I've been staring at this for a few minutes...

Subject: I've been staring at this for a few minutes...
Author: Scapegrace
Posted on: 2016-10-13 00:29:00 UTC

And I think we were both wrong about the first word, at least at first. It appears to be an P in a serif font, only part of it is obscured by shading and the doll on the stake. In which case, NO SPEAKING might be more appropriate.

An ironic thing to have in large capital letters, but there we are. =]

Reply Return to messages

Jump to this post's position in the thread ↴

Fantastic Beasts: Posters with Hints by Matt Cipher on 2016-10-11 16:39:00 UTC Reply

So... not so long ago, nine posters for Fantastic Beasts have been revealed. Let's put them under the microscope!

First one: Newt Scamander, the Magizoologist.
All I can see is the inside of his TARDIS-like suitcase, with books, drawers, and a picture of a Niffler which is adorable and I want one! There is also a Bowtruckle chillin' on Newt's jacket.

Up next, future Mrs. Scamander - Porpentina Goldstein, the MACUSA Auror.
We get a closer look at the MACUSA Clock of Danger, and what looks like Tina's ID on the right. I'm not sure what the numbers in the upper right mean.

NEXT! ~~The Flash~~... I mean, Credence Barebone, the Second Salemer.
Now, we know that Credence is supposed to be a "notable" character within the Harry Potter universe. I have a theory on that, along with our next guy, which I'll save for last.

Then, we have Percival Graves, the Director of Magical Security.
Now, about President Piggles' right-hand minion... anything catches your eye? That, by itself, was a hint. Also, remember the background of Graves's poster, 'cause we're gonna be back here.

Up next, it's Tina's sister - Queenie Goldstein, the Legilimens.
Queenie was stated to be a very proficient Legilimens, with the ability to not only see in one's memories, but also share empathic connection... which I assume would make her a sorta Wizarding Cold Reader/Lie Detector. I also think that the locket on the mannequin in the background is not random.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Seraphina Picquery, the President of MACUSA
As for our friendly neighborhood dictator, I don't think she's gonna be the true villain of the trilogy. She's a bureaucrat, takes her job very seriously, and probably has the ideal model of American Wizarding Society in her mind, but isn't remotely close do Voldemort or Grindelwald.

Our next contestant is... umm... Gnarlak, the Goblin Gangster
Honestly, I don't know Gnarlak's exact role in the films. He owns a Wizarding Speakeasy, where at least one fighting scene will occur (as seen in the trailers), and my best guess is he's gonna be Newt's informant around the city. Most likely gonna end up selling them out, but that's not the topic for today.

Now someone who's probably gonna be the comic relief, but one can hope for more - Jacob Kowalski, the No-Maj.
And apparently an owner of one fine-looking bakery. Shame I can't say anything more about Jakey-boy, as his character intrigues me the most out of the main cast.

And finally, the one, the only... American Umbridge! Mary Lou Barebone, the Leader of the Second Salemers
Descendant of Bartholomew Barebone, who himself descends from a Scourer, means Mary Lou has a very diluted magic running in her blood. Also worth noting is that all of her children (Credence and his two sisters) are adopted.

Now that we have the posters done, let's take a step forward, and theorize about the film before it comes out:

We roughly know the outline of the first film. Newt Scamander visits New York, probably because of his research, but stuff happens and all the creatures he brought with him are set free and he has to chase around after them. Simple, until you remember there are two more films in the Fantastic Beasts series. It'd be too repetitive if the entire trilogy focused on capturing escaped animals, so here's my idea how's it gonna go:

Remember Percival Graves's poster? His is the only one with the Deathly Hallows necklace. Or, what's known to most wizards as the symbol of Gellert Grindelwald. But why is it in Graves's poster specifically? Well, the answer is in the final trailer! Here at 2:06 we hear Graves saying "I refuse to bow down any longer." And earlier, he pulls Credence to the side and tells him, "We've lived in the shadows for too long" [1:16]. The wall in Graves's poster also has significance; it symbolizes his breakthrough. And the fact that the wall is riddled with the Salemers' posters is an additional touch. So let me explain it now:

