Moviefone Editorial

Tag: jk-rowling

  • Johnny Depp Explains Grindelwald’s ‘Scary Eye,’ and Defends Own Casting

    Johnny Depp Explains Grindelwald’s ‘Scary Eye,’ and Defends Own Casting

    Johnny Depp, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
    Warner Bros.

    There’s been so much talk about Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” but surprisingly little — to none — of that talk has been from Depp himself.

    Depp just had a Q&A with Entertainment Weekly about the upcoming “Fantastic Beasts” sequel. He discussed Grindelwald’s sexuality, his “intense” relationship with Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), his jealousy of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), and his defense of Grindelwald as “an oddly likable character.” (As opposed to Donald Trump — Depp doesn’t agree with comparisions between Grindelwald and Trump.)

    He also explained his process of finding the character, and said giving Grindelwald two very different eyes was his idea:

    EW: “He now has, as one of your costars referred to, a “Scary Eye,” one eye rather different from the other. Does that have a backstory, is that just creepy?”

    Johnny Depp: “It’s a character choice. I saw Grindelwald as more than one, if you know what I mean. I almost felt like he’s maybe two people. He’s twins in one body. So a gamey eye is more like the other side of him. Sort of like a brain for each eye, an albino twin, and he’s somewhere in the middle.”

    Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, via EW
    Warner Bros.

    And of course there’s the controversy over casting Johnny Depp at all. Some “Fantastic Beast” fans were thrilled to see Depp. Others were disappointed, after having Colin Farrell in the first film. And still more were upset at J.K. Rowling for casting Depp after allegations that he abused his now ex-wife Amber Heard. Rowling issued a statement supporting Depp.

    EW asked Depp if there was anything he’d say to fans on the fence about seeing the film:

    “I’ll be honest with you, I felt bad for J.K. having to field all these various feelings from people out there. I felt bad that she had to take that. But ultimately, there is real controversy. The fact remains I was falsely accused, which is why I’m suing the Sun newspaper for defamation for repeating false accusations. [Depp’s attorney said his “evidence” will be presented in court in the defamation case against The Sun.] J.K. has seen the evidence and therefore knows I was falsely accused, and that’s why she has publicly supported me. She doesn’t take things lightly. She would not stand up if she didn’t know the truth. So that’s really it.”

    Not that Rowling was part of Depp’s marriage. None of us were there. Depp also shared a message to the many loyal “Harry Potter” fans:

    “I feel like the main thing as an actor is your loyalty. It’s my job to enforce the author’s vision and also be true to the director’s vision. And then there’s being true to my vision. It’s a major responsibility, being handed the keys to this car. My intense loyalty is to not just J.K. and David Yates but to the people who go and see the films as well, the people who have invested their lives into this magnificent, incredible world J.K. has created. I went full tilt and headfirst into the character knowing the responsibility that I had. It’s good to take the audience on a ride they’re not necessarily expecting, yet with great respect to the world they’ve come to understand and know. The Potter fans are like scholars of this stuff which I find incredibly impressive. They know that world inside and out. I hope to give them something they haven’t seen before.”

    It’ll take seeing this movie (and maybe the next one, and the next one?) to really judge Depp’s performance as the infamous dark wizard. Fans and non-fans have already taken sides on Depp’s relationship with Heard, and that may continue through the next films as well.

    The “Fantastic Beasts” series is meant to include five films, all written by “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling herself. “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” is the second movie in the series and it opens in theaters November 16.

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  • Macaulay Culkin Just Asked J.K. Rowling to Write Him Into ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’

    Macaulay Culkin Just Asked J.K. Rowling to Write Him Into ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’

    Macaulay Culkin, The Tonight Show
    NBC

    Macaulay Culkin has kind of a Malfoy look to him, no?

    The “Fantastic Beasts” films are all set long before the timeline of Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, but maybe Culkin could play Grandpa Malfoy.

    Harry Potter, Malfoy family
    Warner Bros.

     

    Just spit-balling to help a guy out, since he clearly wants to be in the next “Fantastic Beasts” movie. Culkin said as much in a tweet to “Harry Potter” author and “Fantastic Beasts” screenwriter J.K. Rowling.

