Fantastic Beasts 2: 10 Biggest Spoilers From The Crimes of Grindelwald

BEWARE: The following post, of course, contains massive SPOILERS for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald!

Warner Bros' Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald expands the world of Harry Potter, so what were the biggest spoilers, twists, and surprises in the second Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie?

The Crimes of Grindelwald continues the story of the first Fantastic Beasts movie, following Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he wrangles magical creatures. In this film, Newt travels to Paris, France with his muggle friend Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) looking for Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), an obscurus. However, many others are looking for Credence as well - either to kill him or harness his power as an obscurus - one of which is the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). In Paris, Newt and Jacob meet up with Auror Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) and her sister Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol), the former of whom has been looking for Credence. Meanwhile, Credence has been searching for his true identity. Everything comes to a head once everyone is gathered in Paris and Grindelwald makes his play to win over not only Credence, but a host of new followers to his cause.

Now that Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is hitting theaters around the world and fans have a chance to see the latest Wizarding World film installment, we list the 10 biggest spoilers, twists and reveals in the movie. Again, beware there are SPOILERS ahead for Fantastic: Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

This Page: Key Fantastic Beasts Relationships & Harry Potter Characters' Roles
Next Page: Deaths, Changing Allegiances & True Identities Revealed

10. Queenie & Jacob Are Dating, Want to Get Married

Jacob flirting with Queenie in Fantastic Beasts 3

At the end of Fantastic Beasts, Newt obliviates the no-majs of New York City by using a special compound derived from the venom of the Swooping Evil, which removes bad memories. However, the ending also hinted that Jacob remembered some of his adventures with Newt and the magical creatures, as well as his budding relationship with Queenie. The Crimes of Grindelwald confirms that although Jacob was obliviated with the other no-majs, he kept most of his memories because they weren't bad memories. In the time since Fantastic Beasts concluded, Jacob and Queenie have been dating, which caused a rift between Queenie and Tina.

When Jacob and Queenie arrive at Newt's home in London, they announce they're engaged, but Newt quickly realizes Jacob is under an enchantment. He lifts the enchantment and we learn that Jacob doesn't want to marry Queenie because it would put her in danger of being sent to prison since relationships between witches and no-majs are illegal in the United States wizarding community. Jacob and Queenie fight about marriage (and it's clear this is a fight they've had many times), and it ends with Queenie leaving for Paris to find Tina and Jacob going after her with Newt in an effort to get her back. However, this throughline becomes key to a decision Queenie makes later in the movie.

9. Why Dumbledore Won’t Fight Grindelwald

Young Dumbledore is in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom with two officials

Although Harry Potter fans know Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) eventually fights - and defeats - Grindelwald, in The Crimes of Grindelwald, Dumbledore refuses to battle his old friend. It's revealed within the movie that this is because the two made a blood pact not to fight each other. That pact is sealed with a drop of each man's blood that are combined and enclosed in a talisman. This talisman is first spotted early on in the move during Grindelwald's escape when he's being transferred from the MACUSA. Grindelwald carries it throughout the movie, until his rally, when Newt's Niffler steals it from the dark wizard's pocket.

Newt then gives the talisman to Dumbledore and asks if there's a way to break the pact. Though Dumbledore doesn't confirm he can, there must be a way since fans know he'll eventually break the pact and fight Grindelwald. Since it can be broken, it seems unlikely this isn't an Unbreakable Vow, another kind of pact within Harry Potter lore that, like its name implies, cannot be broken.

8. Dumbledore & Grindelwald’s Relationship Is Hinted At

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald Young Grindelwald

After concluding the original Harry Potter story, wherein Dumbledore dies in the sixth book, writer J.K. Rowling revealed Albus Dumbledore was gay. Fans have since hoped his sexuality will be explicitly confirmed in the Fantastic Beasts movies since they deal with Dumbledore's relationship with Grindelwald, which many believe was romantic, at least on Dumbledore's side. Whether a romantic relationship is explicitly confirmed in The Crimes of Grindelwald is up for debate, but Dumbledore does say he and Grindelwald were "closer than brothers." Additionally, Dumbledore sees Grindelwald in the Mirror of Erised, which shows the viewer their greatest desire. These are hints toward a much deeper relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, one that can be romantic or not depending of the audience's interpretation.

7. Young McGonagall Is A Professor Hogwarts

It was rumored prior to the release of The Crimes of Grindelwald that a younger version of Minerva McGonagall (Fiona Glascott) will appear at Hogwarts, and now that the movie is out, we can confirm this to be true. Not only is McGonagall a professor at Hogwarts in 1927, when the movie takes place, she's already a professor when Newt and Leta Lestrange (Zoë Kravitz) attend in the early 1900s. As fans have pointed out, this retcons McGonagall's birth date of 1935 and The Crimes of Grindelwald offers no explanation for why McGonagall appears at Hogwarts many years before her previously established birth date.

