Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) returns for a hugely enjoyable third outing in J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Following on the story from Fantastic Beasts The Crimes Of Grindlewald, it’s hard to believe that it was 4 years ago The Crimes Of Grindlewald was in cinemas, Newt, after his exploits in Paris, has been banned by the Ministry Of Magic from travelling abroad. That changes however when he’s approached by Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and asked to go to Berlin where Grindlewald (Mads Mikkelsen who replaces Johnny Depp for reasons we won’t go into here but will no doubt be familiar to most people) is back up to his evil tricks.

Director David Yates, who was responsible for the first two films, again keeps the story moving along at a terrific pace and along the way fills in plot holes from the previous two films. Without giving any spoilers away things that were only hinted at in terms of Dumbledore’s relationship with Grindlewald in the last film are fully explained here whilst the true identity of Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller) is finally revealed.

There’re very few writers who are producing films for the big screen that can spin a story as well as J.K. Rowling and she comes up trumps again. Fans of the series will love The Secrets of Dumbledore and whilst feeling like a conclusion to a terrific trilogy Rowling leaves just enough loose ends in order to tease us that there’s yet more to come.

Highly recommended