    Rowling has been catching some heat from fans for making Nagini a human (and Asian) woman in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.” Culkin started his pitch by backing Rowling up on her decisions. He also reached out to Dan Fogler, who plays Jacob Kowalski, as a job reference:

    Haha. Culkin may be too late for the third movie, though. During a fan Q&A in late May/June, Rowling revealed she was already working on the script for “Fantastic Beasts 3.” There are five films planned for the “Fantastic Beasts” series. So if he missed No. 3, maybe No. 4 is available?

    Culkin, now age 38, hasn’t been up to anything significant film-wise in a while. The “Home Alone” alum is listed as starring in Seth Green‘s film “Changeland,” which is currently marked as in post-production. But he should be free to join “Fantastic Beasts 3,” among other things.

    By the way, the photo at top is from a “Tonight Show” interview he gave earlier this year, talking about “Home Alone” conspiracy theories, and all of his death hoaxes:

    The second “Fantastic Beasts” movies hits theaters November 16.

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  • ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’ Star Eddie Redmayne Reveals What It’s Like to Finally Work With Dumbledore

    ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’ Star Eddie Redmayne Reveals What It’s Like to Finally Work With Dumbledore

    WB

    Eddie Redmayne is just a delight.

    While visiting the set of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” in 2017, the Oscar-winning star was knee-deep and production and, despite the demands of the shooting schedule, he was effortlessly personable and likable. No wonder why his character, Newt, quickly became a fan favorite. (Along with his very iconic coat).

    Redmayne revealed what it’s like for his character interacting on screen with a younger version of Dumbledore (Jude Law) and what is in store for his character.

    MOVIEFONE: Have you [shot] scenes with Jude already?

    Eddie Redmayne: I have, yeah. We have. And it was — it’s really wonderful. I’ve known Jude for many years, socially, and have admired his work and — when we got to play, it was really playful. And he has that sort of twinkle in his eye that Dumbledore always has, that, I think, is so important in the depictions of Dumbledore in the films and certainly was really important to J.K. Rowling.

    How’s the dynamic with Newt’s brother, played by Callum Turner?

    It’s wonderful. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is working with Callum. I was watching “War and Peace,” I don’t know if you guys saw that, which he was in. My wife and I were watching it and he turned up on screen and literally, [my wife and I] were like — “that’s like a taller, darker, better looking version of me.” <laughter> So when [director] David Yates was auditioning people for that part and he said “I want you to test with this actor,” and Callum walked in — I was, like, holy sh**.

    WB

    Speaking of relationships, we heard from one of the art directors that Newt and Tina (Katherine Waterston) had a bit of falling out. Can you talk about what happened?

    Um… it’s not so much a falling out <laughs> as it is a misunderstanding. <laughs> You know, at the end of the last film, Newt was going home to write his book, but was desperate to come back. And when you meet him at the top of this film, he’s still desperate to come back. There’s been a misunderstanding and one of the lovely things is the way in which these guys come back together. It is typical for Tina and Newt through a lot of inability to communicate what they really feel. But it’s been so wonderful playing with Katherine.

    We also heard that Newt’s assistant has an unrequited love for him and I feel like — as a fan — you’re always rooting for the unrequited love to become requited. Will that be a challenge for fans?

    Have you heard about, uh, am I allowed to say her name? Are we allowed to talk about what the assistant’s name is?

    Yeah.

    She’s this wonderful character called Bunty and she is — she only has a scene or two in the film.

    So in the last film, there was sort of a buddy comedy element to it.

    Yeah.

    How much of that are we going to see here?

    So, we end up — the action ends up in Paris, that is where the major part of the film takes place. And there is a point in the movie where Jacob (Dan Fogler) and Newt meet up and it’s quite clear they have to go on an adventure to Paris. And so, there’s that element and Dan’s genius, which was one of the things I enjoyed most about the first film. How Jo [Rowling] had written Jacob — but then Dan taking it to another level through improvising and playing. He always described [our characters’ relationship] as sort of this Laurel and Hardy-style kind of relationship. But it was unlike anything I’d ever had to play and it’s been really wonderful.

