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Gellert Grindelwald

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Gellert Grindelwald
Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts character
File:Gellert Grindelwald.jpeg
Colin Farrell, Jamie Campbell Bower, Johnny Depp, and Mads Mikkelsen respectively as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), and The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022).
First appearanceHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997; mentioned)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
Created byJ. K. Rowling
Portrayed by
In-universe information
Full nameGellert Grindelwald
AliasPercival Graves
Significant otherAlbus Dumbledore

Gellert Grindelwald (/ˈɡrɪndəlˌvɔːld, -ˌwɔːld/) is a fictional character created by J. K. Rowling, serving as a minor character in her Harry Potter book series and the main antagonist of the Fantastic Beasts film series. A dark wizard and the former love of Albus Dumbledore; in the Fantastic Beasts film series, after being briefly imprisoned in America, a young Grindelwald embarks on a campaign to subjugate the muggle people for the "greater good", wielding the all-powerful Elder Wand, setting into motion the "First Wizarding War", simultaneous with the Second World War. In The Deathly Hallows, an elderly Grindelwald is murdered by Lord Voldemort during his quest for the Elder Wand, although he spares him in the film adaptation.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Grindelwald is portrayed by Michael Byrne. In the Fantastic Beasts film series, Grindelwald is portrayed by Colin Farrell in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (following a brief cameo in the former film), and Mads Mikkelsen in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald; Jamie Campbell Bower additionally portrays a young Grindelwald in The Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and The Crimes of Grindelwald.[1]

Character development

In 2007, Rowling was asked by a young fan whether Albus Dumbledore finds "true love". Rowling said that she always thought of Dumbledore as being homosexual and that he had fallen in love with the dark wizard Grindelwald (who he was previously said to have defeated in 1945 in The Philosopher's Stone, and run away with as a youth in The Deathly Hallows before a duel between Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and the former's brother Aberforth had led to their sister Ariana's death), which was Dumbledore's "great tragedy".[2][3][4] While Rowling did not explicitly state whether Grindelwald returned his affections, these events would later be adapted in the Fantastic Beasts film series.

in literature

Known as one of the "Most Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time," second only to Lord Voldemort according to Rita Skeeter's in-universe book The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, Grindelwald's backstory is elaborated upon and first appears in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007), following a brief mention in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997).

Early life

Grindelwald attended the wizarding school Durmstrang, from which he was expelled at age sixteen for his dangerous experiments that nearly resulted in the deaths of some of his fellow students. He left the symbol of the Deathly Hallows on one of the walls in Durmstrang before departing.

Meeting Albus Dumbledore

After Durmstrang, Grindelwald went to live with his great-aunt Bathilda Bagshot in Godric's Hollow in England, where he met the young Dumbledore. In The Deathly Hallows, it was revealed that Grindelwald had gone to Godric's Hollow to investigate the grave of the Peverell brothers (the original owners of the Hallows), but struck up a close friendship with Dumbledore, and the two planned to establish a new world order, where wizards would rule over Muggles "for the greater good". The phrase later became Grindelwald's excuse for the atrocities he committed in his reign of terror. They also planned to work together in their quest for the Hallows. Later Rowling revealed at a Q&A session that the scene describing Dumbledore's and Grindelwald's backgrounds was meant to indicate Dumbledore being once in love with Grindelwald until the latter 'lost his moral compass,' but she did not say whether those feelings were returned.[2]

However, Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus's younger brother, argued against these plans, because he feared their grand ambitions would leave his and Albus's disabled, traumatised sister, Ariana, abandoned. Later the argument culminated in a three-way duel among Albus, Aberforth, and Grindelwald. Ariana was inadvertently killed by one of them. Grindelwald fled, fearing retribution and Albus ended his relationship with him.

Acquiring the Elder Wand

Grindelwald became master of one of the Deathly Hallows, the Elder Wand, by stealing it from the previous owner, the wand-maker Gregorovitch. Gaining the Elder Wand's immense power, he subsequently committed many terrible acts, terrorising Europe while avoiding Britain. It is revealed that Grindelwald's actions have caused many deaths that have greatly affected the students of Durmstrang, including Viktor Krum, whose grandfather was murdered by Grindelwald.

