Fantastic Beasts 2: Dumbledore sexuality will be 'clear', director David Yates says

'We’re not airbrushing or hiding it'

The director of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has clarified that Dumbledore’s sexuality will be made “clear” in the forthcoming sequel.

David Yates – who has directed every Harry Potter movie since Order of the Phoenix – previously said that the Hogwarts headmaster’s sexuality won’t be explored “explicitly”, despite author JK Rowling previously confirming Dumbledore had loved the villain Grindelwald.

Speaking to Empire Magazine, Yates apologised for his previous remarks and said that the character, portrayed by Jude Law, will be gay.

“In that earlier interview, I didn’t say Dumbledore’s not gay. He is,” Yates said.

“This part of this huge narrative that Jo is creating doesn’t focus on his sexuality, but we’re not airbrushing or hiding it… the story [of the romantic relationship] isn’t there in this particular movie but it’s clear in what you see… that he is gay.

“A couple of scenes we shot are very sensual moments of him and the young Grindelwald.”

Law has previously spoken about his performance in the movie, saying that Rowling had indeed confirmed that Dumbledore was gay. The actor added that he does not share any scenes with Johnny Depp, who plays Grindelwald, and that this was just the first part in a longer series that would explore their relationship further down the line.

“Jo Rowling revealed some years back that Dumbledore was gay,” Law said. “That was a question I actually asked Jo and she said, yes, he’s gay. But as with humans, your sexuality doesn’t necessarily define you; he’s multifaceted.

“I suppose the question is: How is Dumbledore’s sexuality depicted in this film? What you got to remember this is only the second Fantastic Beasts film in a series and what’s brilliant about Jo’s writing is how she reveals her characters, peels them to the heart over time.”

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald reaches cinemas 16 November.