Percival Graves will turn out to be a traitor. Maybe by the end of the first film, when Newt and MACUSA will combat the mysterious foggy creature of darkness and destruction, it will be revealed that Graves was the one who somehow tamed the creature/made its hunting easier by sickening it onto important No-Majes, such as Shaw, and Senator Shaw, Jr.? In the end, him and Credence are gonna flee America. Why Credence you ask? Besides being the "notable" figure in the universe, I'm thinking on one more possibility:

Credence Barebone may turn out to be a wizard. He's Mary Lou's adopted son, but he wasn't specified to be a No-Maj. Perhaps Mary Lou's dormant magic senses told her to adopt Credence, because he'd be a great addition to her anti-wizard campaign? And since he's easily manipulated by Graves, both are going to escape America. Why? To join Gellert Grindelwald's army of course! In the final trailer, President Picquery first mistakes Newt's accident as an act of aggression, similar to those of Grindelwald's attacks in Europe [1:40], and is ready to go to war if necessary. That means Grindelwald is active in Europe in the 1920s! After being tired of President Pickles's rule, Graves could decide to work with someone who has more... strict approach. And Credence was supposed to be a "notable" figure in the Harry Potter universe; nobody said a "notable, positive" figure. As far as we know, he may grow to become Grindelwald's right-hand man!

So, to sum up, this is what I think is gonna go down:

First Film - capturing magical creatures in New York, Graves revealed to be the main villain, him and Credence flee to join Grindelwald.

Second Film - journey through Europe. More creatures native to the Continent, perhaps a visit to the 1920s Ministry of Magic? (We could see Minister Archer Evermonde, and Harry's great-grandfather Henry!), rallying people up against Grindelwald?

Third Film - all-out British Ministry and MACUSA vs. Grindelwald's army!

Expand this post →

My theory bites the dust. Not three, but five by Matt Cipher on 2016-10-13 23:00:00 UTC Reply

Yep... a sort of "press conference" happened today, and Rowling stated the Fantastic Beasts franchise will get FIVE movies...

Oh, come on, what? by Huinesoron on 2016-10-14 09:05:00 UTC Reply

That's ridiculous.

On the plus side... well, there's two:

1/ Since it's not based on a preexisting story, it shouldn't suffer from Hobbit syndrome and have to stretch the plot out until it snaps (like butter spread over too much bread, if I may).

2/ This ups the chance that the story will run through to 1945 and the Dumbledore/Grindelwald duel. That would make #5 ('Please, Newt, Just Lock The Suitcase For Once') a magical war film. I... can get behind this.

hS

Expand this post →

Well, we've had space Spitfires... by Scapegrace on 2016-10-14 15:27:00 UTC Reply

No reason we can't have Mosquitoes borne aloft by racing brooms for night attacks... =]

Mosquitoes... flying with brooms? by Sergio Turbo on 2016-10-14 19:25:00 UTC Reply

... I'll let the offense to the Wooden Wonder slide.

Though, considering it was a wooden airplane so good that the Nazi went crazy thinking "We struggle to make aircraft with the scarce aluminium we have, and they build a superior one with WOOD?", I have to suspect it was made from racing broom-grade wood...

What if it's wand wood? by Huinesoron on 2016-10-14 20:17:00 UTC Reply

Imagine - you stuff it full of whatever the magical-creature-derived-product you can get in the largest quantities is. Doesn't matter if it's virtually a magical null, the sheer amount in there means that when you press your hand to the side of the cockpit and yell "Expelliamus!", the entire enemy army simultaneously have their weapons thrown halfway across the battlefield.

Of course, wand-trees are rare... but that may be because they were all cut down to make planes, no? ... no?

hS

You... do realise you don't have to use wand wood, right? by Scapegrace on 2016-10-14 21:53:00 UTC Reply

Just cast the same suite of charms you cast on a racing broom, only a load more of them. I mean, if one admittedly-obsessive bloke working in his back garden can get a Ford Anglia airborne reliably enough that children can pilot it from London to whichever midge-infested Scotch boghole Hogwarts squats in, then a team of wizards churning out planes for the War Effort can probably do a hell of a lot more. Plus, this is all before the ban on flying carpets, which (with the addition of shield, warming, and Bubble-Head charms for altitude) would have made amazing transport planes for Resistance supplies and paratroopers.

...

