The close of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them saw Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) help unmask and apprehend Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), who had disguised himself as MACUSA Auror Percival Graves.

The latest from the studio is that, in the new film, Grindelwald will ‘make a dramatic escape’ from MACUSA custody, forcing Albus Dumbledore to join the wizarding world’s efforts to stop him.

The villainous Grindelwald has been busy ‘gathering more followers to his cause – elevating wizards above all non-magical beings’. Dumbledore will look to his former student Newt for help.

Newt will again be joined by Queenie and Tina Goldstein in the next film, as well as his No-Maj friend Jacob Kowalski, and a host of new characters. However, the mission against Grindelwald will ‘test their loyalties’ as the wizarding world becomes more divided and dangerous.

In the Harry Potter stories, Dumbledore and Grindelwald had a complex history. The pair started off as childhood friends, but became enemies after a duel which led to the death of Dumbledore’s younger sister, Ariana.