Fantastic Beasts 2: Nagini twist just the beginning – JK Rowling teases even BIGGER shock

In last week’s final trailer, the character of Nagini – a Maledictus – was unveiled, as played by Claudia Kim.

She, it turns out, is inflicted with a blood curse that enables her to switch at will between human and snake – although she’s inevitably doomed to eventually end up a permanent serpent, going on to be Voldemort’s right-hand-snake in the Harry Potter stories.

That twist sent shockwaves round the fanbase last week – but it seems there may be more shocks in store.

Posting to Twitter, writer JK Rowling said actor Ezra Miller, who plays Credence Barebone, was stunned by what’s ahead.

“@jk_rowling I would love to see Ezra Miller’s reaction when he read that Claudia was playing Nagini or that Nagini was in this saga?” one follower wrote.

She answered: “That definitely wasn’t Ezra’s biggest shock. #FantasticBeasts.”

So what could be ahead? Fans will have to keep guessing ahead of the sequel’s release next month.

For now, controversy continues over Kim’s casting in the franchise.

It was noted last week that there are only two women of East Asian descent in leading roles in the Harry Potter universe: underused love interest Cho Chang, and now Nagini – who ultimately becomes a Nazi-inspired supervillain’s pet.

Rowling responded: “The Naga are snake-like mythical creatures of Indonesian mythology, hence the name ‘Nagini.’

“They are sometimes depicted as winged, sometimes as half-human, half-snake. Indonesia comprises a few hundred ethnic groups, including Javanese, Chinese and Betawi.”

The film has also faced backlash for the involvement of Johnny Depp, and the lack of acknowledgement or reference to Dumbledore’s homosexuality.

Fans argued of the latter point that there’s no point in Rowling confirming his orientation if it’s never going to be represented in any way on screen or on the page.

The new Fantastic Beasts sees Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol reprising their roles; with Zoe Kravitz, Callum Turner and William Nadylam also aboard.

The film is the second of a planned five in the series.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is out on November 16.