Nerrr-NER-ner-ner-nernernerner-NERRRRR-ner-ner-ner-nernernerner...

Expand this post →

Nah, I've moved on from making it fly. by Huinesoron on 2016-10-14 21:57:00 UTC Reply

I'm turning the entire plane into a flying wand able to cast megaton-level spells. "A wizard's reach should exceed his grasp..."

hS

And every piano factory in Britain churning them out... by Scapegrace on 2016-10-14 22:10:00 UTC Reply

But, um, where are you getting the wand... cores...

Wait.

Since you don't need a fuel tank, you could - rather than a single dragon heartstring - have one or more dragon hearts.

And the dragon genocide continues. by Huinesoron on 2016-10-14 22:45:00 UTC Reply

They can join the Sasquatch in oblivion.

That said, and though it will make Olivander squirm, there's no reason to use his three pet cores. The evidence suggests that basically any magical critter can be sliced up and used for wand cores. What's the most common, infest-y magical beast around? If they're hairy, you don't even have to kill them - just shave them and use that.

Planes stuffed with magic rat hair... well, at least it gives Newt something to do.

hS

Expand this post →

I, for one, find this idea genius. by DCCCV on 2016-10-15 00:05:00 UTC Reply

Why has nobody else thought about making a giant wand?

Of course, we could then get into the implications of what a wand is supposed to represent.

"Come on, Hermione, let me show you my giant wand!" *SLAP* (nm) by Scapegrace on 2016-10-15 03:19:00 UTC Reply

Now that this mindset has been forced upon you, dear reader, by Larfen J. Stocke, esq on 2016-10-15 07:45:00 UTC Reply

go back and look at DCCCV's earlier post.
Look at the whole thing.
Lovely, innit?

That is a lot of information. by Huinesoron on 2016-10-12 11:18:00 UTC Reply

I think I might have to split this over multiple posts.

Newt

That's definitely the inside of the suitcase. A few items of interest:

Some kind of carnival mask? Could be a hint of personality; alternately, it might be designed to get hatchlings to imprint on you. Pretty strange bird, in that case.

We have 'special feed codes' for three creatures. One looks like it might say 'Beaked [something] Griffin'? The second just says 'Feathered', which sounds like a word cut out for secrecy. I can't read the Niffler sketch.

Newt has samples! He has billywig stings, and something with bismuth in it. We can also see that he purchases from [W]iseacre's Wizarding Equ[ipment].

Porpentina

You highlighted a locket on Queenie's picture? Porpentina has one too.

Her middle name is Esther. The fact that she has a traditionally-Jewish surname and middle name suggests an intriguing possibility - could she/her family actually be religious wizards? The surname could just be a relic of her distant ancestry, but the presence of the middle name suggests intent.

I'm not sure what the other items under her name are - they could be authorising names, or descriptions of her job, but I think the first might say [Felisal???] Wand. The printed text underneath the handwritten seems to start with 'AND IS', so the ID card certifies that Porpentina Esther Goldstein IS [something] [handwritten x2] AND IS [something long]. Hmm.

Credence

Newt and Jacob are wanted for bank robbery. ^^ I guess that bank scene we keep seeing is significant.

<img src="http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h259/TangledWebs/credenceposters.jpg">

The Salemers meet in Pike Street, and Mary Lou is speaking in person. The other posters seem unrelated, but advertise various things in Coney Island (and one in Brooklyn) in October and November.

Percival

No pictures. I think you're right about the Grindelwald connection - his lines in the trailer ("Who does this protect? Us -- or them?") suggest he shares Gellert's philosophy of wizards ruling over ~~muggles~~ No-Majs. I'm dubious about him leaving America, though, for one reason:

Ilvermorny. We've got a lot of information about the school, but no indication that it's really in the film. I think it's going to be significant in one of the other films of the trilogy, and that means staying in America.

On the other hand, Grindelwald is the only pre-Potter historical event we have any details on. It would take a strong filmmaker not to want to delve into that - particularly when it promises the chance to show young Albus Dumbledore. So I think either one of the other films will spill over to '20s England (or maybe '30s... guess we can't stretch it out to 1945), or Grindelwald and Dumbledore will both end up in America for Reasons.

Queenie

That necklace. Did you imply you know something about it? I agree that it's very deliberately placed, but I don't recognise it.

