At a recent event the director of Fantastic Beasts, David Yates, confirmed Dumbledore will star in the second installment of the Harry Potter spin offs. 'We're discussing who could play Dumbledore,' he said. 'Any suggestions would be good.'
You don't need to ask us twice Mr Yates. We'd love nothing more than to spend our morning pretending to be casting agents and coming up with some potential candidates.
Of course, there are many things to consider, so we don’t want to rush this. Will this new young Dumbledore be playing across from Johnny Depp, who’s rumoured to be playing Gellert Grindelwald? Also, what constitutes as ‘young Dumbledore’ - because that could vary from someone in their twenties to an octogenarian. Technically.
Tell you what, just send us a copy of the script OK Mr Yates? That will make this whole thing a lot simpler. And we’ll have a bit more of a think when we have the details. But in the meantime, allow us to introduce you to our preliminary line up.
The Very Very Nice Young Dumbledore: Matt Smith
Currently starring alongside Claire Foy in The Crown, the ex-Doctor Who actor is not averse to the world of make believe. Not only has he previously been associated with the Fantastic Beasts series, but his first major role was in the TV adaption of The Ruby In The Smoke and The Shadow In The North. And according to our calculations he is just about the right age to have enjoyed reading a Harry Potter novel or two while he was growing up.
The Incredibly Cool Young Dumbledore: Idris Elba
Let’s not waste Idris’ talent on James Bond - what the multi-talented actor /DJ / director / boxer really needs on his CV is a starring role in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Just imagine him in a cape. Definitely the type of stranger you’d want to bump into on Diagon Alley oi oi.
The Wild, Romantic Young Dumbledore: Luke Evans
That’s Romantic with a capital R, but also the other kind too. The Girl On The Train star and stealer of our hearts Luke Evans is not only a total dream babe but he also knows exactly how to play a wild, impassioned man - as any fans of The Hobbit will know. Someone get this man a wand. Immediately.
The Ethereal, Gender Defying Young Dumbledore: Tilda Swinton
There are no rules when it comes to casting your dream role. So we’d also like to offer up Tilda Swinton. Majestic creature that she, Tilda is a perfect fit for the Fantastic Beasts world - and she’d bring an exciting new dynamic to the role amirite.
The Down To Earth Young Dumbledore: James Nesbitt
Another Hobbit alumni who needs a bit of air time in a Harry Potter film is charming Irishman James Nesbitt. His also wanted to be a teacher before he decided to get into acting, that’s just the kind of caring guy he is. Perfect for playing a conscientious Albus in his earlier years.
The Ever So Slightly Pompous Young Dumbledore: Tom Hiddleston
We all know Dumbledore wasn’t exactly perfect when he was growing up (who is.) If director David Yates is looking to bring out the ambitious, arrogant and yes, slightly pompous side of his character, we reckon Mr Hiddleston is just the man for the job. We could even get him a t-shirt that says I Heart Grindlewald. And cast Taylor Swift AS Grindlewald - there are quite a few similarities, after all. Blonde, ruthless….we’ll stop there shall we.
The Unexpected, Wild Card Young Dumbledore: Alfie Allen
This list was getting a bit too safe, wasn’t it? And also a bit like a line up for a new Jane Austen film. So let’s throw a bit of a wild card into the mix in the form of Game Of Thrones actor and younger bro of Lily, Alfie Allen. The enigmatic, youthful Londoner could pass as a Weasley, perhaps - but he’d also bring a lively spirit and touch of humour to the role.
The Serious And Very Thoughtful Young Dumbledore: Matthew Goode
Anndddd just to be safe let’s finish on a sure thing: Matthew Goode. The ex-Downton star could do with a spin on the big screen again. He has a pensieve (see what we…) auror that would make him a good fit for a serious, scholarly kind of young Dumbledore.
So there you have it. David Yates, get your people to speak to our people when you have a shortlist - and we’ll take it from there. Showbiz air-kisses Mwah!
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.