Duel with Dumbledore

After Grindelwald's rise to power, Dumbledore delayed meeting him again for several years due to his fear of being confronted with his sister's death and the fact that he himself might have been the one who accidentally killed her. Both wizards were highly intelligent and skilled in battle, and when their battle eventually occurred, those who witnessed it later said that no other wizarding duel ever matched it. Grindelwald, who at the time possessed the supposedly unbeatable Elder Wand, lost to Dumbledore. Since Dumbledore won the duel over Grindelwald, the Elder Wand transferred its allegiance to Dumbledore. After Dumbledore triumphed over Grindelwald, the defeated dark wizard was imprisoned in the top-most cell of Nurmengard.

The Philosopher's Stone (1997)

Main article: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Grindelwald's name is first mentioned in The Philosopher's Stone on a Chocolate Frog card, which notes that Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald in 1945.

The Deathly Hallows (2007)

Main article: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

In The Deathly Hallows, Voldemort arrives at Nurmengard, seeking the Elder Wand from Grindelwald. Grindelwald, now emaciated and toothless and showing no fear of Voldemort and welcoming death, tells him that he never owned the wand, and an enraged Voldemort kills him. In the chapter "King's Cross", Harry suggests to Dumbledore that, by lying to Voldemort to prevent him from breaking into Dumbledore's tomb and taking the Elder Wand, Grindelwald may have been trying to atone for his crimes.

In film

Production

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, a young Grindelwald is portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower,[1] while the older Grindelwald is played by Michael Byrne.

In the Fantastic Beasts film series, Grindelwald serves as the main antagonist, primarily portrayed by Colin Farrell (in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Johnny Depp (in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, following a brief cameo in the former film), and Mads Mikkelsen (in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), while Campbell Bower reprises his role as the young Grindelwald in The Crimes of Grindelwald.

The idea behind the character having heterochromia was cited as originating from Depp, who said that he saw Grindelwald as "more than one [...] almost as though he was two people."[5][6]

On replacing Depp in the third film,[7][8][9] Mikkelsen noted that it would be a "creative suicide" to copy Depp's "masterful" portrayal as Grindelwald, having developed his own take on the character, and admitted that a "bridge" should be needed between Depp's performance and his own,[10] having been a fan of Depp since his early films.[11]

Appearances

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2011)

Main article: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, a young Grindelwald is seen in flashbacks stealing the Elder Wand, while unlike in the book, the older Grindelwald reveals to Voldemort the whereabouts of the Elder Wand when confronted in prison, and he is left alive, laughing in his cell.

Fantastic Beasts film series

In the film series storyline, Grindelwald and Dumbledore have made a blood pact in their youth to never harm each other following the death of Dumbledore's sister Ariana in a three-way duel between Grindelwald, Dumbledore, and Dumbledore's brother Aberforth. Grindelwald sports this pact in a vial while seeking a means to indirectly kill his former friend, eventually leading to him learning of a prophecy involving Dumbledore's nephew Aurelius.[12]

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Main article: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)

In Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, set in 1926, the Director of Magical Security for the Magical Congress of the United States (MACUSA), Percival Graves (portrayed by Colin Farrell), accuses British wizard and "magizoologist" Newton "Newt" Scamander both of conspiring with Grindelwald, and killing Senator Henry Shaw Jr. with a public display of magic: an Obscurus, a parasite that develops inside magically gifted children when their abilities are suppressed, and sentences both Newt and demoted MACUSA Auror Porpentina "Tina" Goldstein to death, who escape with the aid of Tina's Legilimens sister Queenie and "No-Maj" aspiring baker Jacob Kowalski. Graves then approaches his informant Credence Barebone, the adult adopted son of New Salem Philanthropic Society-head Mary Lou Barebone, and offers to free him from his abusive mother in exchange for helping to find the Obscurus causing destruction throughout the city. Credence finds a wand under his adopted sister Modesty's bed, which Mary Lou assumes is his; when Credence is about to be punished, the Obscurus kills Mary Lou and her eldest daughter Chastity. Graves, assuming Modesty is the Obscurus' host, dismisses Credence as a Squib and refuses to teach him magic as he had promised. Credence reveals he is the real host, having survived due to the intensity of his magic, and attacks the city in broad daylight.

