If, like me, you're a huge fan of J.K. Rowling's wizarding world, you're probably super excited to see the next instalment of the Fantastic Beasts series, in cinemas this November.
The Statute of Secrecy may have been in full effect, but they did reveal a ~few~ secrets about the upcoming film. Here's what I learned...
1.The sequel is much darker than the first Fantastic Beasts, but still has elements of the lightness and magic that we expect from the wizarding world.
2.The film begins with "a very powerful, dynamic action sequence" in which Grindelwald escapes from the American wizarding authorities.
3.Since the end of the first film, Credence has made his way to Paris, and a lot of people are looking for him, which is what leads so many of our characters to the French capital.
4.We get to see Tina take more of an active role in the fight against Grindelwald – and the "damsel in distress" dynamic we saw in the first movie may be reversed.
5.And Newt has unwittingly become a bit of a celebrity since the end of the first film, thanks to the publication of his book.
6.There are elements of Newt's character that were improvised and influenced by Eddie Redmayne's portrayal of him in the first film.
7.Newt has an apartment in London with a secret basement that's basically an extension of his famous case.
8.He also has an assistant named Bunty (played by Call The Midwife star Victoria Yeates), who is obsessed with Newt's work and maybe a little infatuated with him.
9.Even though we know they end up together thanks to the foreward of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (the book), Newt and Tina's relationship will be a "slow burn".
10.We get to see Hogwarts during two different periods in time – in the 1900s, when Newt was a student, and in the 1920s.
11.The filmmakers screen tested a few actors for the role of Dumbledore, but Jude Law was the standout choice.
12.And while Dumbledore is popular with his students, he's very different as a young man than the Dumbledore we know and love from the original series.
13.We'll be treated to even more nods to the original series now that more familiar characters and settings are being introduced.
14.That being said, there are some props from the Harry Potter movies that do make an appearance in Fantastic Beasts.
15.Since so much of the film is set in Paris, we get some interesting insight into the French wizarding world, including the Parisian version of Diagon Alley.
16.As well as scenes filmed in MACUSA and a return to the British Ministry of Magic, there'll be a lot of action within the French Ministry, also known as the Ministère des Affaires Magiques.
17.The visitors' entrance to the French Ministry is reminiscent of the telephone boxes used to get into the British Ministry of Magic.
18.Sometimes Ezra Miller goes to dinner by himself in character as Credence, and ends up freaking out waiters.
19.And most importantly, we're going to get to see Niffler babies.
