
Most recently, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Lawy, portraying a younger version of the character) has recruited Newt to help thwart the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald ( Mads Mikkelsen, who replaces actor Johnny Depp). Subsequent movies in the sub-series have moved further away from fantastic beasts and their dwellings, as Newt keeps finding himself entangled in the battle between good and evil. The first movie centered on awkward magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), the author of in-universe textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The film takes place in the same universe as Harry Potter, though it is set in the 1920s.


The movie premiered on April 6 and is the latest installment in the Harry Potter spinoff series. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore will be available on HBO Max on May 30.