After Newt finds Credence hiding in a subway tunnel, he is attacked by Graves. Tina, who had tried to protect Credence from Mary Lou, attempts to calm the boy, while Graves tries to convince Credence to listen to him. As Credence returns to human form, MACUSA President Seraphina Picquery and the Aurors counterattack, shattering the Obscurus, apparently killing Credence. Graves admits he had planned to unleash the Obscurus to expose the magical community to the No-Majs and to frame Newt for the incident. He claims MACUSA's laws openly protect No-Majs at the expense of the magical community, and he no longer cares to live in hiding. Picquery orders the Aurors to apprehend Graves, but he defeats them. Newt captures him with the help of one of his beasts and reveals that Graves is Grindelwald in disguise (portrayed by Johnny Depp), and he is arrested, promising to escape.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Main article: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

In Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, set the following year, in 1927, Grindelwald escapes from MACUSA custody while en-route to Europe to stand trial. Three months later, in London, Grindelwald convinces Queenie to join his cause over promises to allow her and Jacob to elope, circumventing MACUSA's ban on marriage between wizards and non-magical people, leaving Jacob in order to help in his crusade, and also seeks out the still-alive Credence, having learned of his true identity and offering to tell him of it after a rally for Grindelwald's followers in Paris. At the rally, Grindelwald shows a vision of a future global war, and rails against the laws prohibiting them from preventing such a tragedy. As Newt (in pursuit of Credence on behalf of Grindelwald's former Albus Dumbledore, who has apparently been refusing to fight him), his brother Theseus, and several Aurors surround the rally, Grindelwald prompts his followers to spread his message across Europe, conjuring a ring of blue fire that kills the retreating Aurors and will only allow his most loyal followers to safely cross. Queenie and Credence cross the fire, while Theseus' fiancé and Newt's ex-girlfriend Leta Lestrange sacrifices herself so the others can escape. As Grindelwald and his followers depart, the remaining wizards and immortal alchemist Nicolas Flamel extinguish the fire. Newt chooses to join the fight against Grindelwald. Returning to Hogwarts, Newt presents Dumbledore with a vial he had stolen from Grindelwald for him, containing a blood pact Grindelwald and Dumbledore made in their youth that prevents them dueling each other; Dumbledore believes it can be destroyed. At Nurmengard Castle, his Austrian base, Grindelwald presents Credence with a wand to use magic, and reveals Credence’s true identity: Aurelius Dumbledore, whom he believes to be Albus' long-lost brother.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Main article: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

In Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, set several years later, in the 1930s, Grindelwald and Dumbledore meet in a train station, discussing their past and an unbreakable blood pact vial the pair had made in their youth that prevents them dueling each other, with merely the act of thinking about doing so incapacitating them. After Grindelwald asks Dumbledore why he agreed to make such a pact, knowing they would be on opposing sides of their political conflicts and the approaching war, Dumbledore states it was because he was in love with him; Grindelwald tells him to stay out of his way before leaving.

Sometime later, in the Amazon Rainforest, Grindelwald sends Aurelius to kill a pregnant Qilin (a magical deer capable of looking directly into someone's soul, bowing before the pure of heart) and steal its calf, unaware of the presence of another calf, whom an also-present Newt retrieves. Approaching the dying mother, Newt finds she had given birth to twins, and takes the second calf into his care. Elsewhere, Aurelius presents his calf to Grindelwald in his mountaintop castle; Queenie watches as Grindewald slashes the calf's throat, with the reflection of its flowing blood showing a vision of the future. Elsewhere, Dumbledore assembles a group consisting of Jacob, Newt, Theseus, and the wizards Eulalie "Lalie" Hicks, Yusuf Kama and Bunty are given separate tasks intended to compensate for Grindelwald's ability to glimpse into the future, which he intends to use to interfere the upcoming election for "Supreme Head" of the International Confederacy of Wizards (ICW), the wizarding world government.