6. Nagini Has A Very Small Role

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald Nagini Claudia Kim

The Crimes of Grindelwald expands on Harry Potter lore by revealing that Voldemort's snake Nagini once lived as a human woman, played in the film by Claudia Kim. As revealed prior to the movie, Nagini is a Maledictus, a person who carries a blood curse that allows them to change into a beast, but eventually won't be able to change back into a human. In The Crimes of Grindelwald, Nagini is a friend of Credence, and she tries to prevent him from joining Grindelwald's forces. However, her role is incredibly small in the movie, though she may return for future Fantastic Beasts movies if Rowling plans to follow Nagini until she turns into the snake that eventually becomes a carrier of one of Voldemort's horcruxes. At the end of the movie, Nagini can still take human form.

Next Page: Deaths, Changing Allegiances & True Identities Revealed

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald Yusuf Kama Tina Goldstein Leta Lestrange Newt Scamander

5. Corvus Lestrange Died As A Baby

Before the release of The Crimes of Grindelwald, fans theorized Credence Barebone was actually Corvus Lestrange, a lost member of the Lestrange line thought to be dead. That would have made him Leta's little brother. Throughout the movie, it's made clear many within the Wizarding community think Credence is Corvus, with the exception of Leta. Toward the end of the movie, Leta reveals why she's so sure Corvus is dead. It's because when she, baby Corvus and their nanny were traveling to America to give Corvus to Mary Lou Barebone, Leta switched him with another baby just before their ship went down.

Although the woman caring for the other baby tried to save Corvus (not knowing the babies had been switched by the young Leta), she was unable to save him. As a result, Corvus died and the baby of unknown origins survived in his place, growing up to become Credence Barebone - whose true identity is revealed in the final scenes of the movie.

4. Queenie & Credence Join Grindelwald

Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald

In the third act of the movie, Grindelwald holds a rally in Paris in order to win more followers to his cause. When the event goes horribly wrong (or, more likely, exactly to Grindelwald's plan), most of the attendees apparate out, leaving the core characters. Grindelwald appeals to each of them, asking them to join him. Queenie decides to join because Grindelwald promises a world where her relationship with Jacob won't be illegal. Her decision causes a more complete rift to form between her and Jacob, though.

As for Credence, Grindelwald promised the knowledge of his real identity and the young man can't pass that up. Despite Nagini urging Credence not to join the dark wizard, he does. Both Queenie and Credence flee Paris with Grindelwald and take refuge in Nurmengard Castle, which Harry Potter fans will recognize as the location where Grindelwald is imprisoned after his defeat.

3. Leta Dies

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald Leta Lestrange Grindelwald

Leta Lestrange struggles throughout The Crimes of Grindelwald with being hated by the wizarding community because of her family lineage and the guilt that comes from her involvement in Corvus's death. The rally is held just after she revealed she believes herself to be responsible for killing Corvus, and it's perhaps because of that confession that she risks her life in an attempt to kill Grindelwald. After the rally and after Queenie and Credence have joined him, Grindelwald tries to win Leta to his side as well by appealing to her as an outcast from the wizarding community. Though it seems she's about to join him, she turns on him and tries to kill him. However, she misses and he kills her instead, allowing her to be swallowed by the blue fire that has been destroying anyone who isn't fully loyal to him.

Just before she dies, Leta turns to Newt and Theseus and says, "I love you." It seems she's saying this directly to Newt, but since the brothers are standing so close to each other, it's arguable whether she's saying it to one or both of them.

2. Nicolas Flamel Helps Save the Day

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald Jacob Kowalski Nicolas Flamel

Nicolas Flamel (Brontis Jodorowsky), the alchemist known for creating the Philosopher's Stone, is introduced in The Crimes of Grindelwald as a friend of Dumbledore who gives Newt, Jacob and Tina a safe place to stay in Paris for a short time. However, after everyone rushes to the rally, Flamel consults with a woman in a picture in a book and she tells him to help them. It's unclear who this woman is or how she and Flamel know each other, but he eventually ventures out of his home and joins the fight. Together with the other core characters left after Grindelwald's rally, he stops the blue flame creatures from destroying Paris. Still, it may not be the last fans see of Flamel and the mystery woman in the Fantastic Beasts franchise.

1. Credence is a Dumbledore

Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald Credence Barebone

The final twist of The Crimes of Grindelwald arrives when Grindelwald finally tells Credence who he really is. The sequence features a great deal of buildup, first with Grindelwald referring to Credence's brother, with the movie cutting away to a shot of Albus. Then Grindelwald makes reference to the Dumbledore family legend that phoenixes show up when members of the family need them most just as the baby bird Credence was nurturing turns into a fully fledged phoenix. Finally, Grindelwald reveals Credence is the long lost younger brother of Albus Dumbledore, and his name is Aurelius Dumbledore. Grindelwald gives Credence/Aurelius a wand and the young man uses it to shoot of a powerful blast of magic.

What exactly this Credence twist means for the Fantastic Beasts film series remains to be seen, and how it fits within the known canon of the Wizarding World is also unknown, but it's undoubtedly a big surprise for Harry Potter fans. Hopefully Rowling will reveal more about Credence/Aurelius' history and family ties in the next Fantastic Beasts movie.