Last year, Warner Brothers invited a group of journalists to the London set of Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Production was just getting off the ground, but we were able to see some truly spectacular sets (more on that in a bit). We were also fortunate enough to speak with some of the mega-talent behind the series, including producer David Heyman, director David Yates, costume designer and living legend Colleen Atwood, supervising art director Martin Foley, as well as stars Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, and Callum Turner (a new face to the franchise who plays Newt’s older brother Theseus). Below, Heyman talks about what they learned from the first film, the tone of this sequel, integrating Harry Potter landmarks like Hogwarts into the story, and much more:

QUESTION: Is there a different sense of confidence going into this, because of the way the first one was received? Has that changed how you're approaching it?

DAVID HEYMAN: No. I think we're more familiar with the world. You know, the world has been built. We've defined the central characters. But this is part of a five-film saga, as it were, and Jo [Rowling] is developing these characters, and they're all on journeys and so we're discovering stuff and things, as we go. So in terms of confidence, yes. You know you've made a film that works, in some form. But we also want to make a film that's better.

We’re ambitious and one of the things in talking to David [Yates], one of the things he's really intent on is making this film feel quite different to the last. This film is more in the spirit of a 1930s thriller, a Third Man and that the like. But at the same time, in a very contemporary way, David is shooting this film in a completely different way to the last one. The last one was quite proscenium and quite classic. This one's very immersive and distinct. It feels very contemporary in the camera moves and in the spirit. You know, Dumbledore's in this film. There are little points of connection to the original stories, or to the "Harry Potter" stories that's quite exciting. So confidence? I mean, there's always an element of confidence and an element of uncertainty, I think. You mustn't be too confident. 

When you make any film, there's "Yes, I believe in the vision." I believe strongly in that. I believe in Jo's script and Jo's imagination. I believe in that. I believe we've got a great group of people in front of and behind the camera. And what's great is, you know, we've gone through it, and we sat down, looking at the last film, looking at things we want to improve aesthetically or in various areas, and we're gonna do everything we can to make this one feel distinct, but also better than the last.

How do you balance that distinction or that distinct style, versus setting up the other movies, knowing that there are going to be so many more to come? Is that a consideration? 

HEYMAN: Not really. In a way, it's organic. You know, Jo's writing leads you in that direction. She’s conceived of this five-episode story. So, you know, parceling out information and all that, that comes fairly organically, and it's responding, largely, to the script. There are things that we talk about, as they relate to this film, as a standalone. Because the film's going to work on its own terms, making sure the characters are serviced in the right way. But as for the Potter films, she'll say, “I'm not sure you can do that because it'll mess up film five." On Potter we had one time we wanted to … there was a scene where we wanted to cut a creature from, I think, the fifth film. I can't remember which one. We were thinking about cutting creature from Grimmauld Place, and she's, like, "I wouldn't do that if I were you, because he has a part to play in a later film."

I wonder if there's a particular scene or a particular moment that you think fans will really respond to? 

HEYMAN: I think, going back to Hogwarts. That's all I'll say. I think-- you know, how wonderful to touch on Dumbledore. That's it. I think-- sorry, not going back to Hogwarts. Going back to the world of … it's seeing Dumbledore. How great is that? Seeing a younger Dumbledore and seeing he and Newt's first meeting, I think, will be a thing that the fans will really love. Because here is this character who we have such connection to, who is such a central part of the "Harry Potter" stories, and to see him earlier on, as it were, very much related to the Dumbledore of … I'd say, "of old," but of future. But at the same time, you realize in the Potter films that he was working things to his own end. You know, he knew the path. He knew what was happening. He understood the backstories, and he was working Harry. I mean, in some ways, you could say, responsibly putting Harry into great danger, at times. But he had faith in Harry and his ability. While here, you see Dumbledore and there are remnants of that, and you see echoes of that. But he's also wonderful and colorful and magical and wise, and the character that we know, but younger, and we see slightly different shades.

Can you talk about your process in casting an actor as young Dumbledore? 

HEYMAN: It was not inconsiderable, as you can imagine, and we had various people work with Eddie, and we did three or four scenes. And it was quite clear that Jude was the one. You know, he has a bit of mischief. He’s charismatic. And he has many of the qualities that we wanted in the part.

The last movie has this epic, epic twist when Johnny Depp, all of a sudden, shows up at the end. Nobody expected it. Will we get a similar moment in this movie, and do you feel pressure to include such a moment? 