    It looks like there’s a lot more action in this new movie for sure. Compared to the last one, do you find it more of a challenge in that increasing amount of physicality? 

    The interesting thing is that this film takes it to — you really get inside the psychology of the characters more and and it’s a darker place. You can sort of get a sense of what’s coming historically in the Muggle world at the time and certainly the wizarding world. There are elements that are reflecting that and with the rise of Grindelwald and this sort of — this sort of greater evil. So the stakes are higher.

    WB

    Can you talk a bit about your role and Newt’s role in the Dumbledore-Grindelwald face-off?

    Yeah.

    I think some people might have feared that he’d be a bit marginalized. You know, once you introduce these two big personalities, it becomes about them.

    I feel like Newt’s skillset is quite unique, and I don’t just mean with beasts, I mean with empathy. His capacity to see broken people and to reach out to broken people is a skillset which is pretty unique.  And it’s one of the things that Dumbledore has always, since he was a kid, seen in Newt. Rowling has created a scenario that’s not as simple as the two can just face off. And actually, Dumbledore needs to recruit the skillset of Newt to help.

    “Crimes of Grindelwald” hits theaters Nov. 16.

  • 10 Twitter Moments That Made ’90s Kids Go into Full Nostalgia Mode

    10 Twitter Moments That Made ’90s Kids Go into Full Nostalgia Mode

    There is no generation that loves nostalgia more than ’90s kids.

    We can’t get enough of it. If you were born in the ’90s, you have to scream about it. It’s the law!

    These are the ten Twitter moments that probably had every 90s kid putting on N*SYNC and crying their shiny, blue eyeshadow off.

    1. When two childhood worlds combined!

    2. When the evil (almost) step-mom we loved to hate was still slaying.

    3. When J.K. Rowling so politely took the time to make us cry. Again.

    4. When we screamed “Can I keep you?!” at our phones.

    5. When Aaron Carter made himself relevant again.

    6. When Aaron Samuels appreciated October 3rd as much as we do!

    7. When our main childhood crush just hit us right in the heart parts.

    8. When Mandy Moore was the gift that kept on giving. Even in a bucket hat.

    9. When we were all saved by the bell.

    10. When RDJ gave us major 90s Tony Stark vibes.

  • New ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ Trailer Debuts at Comic Con

    New ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ Trailer Debuts at Comic Con

    Warner Bros.

    Today during Warner Bros’ panel at San Diego Comic Con a new trailer for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” debuted and it is pretty darn magical. We’ll just let you watch for yourself, but this one looks bigger, more stylish, and scarier than the first film, with a winning cast (including Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Jude Law, Zoe Kravitz and, yes, a certifiably nutzo Johnny Depp) exploring even further corners of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. In short: we can’t wait.

    “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” opens on November 16th.

  • Why ‘C.B. Strike’ Is the J.K. Rowling Series You Should REALLY Be Obsessed With

    Earlier this year, the Wizarding World went through a lavish rebranding. The licensing and marketing arm of the J.K. Rowling enterprise, one that controls and oversees the various theme park attractions, spin-offs, videogames and Broadway shows, it got a nifty new logo just in time for the trailer for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” the second film in the prequel series of movies that nobody really asked for but we’re stuck with anyway.

    It’s clear that much muscle and money is being put behind you getting excited for this, the next epic series from Rowling (she’s writing all the screenplays, don’t-cha-know), but it’s okay if you’re not — especially since there’s another series, this one also based on beloved Rowling books, premiering this weekend and in the comfort of your own living room.

    “C.B. Strike,” which starts this weekend on Cinemax after premiering on the BBC late last summer, is really the Rowling series you should be amped about. Wizard fetishists need not apply.

    The series, which lasts a brisk seven episodes, are based on the first three books of Rowling’s Cormoran Strike series (the first three episodes are based on the first novel, and the next four are built from the second two books), a series she initially published under a pseudonym (Robert Galbraith), before being found out. (Her publishers were undoubtedly thrilled that they could finally spill the beans.)

