Did you know that Lord Voldemort’s loyal snake, Nagini, was once a human woman?
The final trailer to “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” was released last night and Potterheads all around the world had the shock of their lives. It is revealed that Claudia Kim’s character is Nagini, who will eventually be Voldemort’s trusted snake and safe keeper for his Horcrux.
Despite being one of the prominent figures in the Harry Potter universe, Nagini has been a mysterious creature with very little backstory throughout the series. In 2-minute video clip, only 5 seconds stood out above everything else. Credence whispered the name “Nagini“. The scene then cuts to Kim transforming into the terrifying reptile.
The Asian actress previously mentioned that her character is a Maledictus. This means that she can transform into a snake at will, but will eventually stop being able to transform back into her human state because of a blood curse. By the time we meet her in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”, Nagini is already a full-fledge snake.
Author J.K. Rowling revealed that she’s been holding on to this secret for “around 20 years”. This totally changes our perspective on Nagini the snake. Even though she’s no longer a human by the time she becomes Voldemort’s loyal servant, she once had an entire human life and history. Fans will finally get to delve into that storyline in “The Crimes of Grindelwald”.
However, Potterheads should note that there is a difference between an Animagus (a wizard who can turn into an animal at will, like Sirius Black transforming into Padfoot) and Maledictus. Rowling herself took to Twitter to shed some light into Potterverse terms.
Exclusive: Watch @FantasticBeasts actress Claudia Kim reveal her character's name publicly for the first time: https://t.co/xPOlHDkxpR 🐍 #FantasticBeasts pic.twitter.com/SDMNsDKkKu
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) September 25, 2018
Not at all. The slow transformation into a beast is beyond their control, but they aren't destined to be evil.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 25, 2018
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. https://t.co/wYfvPeQFRW
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 25, 2018
“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,” Kim told Entertainment Weekly.
The star added, “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.”
Does this make her a wizard, you asked? “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,” Kim shared. We don’t know yet how her friendship with Credence Barebone will factor into the huge war against Gellert Grindelwald. But you can bet the fan theories are flooding in.
Enjoy the newly-released final trailer below:
While we patiently wait for November to arrive, feel free to check out 9 brand new character posters from “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and some interesting new details.