HEYMAN: You'll have to wait and see. <laughter> But no, we don't feel the pressure. It's not about a twist. We want the film to work on its own terms, and because we're telling a five-part saga here, there will be things that lead on into the next. No, the Johnny moments are pretty good. But no pressure, because ultimately, we've got to make a film that works on its own terms. I think, you know, people talk about pressure and nervousness and confidence. Ultimately, we could be paralyzed if we listened to other people's expectations. I've said this with every one of the Potter films. If I read all the criticism and went, "Oh, my God, what…” and then, I said, "Oh, okay. I've got to answer each one." Each of those criticisms and each of those concerns and each -- we wouldn't have made a film, because it would've been paralyzing. Ultimately, we have Steve Kloves, Lionel [Wigram], myself, David Yates, and a host of other people, who know this world very, very, very well, and we have Jo Rowling, who's creating and building a new universe, or a connected universe or a connected narrative. So we have to have faith in that and our own ambition and belief and confidence, to a degree, to tell these stories well. But no, we don't feel pressure of having to do something a certain way. This film, as I said before, will feel quite different to the last one. Therein lies a certain pleasure. It's not a sequel, where we're giving people the same thing, again and again. It'll be Jo's universe, the Wizarding World will be further enriched in this, and I think audiences will really, really, really enjoy them. So it's not about fitting a scene for a twist or that. But wait and see.

Regarding Madam Picquery, the President of MACUSA, I was wondering, how present are the women in this sequel? Like, will we have another woman in an important role for the sequel? 

HEYMAN:I don't know that we're, again, as self-conscious as that. But there are women of significant roles in this film, yes. There are men with significant roles. There are new characters that we find in new female characters and new male characters in this film, who are very significant, each of whom has their own idiosyncrasies, and their own qualities, and their own impact upon the story, historically and going forward.

Going back to Dumbledore, in 2007, I believe, Rowling revealed that she always saw this character as being gay in the books.

HEYMAN: Yep.

Is that something that you guys plan on addressing? Because I feel like we're constantly having a discussion about pushing diversity and, especially, LGBTQ visibility. Is that something you've already talked about with Rowling?

HEYMAN: I don't think it's something we talk-- again, see the film. I think the film will answer that question. I think ultimately Jo talked about Dumbledore as being gay.

Is it something you see driving the story between Dumbledore and Grindelwald? 

HEYMAN: Not driving it. But it might well be a part of it. I mean, you know, we all know that they've had a friendship, a very close friendship.

You mentioned this is, at the end of the day, a five-film saga. How much of this larger picture are you actually dealing with, going into this movie? 

HEYMAN: Very much so. I mean, it's a part of the whole. You know, we're aware of where the story goes. We're aware-- Jo is aware of it all. We're aware of significant portions of it, and it's about filling in, you know, pieces.

Speaking of new characters, when we were looking at the art, we saw a couple of names. Is there anything that you can tell us about some of the new characters? Like Kama?

HEYMAN: Kama, a great character. He's someone who's come in search of answers. I can't tell you what those answers are or what the questions are. But he is a person with a wound, an emotional wound, that he is trying to find answers for.

Do you have a particular favorite new character that you're looking forward for us to meet? 

HEYMAN: I think, Leta is a fantastic character. I think she's complex and rich and charismatic, and Zoe is bringing color and shade to the part that, I think, elevates it even further. I think that she is a wonderful character, who is, like so many of Jo's characters, is trying to come to terms with who they are.

Are family trees going to play a bigger part in these films? 

HEYMAN: Family is a big part of it, and, you know, it's both the family you're born with and the family you make. That's a big part of, I think, of the themes of Jo's work. So family is a part of it, including the relationship between Newt and Theseus. Seeing Eddie and Callum next to each other, they really do feel like brothers, and you know, Theseus is a Ministry man, but Newt is still his brother, and that relationship is really beautiful and strong. So to answer your question, yes, family is very much a part of it, where you come from, who you are.

Can you talk about keeping this franchise focused on Newt, when you've got Credence's story coming up now and his journey, and then you have Dumbledore and Grindelwald's eventual meeting. Is it difficult to be sure that Newt remains the key to all of this? 

HEYMAN: I think Newt is key to all this. You know, it's quite novelistic in the sense it's a very rich tapestry and we're exploring all of these characters, and you'll get to know them all. There's multiple elements. All these characters are not together in every scene. So, you know, many of them have their separate parts, and we follow them all. Newt is central, but the other characters are very significant, are really significant.

What kind of villain or antagonist is Grindelwald? 

