The Wizarding World, Mads Mikkelsen explained in a recent interview we did with him, can't escape the hardships of the Muggle world like corruption in politics. It couldn't escape from the pandemic either. We had the incredible privilege to interview Jude Law and Eddie Redmayne at Dumbledore's Office in 'Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter', and we asked them about one of the greatest mysteries of 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore': what happened to Brazil?
When we talked to Redmayne and Callum Turner, his brother in the films, back in 2018 for 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald', the tow of them were very enthusiastic with J.K. Rowling's plan to take them to Brazil. But the Potterheads began to realize that Brazil was nowhere to be found in the trailers or promos. Eddie Redmayne explains that COVID forced them to change the shooting plans: "The whole section that is set in Bhutan was meant to be set in Brazil, but because we were meant to travel and go and shoot there. Then COVID hit. They could have built some of Brazil here because they're good at it, but basically the weather, because we were shooting during British winter, was too awful, so sadly we had to give up the Brazilian element and it was changed to Bhutan, which has an amazing mystery and beauty as well. But I was excited because we never get to go on location for this movies. Cry! We get to see some pretty extraordinary sets, but I was excited for a group visit to Brazil". Jude Law reveals that the costume department even had designed a white linen suit with a straw hat for his character that mainly said "Dumbledore on holiday". Plans were, as we see, in very advanced stages. Eddie Redmayne doesn't lose hope to go to Brazil in the future and he gave us a tip: "You can see a glimpse of the Brazilian wizarding world towards the end of the movie".
Wizarding World's Ocean's Eleven
Besides this change of location, Jude Law explains that this film "is a little more immediate, more present and the clock is ticking" because Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is gaining strength and convincing a lot of people pretty fast. Dumbledore will confide again in Newt a crazy plan that Eddie Redmayne describes as "an 'Ocean's' with wizards". He also notes that the relationship between the magizoologist and the Hogwarts teacher will shift "from master and student to something more like big brother - little brother".
'The Secrets of Dumbledore' will force Albus and Gellert to face their feelings for the other. About this, Jude Law says: "We both where we were emotionally and what our current sense of the wizarding world was, so it was important that we get on the same page about the past. A lot of our conversations with David Yates were about what happened, how did they meet, what was that six, nine month period before things started to go wrong like, who were they before they met. And I think the impact they had on each other's lives, the like mind, the opportunity to challenge each other... And all of that at a time they were really looking at a world where they could do anything. It's really important, really formative. A lot of the conversation was focused on that and understanding that so that we could look back on it from the current time with a sense of melancholy and longing, but also with a sense of warning".
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets on Dumbledore', in cinemas April 8th.
