Fantastic Beasts 3 Trailer Debunks A Big Credence & Grindelwald Theory

The second official trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore debunks a theory about Credence’s true heritage. The Harry Potter prequel franchise introduced a number of new characters, but perhaps none have proved quite as enigmatic as Ezra Miller’s Credence Barebone. Having first appeared living in an orphanage and thought to possess no magical ability, Credence was then revealed to be an Obscurial – a wizard who had developed a parasitic magical Obscurus as a result of his oppressed magical talents.

In Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Grindelwald reveals that Credence’s birth name is actually Aurelius Dumbledore. This revelation appears to set up a significant portion of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore as the climactic scenes of Crimes of Grindelwald see Credence join the dark wizard. However, despite the reveal of Credence’s true name, many fans have speculated that Grindelwald lied about Credence’s identity.

The trailer seems to thoroughly debunk this theory, confirming that Credence is, indeed, a Dumbledore. The theory may have had some sound logic behind it, but the trailer offers even more evidence that Grindelwald wasn’t lying to Credence. This not only disproves the theory, but it continues to set up an exciting continuation of Credence’s Dumbledore story in Fantastic Beasts 3.

The trailer makes multiple uses of the phoenix seen briefly in Fantastic Beasts 2, hinting that it will feature prominently in The Secrets of Dumbledore. It’s well-established in the Harry Potter universe that phoenixes come to the Dumbledore family in times of need, and Credence can be seen twice with the bird in the trailer. This is perhaps one of the biggest pieces of evidence that Credence is really a Dumbledore – although exactly how Grindelwald knew Credence’s true identity hasn’t yet been revealed.

Seeing the phoenix seemingly helping Credence is an interesting prospect for Fantastic Beasts 3, but it’s not the only way in which the trailer debunks the theory. Credence can also be seen facing off against Albus, further indicating the animosity between the pair, which certainly fits within the narrative of Credence as the abandoned Aurelius. While having Grindelwald lie in order to manipulate Credence to his side could have made for an excellent twist, it seems as though Fantastic Beasts 3 is set to confirm that Credence is Aurelius Dumbledore.

Although it seems entirely possible that Fantastic Beasts 3 already teased another Credence twist, the trailer indicates that Grindelwald wasn’t lying about his identity. This is in line with the film’s title itself, as Credence is seemingly one of the titular “secrets” of Dumbledore – something which would surely push the powerful young Obscurial to fight at Grindelwald’s side. The specifics of Grindelwald and Credence’s relationship aren’t yet clear, but the trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore certainly indicates that it’s built on a foundation of truth.

About The Author