HEYMAN: A really scary one, because he has the power of persuasion. He's very seductive. He can make people follow him because he is as persuasive as he is. He's incredibly charismatic. He is wonderfully amoral. Or awfully amoral, depending on which way you look at it. Wonderful for a delicious villain. Awful, in terms of an individual. And he is a fundamentalist, or, he’s an absolutist. He sees only one path. He believes in superiority of wizard kind over human kind. Muggles, you know, and makes a very persuasive case for that. Not one that I am prepared to follow. Not one I suspect you're prepared to follow. But you can understand why some people do, and that's really, really scary.

Now that you can talk about him, can you talk about bringing Johnny onboard for that role? 

HEYMAN: It was quite straightforward. We had one choice. [Laughs] We went to him and he said yes. We wanted someone who was extraordinary, who was a little bit off center, who had the charisma and the power to … you know, we had a wonderful adversary in Ralph Fiennes. You know, Voldemort was someone who was pure: he knew no love, he only knew hate. Grindelwald is a different beast. No pun intended!

I think that is what makes him even scarier. I think we know very few people who've never felt love, unless they have certain strong issues. There's something about Grindelwald that, again, he is a seducer, and yet he has no problem wielding his wand, as it were. Again, no pun!

What is the relationship with Grindelwald and Credence, since the first movie? 

HEYMAN: Well, Credence is clearly an important character for Grindelwald. He believes he is a key his power, so Credence remains a significant figure for him.

Is he still looking for him?

HEYMAN: I don't want to say.

What's been your favorite set to realize? 

HEYMAN: I think the French Ministry is pretty bloody beautiful. I think it's one of Stuart [Craig]'s most beautiful sets. I think a lot of it will be augmented in the digital space, but just the detail, the filigree. And also, just from a practical point of view, how it's been multipurpose. Because we go into different parts of the French Ministry, and we've had to repurpose one set for different levels. Now we even used a little part of it, which we end up using for the French Ministry, we even used for the Ministry of Magic in London. So from a practical point of view, it's flexible. From a visual point of view, it feels very French and extraordinary magical.

Are we going to see the connection between Leta and the Lestranges that we know? Like, Rodolphus, are we going find out if she's his grandmother or his mother? 

HEYMAN: Leta's someone who Newt had a very close relationship, way back, with. They were at Hogwarts together, and one of the things I think we will enjoy is … Newt was always, just like his love of beasts, he always saw the good in people. And Leta is someone who, I think, wrestles with that a little bit. She's from a pureblood family, and the whole thing of what you're born into and who you are is an element of her character. She's a wonderful character, and as I say, so in terms of family, I think it's a part of who she is.

Back to the original Harry Potter story, there were a lot of layers, but it came back to this coming of age story and kids dealing with very adult issues and subject matter. In this overarching story for Fantastic Beasts, what would you say is the crux of the story that you're trying to tell? 

HEYMAN: Gosh, that's a good question. By the way, this film, I would say there are elements of love playing through each of the stories. So it's a thriller, but with a real beating heart of love. And I think that what you can really clearly see emerging -- and again, it's a central theme of Jo's work -- is the danger of absolutism. It is the belief that your way is the only way. It feels rather current, in some ways, but it's timeless, you know? It's a last history repeating itself and similar to what we're going through now. So I think that will be a central part of this story. And you'll see. Beyond that, I do think love and family juxtaposed against them.

One of the fun things about the Potter franchise was having different voices, different directors, come at different times and different chapters. With all due respect to David [Yates], would it be your preference to keep him for all five? Or would you love to bring other voices and have them interpret? 

HEYMAN: I think that it would be great to have David go all the way. You know what? Actually, Chris Columbus was so tired, couldn't do anymore, and that's why we went to we went to Alfonso [Curan]. We like how Alfonso had done the third one, but he was spent. 

So then we went to Mike Newell, who was spent on four. It's only David Yates who seems to have this boundless-- In fact, he made two films, while he was in the middle of finishing one film, he was doing the first. So the possibilities for this one, where he's only working on one film are endless. I mean, I dearly would have him, but let's see. Let's see how he feels and, actually, let's see where the story goes. But my sense is that if we're lucky enough to make more of these films, and the audience keeps coming, then, we'll see.

Catch up with more Fantastic Beasts below:

• ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’: Eddie Redmayne on Leta, Baby Nifflers, and Newt’s Dark Side
• Get to Know the Actual Beasts of ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’
• ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ Character Descriptions Reveal Plot Details
• ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’ Set Visit Report: A Truly Magical Spectacle
• Ezra Miller on Credence’s Journey in ‘Fantastic Beasts 2’ & Missing Out on Hogwarts