JK Rowling responds to criticism over Nagini actress in ‘Fantastic Beasts’

Remember Voldemort’s snake? Well, earlier this week a new trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald revealed that Nagini is actually a human witch who later became a snake, and many fans are pretty concerned about the casting.

In the latest Warner Bros. film, Nagini is a member of the traveling Circus Arcanus, where she participates in transformation acts for Muggles.

Rowling’s development of Nagini and intention for representation most likely came from a good place. In the Harry Potter books, the snake is a submissive character that is the property of villain Voldemort, who drinks her milk for strength before he is restored fully to his body.

Claudia Kim as Nagini in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. One of the biggest revelations that the trailer let loose was that nature of the role played by actress Claudia Kim – she’s playing Nagini, a woman who can turn into a snake.

When a fan asked Rowling on Twitter exactly how long she has known about Nagini’s past, she replied saying, “Only about 20 years”. Given that we don’t know her true role in the film, I think it’s a bit premature to scream outrage at this point.

In this prequel to the Harry Potter series, we’re heading back to the Wizarding World following the escape of Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). Claudia Kim is Nagini. While the theory has proved popular for a while now, it’s a huge reveal to make in the trailer, and one that would have been better saved for the movie.

Albus Dumbledore then convinces Newt Scamander to help catch the unsafe dark wizard.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald releases on November 16th. Unlike an Animagus who can transform into any animal they initially chose, a Maledictus is under some form of curse. “She has powers that are yet to be explored”, Kim says.

But Rowling has since defended her decision, calmly tweeting that the character is inspired by the Naga, of Indonesian mythology.

In the new trailer, we finally see a bit of the magical creature’s origin story – including the fact that she was once a witch.

Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard accused the actor of domestic violence while married.