    The intricate plotting and delicate character work that made the Potter books more than mere YA fluff are present in these new novels, and gone are the desperate Look at me! I’m a legitimate author! flourishes that defined her novel “The Casual Vacancy.” Instead, these novels are just expertly constructed, wonderfully thrilling works (a fourth novel, “Lethal White,” was announced last year), anchored by two main characters that we cannot wait to see translated for the small screen.

    The titular character, Coroman Strike, is described in the novels as a kind of brusque, not incredibly attractive war veteran with one leg who runs a failing detective agency in modern day London. He’s a great detective, but rough around the edges and a bit of a brute. (In literary terms, he seems to be a canny mixture of Sherlock Holmes and Jack Reacher.)

    At the start of the first novel, he’s on the outs, having just broken up with his effortlessly glamorous and attractive fiancé. Tom Burke is cuter (and younger) than the written-page version of the character would suggest, but we’re still excited to see him hobble around London, wrapped in a natty coat. And it’s good too that they chose a relative unknown (at least stateside) for the role; Burke can really inhabit the character, away from the baggage of iconic past roles.

    But the character we’re really interested in is Strike’s put upon secretary-cum-partner, Robin. In the book, Robin takes a receptionist gig in Strike’s office on a part time basis but ends up staying longer because the case they’re investigating (the possible murder of an impossibly famous London supermodel) is so interesting. Also, she finds Strike so compelling (much to the chagrin of her fiancé). It’s through her eyes that we understand who Strike is and how much trouble he’s actually in (he’s been sleeping in the office, on an uncomfortable pullout couch).

    For Robin, the producers have cast Patrick Melrose”). She seems to be the perfect performer to embody Robin, who is intrigued but smart enough to know that she could get in over her head relatively quickly, either by the dangerousness of Strike’s cases or, even scarier, because of his financial instability.

    Quite frankly these characters, deeply flawed and undeniably human, have their own special traits and unique abilities, just like Rowling’s super-powered magicians battling it out in the Wizarding World. And they should be celebrated and praised just as highly. These stories are easily as edge-of-your-seat engrossing as anything that Rowling has done before, and “C.B. Strike” is easily one of the most anticipated new series of the summer.

    Prepare to be hooked.

  • J.K. Rowling Is Now Writing ‘Fantastic Beasts 3’ (and Explaining Her Producer Role)

    Picture “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling over in Scotland. She’s hard at work in her writing room in the garden, drinking tea with classical music on in the background, as she writes the next “Fantastic Beasts” script.

    Rowling gave fans more insight into her writing process on her website, and revealed she’s currently working on the third movie screenplay, in the planned five-film “Fantastic Beasts” series.

    Here’s part of what she revealed in a fan Q&A:

    “I’ve just finished the fourth Galbraith novel, Lethal White, and I’m now writing the screenplay for Fantastic Beasts 3. After that I’ll be writing another book for children. I’ve been playing with the (non-Harry Potter/wizarding world) story for about six years, so it’s about time I get it down on paper.”

    “Lethal White” is the latest novel in The Cormoran Strike series she writes as Robert Galbraith. Fun fact: “C.B. Strike” premieres tonight (June 1) on Cinemax, adapting her first Strike novel, “The Cuckoo’s Calling.”

    The third “Fantastic Beasts” movie already has a release date of November 2020. It will follow “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” which came out in 2016, and “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” which opens this November 2018.

    Rowling doesn’t just write the scripts, she’s also a producer of the “Harry Potter” prequel films. She was asked what exactly is her role as producer, and how much say does she have in the look and feel of the films. Here’s her answer:

    “Warner Bros and David Yates, the director, have always let me have my say, though not necessarily the final word. That’s true of all the producers, of whom I’m only one: our input is taken seriously but it is very much a collaborative effort. The director is ultimately responsible for everything that’s seen on the screen. As the screenwriter, the majority of my input comes at an earlier stage.”

    During another section, when asked about collaborating on several projects, she revealed more details:

    “The thing with movies is, however frustrated you get with the screenwriting process, and right at the moment when you think ‘never again, this is too hard’, you go down to the film set and join in with one big glorious game of pretend, with the world’s best pretenders saying your words, and dressing out of the most fabulous dressing up box, and what with the lights and the smoke and the music you’re suddenly in love with the process all over again.”

