The New 'Fantastic Beasts' Trailer Was Just Released

At last, the return to Hogwarts for many Potterheads is nigh. The forthcoming sequel in the Wizarding World's expansive new universe, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, just released a brand new teaser and it's taking us all the way (to quote A Very Potter Musical) back to Hogwarts.

The new footage seems to confirm many statements given by Warner Bros. and the film's producers that the tone of the Harry Potter spinoff series will be much darker, with a more expansive storyline.

Everyone's favorite wizard introvert Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) returns with a very youthful (and not openly gay) Dumbledore (Jude Law) to hunt down nefarious dark wizard Gillert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). Also joining the cast will be the familiar faces of Zoë Kravitz, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, and Dan Fogler.

Of course, many fans have still got their wands in a knot over the controversial casting of Pirates of the Caribbean alum Johnny Deep as the series antagonist, Grindlewald. Depp's titular casting has become a divisive pressure point throughout the HP fanbase, due to abuse allegations made by Depp's ex-wife Amber Heard. While J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., and director David Yates have all made statements in defense of their new dark wizard, many remain worried about how Depp's involvement could hinder or harm the franchise.

Yet with Hogwarts looming in the opening shot, along with callbacks to the original Potter plots, it's hard not to get choked up with the prospect of going back to the Wizarding World.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will be released on November 16, 2018.