Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay

• Type: Book (Screenplay)
• Author: J.K. Rowling
• Publisher: Little, Brown (UK), Arthur A. Levine Books (US)
• Illustrator: MinaLima
• Release Date: November 16, 2018
• Series: Fantastic Beasts

The published screenplay for The Crimes of Grindelwald is a hardcover book designed to be a collectible item. The cover, created by the design studio MinaLima, is dark blue and features intricate art nouveau-style gold foil illustrations. Key symbols from the story are embedded in the design, including the Deathly Hallows symbol (representing Gellert Grindelwald), the Eiffel Tower (representing the setting of Paris), and creatures like the Niffler and Bowtruckle. The title is rendered in a distinct font associated with the series. The interior pages contain the full screenplay written by J.K. Rowling, formatted with scene headings, character names, and dialogue. Interspersed throughout the text are line-art illustrations by MinaLima, depicting magical creatures, symbols, and characters.

The screenplay picks up in 1927, six months after the events of the first film. It chronicles Gellert Grindelwald's dramatic escape from the custody of MACUSA and his subsequent efforts to gather followers for his cause: establishing wizarding dominance over the non-magical world. Albus Dumbledore, unable to move against Grindelwald himself, enlists his former student Newt Scamander to travel to Paris and thwart Grindelwald's plans, which center on recruiting the powerful Obscurial, Credence Barebone. The story follows several interconnected plotlines:

• Newt's Mission: Newt Scamander, dealing with a travel ban imposed by the British Ministry of Magic, must defy his brother Theseus Scamander to help Dumbledore.
• Credence's Search for Identity: Credence Barebone, now in Paris with the Maledictus Nagini, desperately seeks the truth of his parentage.
• Tina's Investigation: Tina Goldstein is also in Paris, searching for Credence as part of her duties as an Auror.
• Queenie and Jacob's Conflict: Queenie Goldstein's relationship with the No-Maj Jacob Kowalski is strained by restrictive wizarding laws, making her vulnerable to Grindelwald's seductive message of freedom.
• The Lestrange Family: The history of Leta Lestrange is explored, revealing a dark family secret involving her half-brother, Corvus Lestrange V.

The climax occurs at the Lestrange Mausoleum in Père Lachaise Cemetery, where Grindelwald holds a rally. He conjures a circle of enchanted blue fire, Protego Diabolica, to test the loyalty of his followers and destroy his enemies. Leta Lestrange sacrifices herself, while Queenie and Credence choose to join Grindelwald. The screenplay ends with Grindelwald revealing Credence's alleged true identity as Aurelius Dumbledore.

As a primary canon source written by J.K. Rowling, the screenplay introduced several significant new elements to the wizarding world lore:

• Aurelius Dumbledore: The most significant and debated revelation is that Credence Barebone is allegedly a member of the Dumbledore family, Aurelius Dumbledore, a previously unknown brother to Albus Dumbledore, Aberforth Dumbledore, and Ariana Dumbledore.
• The Blood Pact: It is revealed that a young Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald made a magical Blood Pact, preventing them from fighting each other directly. The pact manifests as a physical vial which becomes a key plot device.
• Maledictus: The concept of a Maledictus is introduced through the character of Nagini. A Maledictus is a female who carries a blood curse that will eventually and irreversibly transform her into a beast.
• Lestrange Family History: The screenplay delves into the complex and dark history of the Lestrange family, including a prophecy concerning a great avenger.
• Professor Minerva McGonagall: A young Minerva McGonagall is depicted as a professor at Hogwarts during the 1920s. This has been noted by fans as a potential conflict with her established birthdate (Pottermore).

• This is the second original screenplay written by J.K. Rowling to be published in book form, following Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – The Original Screenplay.
• The book was released on the same day as the worldwide premiere of the film adaptation, November 16, 2018. This concurrent release strategy allows readers to experience the story in its original written form as envisioned by the author.
• The intricate cover and interior art by MinaLima, the design team behind the graphic props for the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, are integral to the book's identity as a piece of merchandise and a work of art.