Seeing a vision of Kama approaching his castle, Grindelwald tells Queenie they should prepare to leave the following night, while Newt and Theseus head to Berlin to deliver current ICW Supreme Head and German Minister of Magic Vogel a message from Dumbledore; insulted by Dumbledore's lack of personal action, Vogel announces that Grindelwald will not be charged for his past crimes due to a lack of evidence, while Theseus is kidnapped by some of Grindelwald's followers, whom Newt discovers to be members of the German Ministry, indicating that Grindelwald is being secretly supported by Vogel and the German Ministry. Simultaneously, Grindelwald and Rosier publicly drive through Berlin, where he is swarmed by his followers, who lift and carry him up to the end of the street in sight of Vogel, preparing to debate his rivals for reelection as Supreme Head; Vogel suggests that Grindelwald's name should be put forth into consideration for election so that he can be voted down, claiming that if they refuse to run him, the outcry from his supporters could lead to violence. Meanwhile, upon arriving at Grindelwald's castle, Kama is captured by Grindelwald, who attempts to convince him to change sides. After Queenie reads Kama's mind and finds that despite him being driven by anger towards Grindelwald having previously killed his half-sister (Leta Lestrange), he otherwise shares his political beliefs. With this information, Grindelwald uses his wand to extract Kama's memories of Leta, and he pledges loyalty to Grindelwald's cause. At the dinner that night, Lalie and Jacob witness Grindelwald arrive with his entourage, including Kama and Queenie. Confronting Grindelwald for deluding Queenie into joining his cause, Jacob is cursed by Grindelwald from under the table to make it look as though he is attacking him, while Lalie prevents Santos from being simultaneously assassinated. Claiming to have prevented a muggle-planned assassination attempt on his own life, Grindelwald calls for Lalie's and Jacob's arrests as Newt concurrently rescues Theseus.

Standing in a pool with his dead Qilin calf, Grindelwald casts a spell to resurrect it, having another vision of Dumbledore and his followers with the second Qilin who Newt had saved, before reprimanding Aurelius for allowing one to get into his hands. Talking with Aberforth, Newt and Dumbledore discover that Aurelius is actually Aberforth's son, and Dumbledore's nephew, him having had an affair with a woman years previously and sent her away with their child: Aurelius is revealed to have been subconsciously sending messages to Aberforth's magic mirror without Grindelwald's knowledge, showing a desire to come home. Realizing that Aurelius is dying, and expressing regret as the death of his and Aberforth's sister Ariana years previously, who had died during the previous duel between Grindelwald and the Dumbledore brothers, a melancholic Dumbledore expresses his belief that Aurelius can be brought back to their side.

At the ICW election in the Himalayas, Vogel reveals the final step of the ICW election process: a Qilin (Grindelwald's) will inspect each of the candidates and choose the most pure of heart among them, who bows before him, announcing him as the new Supreme Head of the ICW. Bringing out Jacob as the muggle who attempts to assassinate him, Grindelwald tortures him with the Cruciatus curse while denouncing his and Queenie's former love. Sick of Grindelwald's lack of respect for him, Aurelius appears and exposes Grindelwald's rigging of the election, with Bunty arriving with the second Qilin, who bows before Vicência Santos, electing her as the new ICW Supreme Head.

Enraged, Grindelwald shoots a Killing Curse at Aurelius, which is blocked by Aberforth and Dumbledore. Due to neither Grindelwald or Dumbledore having been thinking of attacking the other, but their spells clashing nonetheless over Aurelius, their blood pact vial unwraps itself and shatters. Realizing that they can now duel each other, Dumbledore and Grindelwald immediately battle, throwing several spells at one other, culminating with both men with each other's wands in their faces, and their hands on each other's hearts. Realizing they are still unwilling to kill one another, both men walk away, with Grindelwald telling Dumbledore that he has never been his enemy, disapparating as Theseus attempts to attack him.

