Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them [1] is filled with new faces, but there is one character that most Harry Potter [2] fans are familiar with: Gellert Grindelwald. Not only is he considered one of the darkest wizards of all time in the books, but his previous friendship with Dumbledore could prove for some interesting plot points in the movie's upcoming installments. If you're a diehard fan, you probably already know his history, but if you're not as familiar with the franchise, we're breaking it all down for you here.
He's Obsessed With the Deathly Hallows
From a very young age, the wizard, who is played by Jamie Campbell Bower in the Harry Potter [5] movies, has a strange fascination with the three items that allow the holder to conquer death — the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility — also know as the Deathly Hallows. He even adopts the symbol as his own personal emblem. After his expulsion from the Scandinavian wizarding school, the Durmstrang Institute, he sets out to Godric's Hollow, England, to discover more information about the Hallows.
He's Friends With Dumbledore
While staying with his great aunt in England, he meets Albus Dumbledore in late 1898. Even though they have strikingly different personalities, they establish a strong friendship. Together, they have two goals: to seek out the Deathly Hallows and to abolish the Statute of Secrecy. It was revealed by J.K. Rowling during a tour in 2007 that Albus actually harbored romantic feelings for Gellert [6], referring to his love as his "great tragedy."
He Wants to Overturn the Statute of Secrecy
Albus and Gellert both wish to create a new order, where powerful wizards and witches peacefully reign over Muggles. While Grindelwald's reasons are much darker, Albus's stems from his younger sister Ariana's mistreatment as a child. After being bullied by a group of Muggles, her repressed magic becomes incredibly unpredictable, much like Credence's in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and results in the death of Albus's mother. Since the whole ordeal nearly destroys his family, he wishes to save the rest of the wizarding world from the same fate.
He's the Previous Owner of the Elder Wand
Things take a much darker turn for the friends when Albus's brother, Aberforth, becomes aware of their plan. The disagreement leads to a confrontation and Ariana is killed when the three partake in a three-way duel. Unable to face Albus after her death, Gellert flees the country and continues his research about the Deathly Hallows. After discovering the location of the Elder Wand, he travels to Gregorovitch's workshop, stuns him, steals his wand, and therefore becomes the new master. Although not much is told about the rest of his endeavors in the books or movies, in Fantastic Beasts, we learn that he eventually wreaks havoc in America during 1926.
He's Killed by Voldemort
When Albus is about 63 years old, he meets up with his former friend once more in what was stated as "one of the greatest duels ever fought between wizards." Albus becomes the new master of the Elder Wand, while Gellert is tried, convicted, and imprisoned in Nurmengard. He stays there for 53 years until Voldemort, who is searching for the Elder Wand, ends his life with Killing Curse in the Spring of 1998.
He's the Villain in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Warning: spoilers ahead!
The Harry Potter [7] prequel is loosely centered around the dark wizard's attacks in America in 1926, but he never actually pops up until the very end. As Percival Graves (Colin Farrell [8]) and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) battle it out in the subway in one of the final scenes, the latter casts a spell and unveils Percival's true identity as Gellert to the MACUSA. As if that isn't a big enough plot twist, Johnny Depp [9] (who has already been confirmed for the film's sequel [10]) is the actor playing him! It looks like we will be learning much more about his reign to darkness in the future movies.