The picture to her right looks like it just might be a map of Manhattan. I think it's definitely an island surrounded by rivers, though it could also be some sort of animal - a dragon?

To her left is an owl - Hogwarts connection? More interestingly, that looks almost like a wireless underneath it. She has electric lights, too - very technologically progressive for a witch.

She also has a matched set of all seven volumes of Chadwick's Charms. Yup, set of seven books, nothing suspicious at all there...

President Piggles

Nothing significant here; I just want to say that I love the design work on this film. Absolutely love it.

Do rings have any magical significance? How about a glowing blue wand?

Hi, Percy! But who are those folks behind you? Well, they're very racially diverse, but more interestingly, their dress implies they might be foreign representatives. That could go either way, though, and it's not like darker skin is uncommon in America. (Is the woman on the right Chinese? She looks like she might be, but I'm not sure.)

Emergency Message
Issued by the MACUSA Surveillance Department
Warning!Warning!Warning!Warning!
Exposure Threat level Has [Reached]
=== Unexplained Activity ===
-- Do Not Let It Reach: Level [?] --
President Seraphina Picquery will address the wizarding [...]
letter. If you require more information please contact [...]
Surveillance Wizarding Resources Department [something] [...]
They will be able to provide support and advise you on how to st[...]
in an emergency. Further advice can also be found in MACUSA: [...]
In The Workplace
[...] Be Vigilant.

Welcome to MACUSA
How to Stay Safe
And Avoid Accidents
[...] read this leaflet carefully to avoid and unwanted accidents
[...] [something] during your stay. Any questions please contact the
[...] A.W.R (Wizarding Resources Department) on Level 1013.

PLEASE DO NOT RUN, FLY, OR [apparate???] [...]
CORRIDORS [...]

Gnarlak

I think it just says 'Joker'.

Newt is wanted for Grade One infraction of the International Statute of Secrecy. Porpentina is up for [something] to a grade one etc - basically, aiding and abetting.

...WAND, MOST MENACING
... EXTREMELY DANGEROUS

[Caution] should be exercised as this witch is
[...] law breaker and will resist arrest.

[...] should be immobilised and apprehended at once.
[...] Aurors must be adviced immediately by owl.

So yeah, they're definitely arguing for American wizards to turn vigilante against criminals.

More interesting, what about that poster at the top? It's for someone 'DANGEROUS' whose name ends with '-mus'. Do we know any of those? HP experts?

Jacob

Yup, that's a bakery. And it's making me so hungry. :(

Mary Lou

Haha I love this poster.

She has an awesome banner of a wand being snapped.

She has a little dolly witch being burned at a little dolly stake.

She has a fantastically period pamphlet. The back cover quotes Jeremiah - "The eyes of the blind shall be opened" - and confirms (if we needed it?) that the Second Salemers are the same people as the New Salem Philanthropic Society.

She has an actual alphabet of sins on her wall. Gluttony, Hatred, Lies, Murder, Necromancy, ???Racism, Stealing, Terrorism, all show up there.

I'm honestly not sure what any of the things banned by this notice are. It looks fascinating.

Buried behind the title is this flyer, which is headed with the words 'Hear his Call'. The lowercase 'his' suggests it's not religious, so... who is 'he'? His call is to 'Join the New Salemers' Army' and 'Defy the [something]'.

Putting that aside - I don't think Mary Lou is evil, guys. What, because she thinks the people who can kill you with a thought and have their own independent (one might say 'secessionist') government buried in the heart of the US are bad news? She's right! She's also apparently anti-racist, which is incredibly for a '20s religious character. Until I get any evidence to the contrary, I'm on her side in all this.

More seriously (because obvs she's a villain, she has a fire theme and dislikes wizards, who are racially superior to everyone else and we should support them in everything), I'm seeing hints of childhood trauma in this poster. The doll and alphabet both point to childhood issues related to wizardry. Hmm... would she have been a kid at the time of the Sasquatch Rebellion?

All in all, I'm actually kinda excited for this film. Probably won't see it in the cinema, but when it's out on DVD... yup.

hS

Expand this post →

On the subject of Porpentina: by Scapegrace on 2016-10-12 15:34:00 UTC Reply

The handwritten part on her ID beneath her name says "Federal Wand Permit Officer". Since wand permits are kind of a thing in the US and not over here, this leads me to wonder if she's some sort of border/customs official. Since we know she's going to end up with Newt by the end of the story, is this our in, so to speak, with MACUSA and President Piggles?