In other media

The script of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016) was published in book form on November 18, 2016, as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay, written by Rowling herself, featuring Grindelwald in the same role, elaborating ins screen description as to more of his actions.[13][14] The script of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) was similarly published in book form on November 16, 2018, featuring Grindelwald in a similar role.[15][16]

A "story pack" based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released for the video game Lego Dimensions by WB Games and TT Games, with Colin Farrell reprising his role as Percival Graves / Gellert Grindelwald.[17]

On the 10th anniversary edition cover of the Irish fantasy Skulduggery Pleasant novel by Derek Landy, the likeness of antagonist Nefarian Serpine is based on promotional shots of Colin Farrell's Percival Graves / Gellert Grindelwald from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.[18]

Reception

On April 8, 2017, Colin Farrell was nominated for the Irish Film & Television Award in the category of "Best Supporting Actor" for his role as Percival Graves / Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, losing out to Jason O'Mara for his role as Company Sergeant Jack Prendergast in The Siege of Jadotville.[19]

Regarding criticism from Depp's casting as Grindelwald as a result of negative publicity resulting from his relationship with Amber Heard,[20][21] J.K. Rowling stated that she was "genuinely happy" on his casting as the character.[22][23][24] About Rowling's response, Depp said in October 2018, "I'll be honest with you, I felt bad for J. K. having to field all these various feelings from people out there. I felt bad that she had to take that."[6] Critic Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian meanwhile praised Depp's performance as Grindelwald in The Crimes of Grindelwald, although criticising the differences with the first film.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b sue (30 June 2009). "Jamie Campbell Bower Talks Role as Young Grindelwald in Deathly Hallows". The-leaky-cauldron.org. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Rowling dubs Dumbledore of 'Harry Potter' books as gay". Daily News. New York City. 19 October 2007. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
  3. ^ "J.K. Rowling outs Hogwarts character". Associated Press. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2007.
  4. ^ "JK Rowling says wizard Dumbledore is gay". Reuters. 20 October 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  5. ^ Chitwood, Adam (23 August 2018). "'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' Character Descriptions Reveal Plot Details". Collider. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Johnny Depp breaks silence on Fantastic Beasts sequel role". Entertainment Weekly. 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Johnny Depp 'Resigns' from Fantastic Beasts at Warner Bros.' Request". CBR. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Mads Mikkelsen in Early Talks to Replace Johnny Depp in 'Fantastic Beasts 3'". Variety. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Fantastic Beasts 3 Officially Casts Mads Mikkelsen To Replace Johnny Depp". ScreenRant. 25 November 2020.
  10. ^ Chitwood, Adam (6 May 2021). "Mads Mikkelsen on Replacing Johnny Depp in 'Fantastic Beasts 3': "You Have to Make It Your Own"". Collider. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  11. ^ Hoke, Carlie (2 May 2021). "Fantastic Beasts 3's Mads Mikkelsen Just Compared His Grindelwald To Johnny Depp's". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  12. ^ Evans, Alan (2 November 2016). "Johnny Depp to co-star in JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts sequel". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  13. ^ "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Fantastic Beasts: The Original Screenplay, #1)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  14. ^ Cain, Sian. "The screenplay of Fantastic Beasts is a rare miss for the wizarding world". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  15. ^ J.K. Rowling (16 November 2018). Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-1408711705. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  16. ^ "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald: The Original Screenplay (Fantastic Beasts: The Original Screenplay, #2)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ Landy, Derek (writer) Percival, Tom (cover artist) — Skulduggery Pleasant (10th Anniversary Edition)
  19. ^ "Here's the full list of nominees for this year's Irish Film and Television Awards". Entertainment.ie. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  20. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (1 November 2016). "Johnny Depp To Co-Star In J.K. Rowling's 'Fantastic Beasts' Sequel At Warner Bros". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Davids Yates and Heyman Spill Fantastic Beasts Secrets: Paris, Dumbledore, Depp, Credence and more!". The Leaky Cauldron. 8 November 2016. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  22. ^ "J.K. Rowling is "genuinely happy" Johnny Depp is in the Fantastic Beasts films. Fans are not". Vox. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  23. ^ Blumberg, Antonia (7 December 2017). "J.K. Rowling Defends Johnny Depp's Role In 'Fantastic Beasts'". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Grindelwald casting - J.K. Rowling". J.K. Rowling. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  25. ^ Petridis, Alexis (8 November 2018). "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald review – Jude Law's Dumbledore shines in saggy sequel". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
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