'Fantastic Beasts 2' movie plot news: 'Sorcerer's Stone' connection teased

A new image for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2" has been released and it teases the arrival of the "Harry Potter" universe's famed Nicolas Flamel.

Social media accounts of the "Fantastic Beasts" film franchise posted an image of an ornate item — possibly a journal, book or a chest — with an unlocked padlock that contains the initials NF. Looks mysterious? Not for millions of Potterheads around the world.

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The two letters obviously stand for Nicolas Flamel, a wizard who gained popularity in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." He was the only known maker of the magical stone that could turn any metal into gold and produce the Elixir of Life. Anyone who drinks this will become immortal, and so it was highly-coveted by Lord Voldemort in the franchise's first installment.

But the main villain in "Fantastic Beasts" is Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). Could this mean he is after the immortality stone too?

It was recently announced that Flamel will be played by Mexican actor Brontis Jodorowsky. He is among several characters who will be added to film sequel — including Jude Law, who will play a much younger Albus Dumbledore, and "Iron Fist" actor David Sakurai as Grindelwald's henchman Krall.

"Fantastic Beasts 2" will take off from Grindelwald's dramatic escape from the first installment. From the streets of New York, the setting will move to Paris, France, where the villainous wizard has garnered a group of followers. The only one who can stop him from elevating full-blood wizards from half-bloods and humans is his former best friend and now rival, Dumbledore.

Apart from the new characters, "Fantastic Beasts 2," which has yet to get an official title, will bring back fan-favorites Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander), Katherine Waterston (Tina Goldstein), Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein) and Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski). It will be helmed by veteran "Harry Potter" director David Yates and penned by J.K. Rowling.

"Fantastic Beasts 2" will premiere on Nov. 16, 2018.

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