Jude Law Will Play Hot Young Dumbledore In ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’ And People Are Stoked

Jude Law, the Young Pope himself, has been cast as Albus Dumbledore in the first of four upcoming sequels to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Set more than half a century before the original Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts 2 will introduce audiences to a younger, less wizened Dumbledore, back when he was still climbing the corporate ladder at Hogwarts serving as the school’s transfiguration professor.

According to Variety, Law beat out “every other major British actor in the biz” for the part, including Christian Bale and Benedict Cumberbatch.

The reaction to Law’s casting has been largely positive.

Me: Five Fantastic Beasts movies?
Me: No, thanks.
Jude Law: *Cast as Dumbledore*
Me:
Me: God, I love Fantastic Beasts.

— tessa (@sherlockify) April 12, 2017

JUDE LAW AS YOUNG GAY DUMBLEDORE….. A STROKE OF GENIUS

— dance elf (@spacejocks) April 12, 2017

I'm uncomfortable with jude law being cast in fbawtft because I never wanted to thirst for dumbledore. I didn't ask for this.

— ugh (@kritastic32) April 12, 2017

This also seems like as good a time as ever to reiterate the fact that people are still very unimpressed that alleged domestic abuser Johnny Depp is playing Grindelwald, aka the series’ main villain and Dumbledore’s old flame.

i'm hyped for jude law as young dumbledore but can they recast grindelwald with… literally anyone other than johnny depp

— jade (@comicwade) April 12, 2017

jude law is really going to have to pull out all the stops in his acting repertoire to pretend to be attracted to johnny depp

— em (@suncrater) April 12, 2017

Law will join returning cast members Depp and Eddie Redmayne. Also returning is director David Yates, who told Variety that Law is “a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I’m looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with.”

Look for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 in cinemas on November 16, 2018.