![]() While he was obviously given the most time to develop the role, Michael Gambon truly embodied Dumbledore. While the character clearly has been burdened with dark secrets that disturb him, he's still able to serve as a force of positivity and offer Harry with the neccessary guidance he needs to repare for his destiny. Even though The Chamber of Secrets is generally considered to be one of the weaker adaptations, Harris delivers the film’s best line "It is not our abilities that show who we truly are, it is our choices." In rewatching the franchise with knowledge of how they end, it's fascinating to see how poignant and restrained Harris is in these early moments. Harris managed to be commanding without feeling too powerful. He shares an important bond with Harry, and they even enjoy laughing together at the disgusting “ear wax” flavor of Bertie Bott's Beans. Harris simply spiced up the role, and helped to define Dumbledore’s unique personality. Harris helped make the expositional scenes interesting, yet still crafted a complex character without hinting at the darkness that would later be revealed. They are very much intended for the audiences who are the same age as the characters, and Dumbledore needed to be a warm, nurturing presence. While the later films got much darker, the first two installments are relatively light family fare. Harris perfectly fit the tone of the first two Harry Potter films. Harris had played roles as iconic as King Arthur in the 1967 musical film Camelot and "English Bob" in Clint Eastwood's beloved western Unforgiven, but he did not treat his role in the Wizarding World series with any less respect. Richard Harris’ death was a tragedy for the world of cinema in general, especially considering how active he was in his later years. Despite his somewhat reduced screen time, the strength of Law's role in the last two installments suggests that he would have been a much more charismatic and interesting lead protagonist than the rather bland performance by Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander. The Fantastic Beasts series seemed to experience a major shift at their midpoint while originally it seemed like the prequel series would be little more than a few silly monster adventures and capers set within the Wizarding World, it became clear that the franchise was being used to show the extended backstory of the first "Wizarding War." While fans may disagree with this change of direction, it certainly made more sense to feature Dumbledore as a more prominent part of the series. We see some of the same playfulness that would become common to the character in the Harry Potter series during the final battle, Dumbledore gifts the muggle baker David Kowalski ( Dan Fogler) with a wand and offers him words of inspiration that allow him to show bravery in the face of evil. While there’s still the same sense of mystery to him, Law includes a youthful whimsy that is distinct. Law shows more emotional vulnerability within Dumbledore, but still has his charisma. It is still rather tame, in what could have been a great opportunity for major LGBTQ inclusion in a blockbuster series. Not only was Mads Mikkelsen a better choice to play the series antagonist, but the film spends more time focusing on both men’s heartbreak. Thankfully, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore improves on its predecessor in nearly every way. Although Rowling has never offered any condolenscens to the fans thay were offended by her rhetoric, Warner Brothers Discovery CEO David Zazlav seems intent on developing the series further, suggesting he's open to working with Rowling again. Rowling, whose transphobic comments have made many longtime Wizarding World fans contemplate their dedication to series. Controversy continues to surround original Harry Potter author J.K. Following the underperformance of the third Fantastic Beasts film at the box office, its unclear if Warner Brothers is still intent on continuing the series to reach its intended fourth and fifth chapters. However, it appears that Dumbledore's adventures on screen may have reached a standstill. The prequel series decided to show a younger version of Dumbledore, and Jude Law first appeared in the second film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. ![]() He was subsequently replaced in the next film by another acclaimed English thespian, Michael Gambon. The legendary British actor Richard Harris was cast in Christopher Columbus’ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Apprentice, but he tragically passed away after The Chamber of Secrets wrapped filming.
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