Additionally, I think the necklace is related to the sign used for Ilvermorny on the Pottermore website; if so, it suddenly makes a lot more sense. It's basically a subtle marker for any witch or wizard (likely more the former than the latter; men in 1920s America didn't wear jewellery beyond the occasional tie-pin) so that they can see who else went to Ilvermorny at a glance, a la the icthys in the early days of Christianity.

Also, wrt the obscured sign on MLB's poster... by Scapegrace on 2016-10-12 15:47:00 UTC Reply

I think it says:-

"NO SINGING
NO CUDDLING
NO SOILING
NO HORSEPLAY"

Which sounds to me like she's either a landlady with a very strict set of morals (which was common in the US in the 20s) or it's from an orphanage. Given hS's earlier remarks concerning her antipathy to magic perhaps having roots in childhood trauma, maybe she saw a witch/wizard kill her parents and was sent to an orphanage upstate or something. It would certainly account for the explicit religiosity of her message...

Expand this post →

I kind of love her poster even more now. by Huinesoron on 2016-10-12 16:12:00 UTC Reply

I'm not convinced by your first two: it looks like the letter after the S is a P, and the letter after CU... also looks like a P, actually. Assuming the other two are right... give me a minute.

Hmm. Soiling/Horseplay in a similar font gives the right layout (with the O in the last NO about halfway under the N of the third). Then the second word, CUP-, needs to have about four more letters; CUDDLING is too long. CUPPING is obvious, but doesn't seem to mean anything relevant (I asked the OED). CUPIDITY actually fits very well, and means inappropriate covetousness or lust; an archaic word, but a good fit.

As for the top word... SP and five more letters gives over 200 results. Spouses could be banned, or spleens. We don't want any spewers here, or any spading... but ultimately, I think the only version I can advocate is this:

NO SPORKS
NO CUPIDITY
NO SOILING
NO HORSEPLAY

hS

Expand this post →

Also, since you wanted one: by Scapegrace on 2016-10-13 00:38:00 UTC Reply

Have a Niffler:-
I've been staring at this for a few minutes... by Scapegrace on 2016-10-13 00:29:00 UTC Reply

And I think we were both wrong about the first word, at least at first. It appears to be an P in a serif font, only part of it is obscured by shading and the doll on the stake. In which case, NO SPEAKING might be more appropriate.

An ironic thing to have in large capital letters, but there we are. =]

The Sasquatch Rebellion was in 1892... by Matt Cipher on 2016-10-12 15:20:00 UTC Reply

And Mary Lou looks like she's in at least in her forties here. I'd say she was between 10 and 13 during the time the Rebellion happened, so your theory still holds! (Also, can I point out how Sasquatches look like the Wookies?)

As for the rest of your points:

Newt: Yes, I think that's either a protective mask (a'la Plague Doctors), or for newly hatched creatures to feel comfortable around you. There is a Fwooper confirmed to appear, so it may be it.

Tina: The Goldstein sisters are distant relatives to one Anthony Goldstein from Harry's era. And yes, there are Jewish wizards. Also, a MACUSA ID was a part of exhibition in Japan - HERE.

Queenie: Nope, I know nothing about neither her or Tina's necklaces. But the seven books of Chadwick's Charms are used as Ilvermorny textbooks, so I don't think the owl is a Hogwarts connection.

Piggles: Aside from Marvolo Gaunt's Cursed Ring, I don't recall any magical jewelry. Also, we've got a better shot at her wand.

Gnarlak: I was gonna suggest that's Alberto Macellarius, whose wanted poster was featured in the New York Ghost earlier, but I don't know. Ix, any suggestions?

Expand this post →

Interesting Thoughts! by Tesla on 2016-10-11 23:41:00 UTC Reply

Very well done analysis my friend! It makes me even more excited to see the films once they come out!

Ditto on the Niffler by the way. XD
Nice analysis! by KittyEden on 2016-10-11 23:27:00 UTC Reply

(Andddd yes agreed about the Niffler.)