Jude Law: Excitement and fear about playing Dumbledore

Jude Law is approaching his new role as Albus Dumbledore in the sequel to Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with a mixture of "excitement" and "fear".

"I think all good jobs have an element of fear because you want to do well and please people and please yourself," the actor told the BBC.

Law - who has twice been nominated for an Oscar - follows in the footsteps of Richard Harris and Sir Michael Gambon, who shared the role of Harry's headmaster in the Potter films.

But Law, who is currently starring in Ivo van Hove's Obsession at the Barbican Centre, said he had not had time to think about the role due to his theatre commitments.

There has been some speculation over the direction of the movie - and whether his character will be openly gay.

"My first port of call is to speak to JK Rowling and find out who he is and who she wants him to be, to learn a little bit more about her vision of this great man as a young man," he said.