Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Young Pope) will play the role of Albus Dumbledore "long before he became Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" in the second film of the Fantastic Beasts series, Pottermore announced, adding that the character "is the wizarding school's Transfiguration professor and a contemporary of Gellert Grindelwald--the Dark wizard we met in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, played by Johnny Depp."
Five films are planned for the franchise, with David Yates returning as director. Filming begins this summer on the sequel to Fantastic Beasts, which is scheduled for release November 16, 2018.
"Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I've long admired and I'm looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him," Yates said. "I know he will brilliantly capture all the unexpected facets of Albus Dumbledore as J.K. Rowling reveals this very different time in his life."