New Casting Update For FANTASTIC BEASTS 2 Reveals That The Character Nicolas Flamel will Be in the Film

Some new casting information has surfaced for David Yates' Fantastic Beasts sequel. The announcement comes from Pottermore and it reveals some new characters being introduced to the film and we learn a little bit about some of them and their ties to the books.

One of the main characters revealed is Nicolas Flamel and he will be played by Brontis Jodorowsky (El Topo, Endless Poetry). The character was originally mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Flamel is known in the wizarding world as an alchemist who discovered the Elixir of Life and he's based on the real-life alchemist of the same name. The report goes on to offer details on the other characters that have been cast:

So far, only a few names have been revealed, but some surnames will be familiar to Harry Potter fans. Joining the cast will be Wolf Roth as a character called Spielman; Call the Midwife star Victoria Yeates as Bunty; Derek Riddell as Torquil Travers; Poppy Corby-Tuech as Rosier; and Cornell S John as Arnold Guzman. The names ‘Travers’ and ‘Rosier’ stand out in particular; these last names turn up in the Harry Potter series and belong to two Death Eaters who served Lord Voldemort.

Actor and comedian Jessica Williams, who is best known for her work on The Daily Show, and the film The Incredible Jessica James, has also been cast, but her role hasn't been revealed.

These actors will join the previously cast Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein and Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski. Carmen Ejogo, who portrayed the President of MACUSA Seraphina Picquery in the first film, will also appear in the movie. Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore, Callum Turner will play Newt's brother Theseus and Zoe Kravitz will portray Leta Lestrange, who had a relationship with Newt. Then, of course, the dark wizard Grindelwald will be played by Johnny Depp. 

The film opens in 1927, "a few months after Newt helped to unveil and capture the infamous Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. However, as he promised he would, Grindelwald has made a dramatic escape and has been gathering more followers to his cause—elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. The only one who might be able to stop him is the wizard he once called his dearest friend, Albus Dumbledore. But Dumbledore will need help from the wizard who had thwarted Grindelwald once before, his former student Newt Scamander. The adventure reunites Newt with Tina, Queenie and Jacob, but his mission will also test their loyalties as they face new perils in an increasingly dangerous and divided wizarding world."

The Fantastic Beasts sequel is set to be released on November 16th, 2018.