Roll up, roll up. A new Harry Potter fan theory has been confirmed, and people on the internet are completely losing it.
The trailer for the latest movie, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindleward, was released yesterday, and it has confirmed a popular theory about Voldemort's snake, Nagini.
In the Harry Potter series, Nagini and Voldermort are extremely close, and the snake is one of Voldermort's horcruxes.
In 2017, the first cast photo for the movie identified Claudia Kim as a Maledictus, which is described on Pottermore as:
A carrier of a blood curse which will ultimately destine them to transform permanently into a beast.
The trailer has revealed much more about Kim's character, and confirmed the suspicions of Nagini's original story - at one point showing her transforming into a snake.
Fans were quick to call upon the series' author, JK Rowling herself, to find out if Nagini was an Animagus, a witch or wizard that can transform into an animal, or a Maldeictus.
She didn't leave them disappointed. In a string of tweets, she wrote:
Not an Animagus. A Maledictus. Big difference.
Not an Animagus. A Maledictus. Big difference. https://t.co/JwVVNnvVQU— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1537881102
She then expanded:
They're different conditions. Maledictuses are always women, whereas werewolves can be either sex. The Maledictus carries a blood curse from birth, which is passed down from mother to daughter.
They're different conditions. Maledictuses are always women, whereas werewolves can be either sex. The Maledictus c… https://t.co/mPmUkM571w— J.K. Rowling (@J.K. Rowling) 1537883224
Wow, that's big.
Overexcited, Kim finally made the announcement on Twitter:
Finally, I can say it! I am #NAGINI 🙈🐍♥️ https://t.co/NruaZhlVR2— Claudia 수현 (@Claudia 수현) 1537887795
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Claudia Kim also revealed more about her character:
It will be so interesting to see another side of Nagini. You’ve only seen her as a Horcrux. In this, she’s a wonderful and vulnerable woman who wants to live. She wants to stay a human being and I think that’s a wonderful contrast to the character.
She does feel sometimes it’s not controllable. She is bound to [permanently] transform at some point to a beast so she feels this pressure that the clock is ticking.
She has powers that are yet to be explored. I can’t confirm she has powers like wizards have. And she doesn’t have a wand.
Fans were quick to express their excitement at the revelation.
I know there's (tons) more to the story, but the #nagini reveal in the last #CrimesOfGrindelwald trailer have left… https://t.co/CRy3iawAMA— Jake Iversen (@Jake Iversen) 1537885858
NAGINI is a woman ...!! #FantasticBeasts #nagini https://t.co/GvJkhIh42T— amber-lily (@amber-lily) 1537884028
So Nagini is actually a person?! What the hell.— Joan (@Joan) 1537942887
I know these “YoU DiDnT kNoW tHiS bUt AlL aLoNg...” revelations are peak JK Rowling, but damn do they get me every time 😭 #nagini— Fandom Therapist ✨ (@Fandom Therapist ✨) 1537890172
Still having goosebumps about that #nagini reveal. 20 years and @jk_rowling still manages to amaze me. #FantasticBeasts— Lottic_ (@Lottic_) 1537885449
While some were conflicted, and thought that the casting was inappropriate.
So an East Asian woman with a South Asian name (E & S ASIA IS NOT THE SAME) is CURSED FROM BIRTH and turns into a L… https://t.co/6h1lj5dg6Y— Laila 🏳️🌈🏴🇲🇺🇺🇸🇮🇳 (@Laila 🏳️🌈🏴🇲🇺🇺🇸🇮🇳) 1537907765
Others defended the decision.
Pretty sure all the people telling off @jk_rowling for making #Nagini an asian woman would've lost their minds if i… https://t.co/oxH6bM4LBS— Kelsey Wilson (@Kelsey Wilson) 1537896383
Broke: Asian women as love interests for white male protagonists. Woke: Asian women brainwashed, transfigured into… https://t.co/ySsfnkuIT9— Vinh, the Dad of Boi (@Vinh, the Dad of Boi) 1537894220
I really dont get why #Nagini role is consider to be racist? I genuinely dont get it! please someone explain :| i… https://t.co/OWbFkL4Q8A— سپهر (@سپهر) 1537889503
HT Unilad
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