    “Fantastic Beasts 2,” aka “The Crimes of Grindelwald,” opens in theaters November 16th.

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  • J.K. Rowling Apologizes for Killing Another ‘Harry Potter’ Character

    “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling launched a tradition in 2015, to apologize for one death each year on May 2, the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts.

    This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. This particular character wasn’t killed in the battle, but he was a hero, and there’s no way you weren’t emotional at his death. We’re still emotional about it now.

    In the first year, Rowling apologized for killing Fred Weasley. In 2016, she apologized for Remus Lupin. Last year, she apologized for killing Snape (and fans started fighting again).

    Now it’s 2018, and Rowling has offered her first apology for killing someone who was dead before the battle even started:


    Dobby’s death was devastating, both in the book and on film as the emotional bridge between “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” and “Part 2.” His burial scene at Shell Cottage prompted a flood of tears. Socks will never be mundane again, and always represent freedom and kindness.

    We salute you, Dobby — a hero, and a free elf.

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  • J.K. Rowling’s ‘C.B. Strike’ Miniseries Gets Premiere Date on Cinemax

    Accio, Cormoran Strike!

    When she’s not busy writing the “Fantastic Beasts” scripts, or more “Harry Potter” stories, J.K. Rowling switches gears into crime writer Robert Galbraith. Under that name, she’s been writing the fantastic Cormoran Strike detective novels. The ongoing series includes “The Cuckoo’s Calling”, “The Silkworm” and “Career of Evil,” so far, with “Lethal White” still ahead.

    The novels were adapted into a British crime drama miniseries, called “Strike” in the U.K., and “C.B. Strike” over here.

    Cinemax picked up the series, and just revealed “C.B. Strike” will premiere Friday, June 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and keep airing Fridays in that timeslot.

    The series starts with three one-hour episodes based on the first book in the trilogy, “The Cuckoo’s Calling.” That will be followed by adaptations of the remaining two books, “The Silkworm” and “Career of Evil,” both of which will consist of two one-hour episodes.

    Tom Burke (“Only God Forgives”) stars as Cormoran Strike, with Holliday Grainger (“The Borgias”) as his assistant Robin Ellacott. The story follows Strike, “a war veteran turned private detective, operating out of a tiny office in London’s Denmark Street. Although wounded both physically and psychologically, Strike’s unique insight and his background as a military police investigator prove crucial in solving three complex cases that have baffled the police.”

    Check out the trailer:

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  • ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’ Trailer Upsets ‘Harry Potter’ Fans With Apparent Rule Break

    How many times does Hermione have to say it?

    The first trailer for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” was released Tuesday. When fans weren’t busy drooling over young Dumbledore (Jude Law) and checking out Grindelwald’s (Johnny Depp) new look, they took a moment to fire off some “canon” blasts.

    The problem is the shot toward the very start of the trailer, showing several people apparating onto Hogwarts grounds.


    We’ve been told time and again that you can’t apparate on Hogwarts grounds. That area qualifies as the Hogwarts grounds. The rule is apparently not new, circa the 20th Century timeline of these movies. We’ve been told it’s always been the case.

    So now there’s a debate about it — was it a plot hole? J.K. Rowling herself wrote the “Fantastic Beasts” scripts, so you’d think she’d know. Unless the shot was added in by director David Yates, but he too would also know.

    It’s probably well-thought-out, and the running theory seems to be that they lifted the rule for a visit from the Minister for Magic. We have seen that the enchantments can be lifted on certain occasions, like Apparition lessons. Dumbledore was not Headmaster in this era, he was still Professor of Transfiguration, but the Headmaster could lift the enchantment.

    Fans lashed out on Twitter, debating what happened:


    There must’ve been a good reason for the shot to be included so prominently in the trailer. Or maybe Rowling and Yates just assumed fans would understand the rule was lifted for an important visit from the Minister. “Fantastic Beasts 2” opens in theaters November 16th.

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