A new PotterCast just slithered in!

Sep 27, 2018

Posted by: Amanda Kirk

Fantastic Beasts Movie, News, PotterCast, Trailers, Warner Bros.

PotterCast #281: Nagini came out last night.

After brief props to Evanna Lynch for her appearance on Dancing with the Stars, it was all about the final Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald trailer.

First Melissa provides some context for the trailer reveal at the VIP fan event that Leaky attended in NYC, then Melissa, John, and Frank all watch the trailer simultaneously.  Make sure you’ve seen it before reading the spoilerific account below.  You can also read Leaky’s shot-by-shot report here.

John makes an interesting observation that because Dumbeldore’s beard is longer in the first scene where he gives the safe house card to Newt, it may be a scene from later in the film.  Yet we know that this movie takes place in Paris, so it seems more logical that it would be an early scene.

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In the midst of some awed and excited talking over the trailer, Frank posits that Leta LeStrange’s line that Newt never met a monster he couldn’t love is one reason Dumbledore chooses him to go after Grindelwald:  he doesn’t actually want him harmed.

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Melissa had the inside scoop on the Maladictus/Nagini.  She explained that J.K. Rowling has had this particular plot point figured out for 20 years.  A Maladictus is not an Animagus.  She carries a genetic blood curse, passed on from mother to daughter, that enables her at first to transform at will into an animal but eventually she is trapped in the animal form.

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We know from the family tree revealed on the wall in a previous trailer that Credence is connected to the LeStrange family.  PotterCast speculates whether he might turn out to be a character we already know from the Harry Potter series under a different name.  There is also discussion about the scene where Grindelwald makes the circle of blue flame in the amphitheatre and Credence appears to be making a choice whether to step through it and give Grindelwald the Obscurial he wants.

Melissa verifies our speculation that the safe house card that Dumbledore hands to Newt is Flamel’s symbol, a combination of the symbols for gold and copper, which she found out from someone who works on the films.  Is Flamel’s house protected by a Fidelius Charm?  There is general agreement that this is likely.  Melissa calls it a “magical fob”.

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Random questions ensue as they re-watch the trailer at ¼ speed.  What is with that mountain exploding?  Whose side is the Lethifold on?  Is the Kelpie that Newt is riding the mythical Loch Ness Monster?  Why is there so much water?  It’s a feminine symbol.  How and when do Voldemort and Nagini meet?  Are there any other Maledicti in the series?  Why is Queenie crying?

Melissa shared some tweets from fans expressing mixed feelings about diversity in Fantastic Beasts’ casting.  Claudia Kim as the Maledictus/Nagini has delighted some fans who are thrilled to see Asian representation but upset others who find her character’s fate offensive.

The episode wraps with speculation about whether Newt will continue to be central to the plot in future Fantastic Beasts films.  Is the series growing bigger than him?  Will he still be playing a central role as events spiral to Dumbledore’s famous defeat of Grindelwald?

Please tweet all your theories for the next PotterCast discussing the trailer to @pottercast!





The Leaky Cauldron is not associated with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any of the individuals or companies associated with producing and publishing Harry Potter books and films.