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Ezra Miller says Dumbledore is quite clearly gay in ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’

"If that’s not explicitly gay, I don’t know what is.”

Ezra Miller says Dumbledore is quite clearly gay in ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’
19 October 2018

Don’t you just wish we could go back to the simpler times of old-school Harry Potter? Back when we could all just enjoy a romp through the magical movie world of Hogwarts without getting bogged down in nastiness.

Like, do you remember watching that cool scene in Ollivander’s or that one with the chocolate frog? Of course you do. Old-school Harry Potter was awesome.

Unfortunately, though, the sequel Fantastic Beasts series has been tainted by controversy from lots of angles, chiefly over the casting of Johnny Depp, who’s been accused of domestic violence.

And there’s also been plenty of controversy surrounding the sexuality of the young Dumbledore, played by Jude Law.

But actor Ezra Miller, who plays the wizard Credence Barebone in the sequel series, reckons the whole fight over Dumbledore’s sexuality has been over-blown and, in fact, he only has praise for how the situation has been handled.

“It’s a funny idea to me that every form of representation has to look the same,” the 26-year-old told Total Film. “For me, personally, I find Dumbledore’s queerness extremely explicit in this film. I mean, all around. He sees Grindelwald, his young lover who’s the love of his life; he sees him in the Mirror of Erised. What does the Mirror of Erised show you? Nothing more than the most desperate desire of your heart. If that’s not explicitly gay, I don’t know what is.”

Miller, who opened up about his own sexuality in a fascinating chat with ShortList, went on to praise author J.K. Rowling for announcing Dumbledore’s sexuality in the first place. “People have to also take a moment and acknowledge the gift that Jo Rowling gave us,” he said. “[She wrote] one of the greatest characters in literary history, one of the most beloved characters across the whole spectrum of civil society…and then, at the end of writing that series, was like, ‘Oh, yeah, and he’s gay. What? Step to me.’ She is forever a god for that.”

Miller added: “Why don’t you wait until you see the film before you start talking shit on Twitter? Or wait to make up your own mind about something for once in your life. Do your own research. Make up your own mind. Follow your heart, and really, really investigate situations before you identify yourself and pick a side, and start throwing things at the opposition. Because that’s what’s totally screwing everything up right now. And it polarizes us. We’re all human, and there’s a lot of things we can agree on.”

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is hitting cinemas on 16 November 2018

(Image: Getty)