The magical creatures have the responsibility of sustaining the name of the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Based on the first trailer and interviews about The Crimes of Grindelwald, we listed the creatures we know so far will be in the movie. Check it out!
By Evandro Lira and Pedro Martins
1. Thestrals
Seen for the first time in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Thestrals, winged horses with skeletal bodies and strong wings, are returning in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. In the trailer, they pull the carriage transferring Gellert Grindelwald from MACUSA when the dark wizard escapes.
2. Bowtruckle
Pickett, Newt’s pet bowtruckle, is back and, judging by the trailer, getting into trouble. Similar to a stick in appearance, the Bowtruckle is a harmless and shy creature, but if the tree it lives in is threatened, the bowtruckle is said to jump and pierce the attacker’s eyes with its long, sharp fingers. It’s considered valuable by smugglers because of its lockpicking ability, as seen in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
3. Augurey
In the trailer, the Augurey appears in a low flight behind Jacob. According to the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, it is a thin, sad looking and black-greenish colored bird whose song, low and sobbing, announces the coming of rain. Beyond the greenish tail and part if the head, it is noticeable that, in the background where the bird appears, it is raining.
4. A moose
On the same scene, behind Jacob, there is a moose. However, this creature is not described in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It is, probably, an original [J.K. Rowling] creation for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
5. Kelpie
Kelpie, the creature Newt rides underwater during the trailer, is a metamorphic demon which, after luring riders, dives to the bottom and gobbles them. The largest example of its species is found in Loch Ness, Scotland.
6. Mooncalves
Mooncalves, which appear in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, are back for the second movie of the franchise. Known for performing complex dances under the moonlight, the mooncalves are harmless and fascinate wizards around the world. If collected before sunrise, their droppings can be used as a powerful compost for magical plants. In the trailer, the creatures appear inside Newt’s case, with round, protruding eyes.
7. Niffler
According to Eddie Redmayne in an interview for Entertainment Weekly, the Niffler, which stole the show in the first movie, is back in The Crimes of Grindelwald. It loves shiny objects and was responsible for chaos in New York City until Newt could retrieve it.
8. Unknown Chinese creature
In the same interview Redmayne confirms the Niffler’s return, he reveals that a creature from the Chinese culture will be introduced in The Crimes of Grindelwald. Although he claims it is “formidable”, the actor does not offer more details.
In an interview for Entertainment Weekly, producer David Heyman explained “There are as many beasts in the film as in the first, but the main driver in the first film was finding the beasts. That’s not the driver in this film, it’s not a central part of the plot”.
Translated by: Caroline Dorigon
Reviewed by: Kätrin Baumgarten
