At one point, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was just set to be a standalone Harry Potter spin-off, but that certainly isn't the case anymore. After expanding to a trilogy, J.K. Rowling announced last month that this burgeoning franchise has now become five films, with the first sequel already written and set for release on November 16, 2018. J.K. Rowling recently hinted that the sequel may explore Albus Dumbledore's sexuality.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Dumbledore will return in Fantastic Beasts 2, although the character has yet to be cast. We do know that Johnny Depp has come aboard as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who, in the original books, had a very close relationship with Dumbledore. While it was never explicitly stated in the books, J.K. Rowling confirmed during a 2007 Q&A that Dumbledore and Grindelwald had a homosexual relationship. During a press conference for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K. Rowling hinted that we may see Dumbledore exploring his sexuality in the sequel. Here's what the author had to say, courtesy of Screen Rant.

"Well, I'm very comfortable with the question. I can't tell you everything I would like to say because this is obviously a five-part story, so there's lots to unpack in that relationship. I will say that you will see Dumbeldore as a younger man and quite a troubled man because he wasn't always the sage [mentor]. He was always very clever, but we'll see him at what I think was the formative period of his life. As far as his sexuality is concerned, watch this space."

Warner Bros. released an IMAX sneak peek video last month that hinted the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald would be present in this tale. It was established in the original Harry Potter stories that Gellert Grindelwald was once friends with Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, which Harry Potter learned about via a chocolate frog card while he was aboard the Hogwarts Express. This movie will introduce Grindelwald at the height of his power as he calls for all European wizards to assert their domination over the muggles. Director David Yates hinted that Grindelwald will become "a much more prominent part of the stories going forward."

Director David Yates also confirmed that Fantastic Beasts 2 will be set in Paris, with the filmmaker returning to direct from J.K. Rowling's script. Eddie Redmayne will most certainly return as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2, but no other fast members from the original movie have been confirmed to return quite yet. Warner Bros. hasn't announced when production will begin on Fantastic Beasts 2 quite yet.