna Lynch was chosen for the part of Luna Lovegood out of 15,000 other young women following open casting in 2006.
To apply for the Fantastic Beasts open casting call, email casting.prod@wb.uc-ns.com with a recent colour photograph, (i.e., taken within the last two months), contact telephone number, your home address and date of birth. Anyone under 18 must ask a parent or guardian to send the application.
No previous acting experience is necessary, but applicants need to be eligible to work in the UK (meaning they must be a UK, Irish or EU passport holder), and be available for filming between August and November 2017.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 20 June 2017 at midnight GMT. If there is interest in pursuing an application further, the applicant will hear back within 14 days of their original submission. While every applicant will be considered, only those passing the initial consideration round will be contacted.
The sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is slated for release on November 16th, 2018, and filming begins this summer.