Let’s be real for a second. When the Fantastic Beasts franchise started veering into "confusing subplot" territory, most of us were just holding on for dear life. Then, Jessica Williams walked onto the screen—or rather, popped up in a book—and things finally felt fun again. She plays Professor Eulalie "Lally" Hicks, and if you're like me, you probably spent half of The Secrets of Dumbledore wondering why she wasn't the lead the whole time.
Lally Hicks isn't just another teacher. She's a Charms professor at Ilvermorny, the American version of Hogwarts, and she is basically the intellectual engine of Dumbledore's ragtag team. But there's a lot of noise online about her role, how she got it, and what happens next. People get the timeline wrong. They get the backstory mixed up. Honestly, the real story of how Jessica Williams became a wizard is almost as cool as the magic she does on screen.
The Cameo That Everyone Missed
You’ve probably seen the memes about how some characters in this franchise just vanish. Well, Jessica Williams almost went the opposite way. She actually made her debut in The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), but if you blinked, you missed her. She appeared as a moving portrait in a magical book owned by Nicolas Flamel. It was a tiny, tiny "hint," as J.K. Rowling put it on Twitter at the time.
Most fans didn't realize that this wasn't just a random bit of world-building. Rowling and Williams actually revealed the character's name over a casual dinner and tea while attending the Broadway premiere of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. It was a total "fan girl" moment for Williams, who has been a massive Potterhead since she was in the fourth grade. She literally shares a birthday with Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling (July 31st). Talk about destiny.
Why Professor Lally Hicks Changed the Game
When The Secrets of Dumbledore finally hit theaters in 2022, Williams didn't just have a larger role—she stole the movie. Lally is sharp. She’s confident. She has this Mid-Atlantic accent that feels like it’s pulled straight out of a 1930s screwball comedy.
The Secret Inspiration Behind Her Magic
Jessica Williams didn't just wing it. She put a ton of thought into how a Black woman in the 1930s would carry herself, especially one with immense power. She worked with a dialogue coach for months to nail that specific, "highly educated" tone of the era.
- The Williams Sisters: Jessica actually modeled her wand movements after Serena and Venus Williams. She wanted the magic to look athletic, purposeful, and powerful.
- Hazel Scott: Her vocal performance took cues from Hazel Scott, the legendary African-American pianist and actress who was a powerhouse in the mid-20th century.
- The Backstory: According to Williams, Lally was born in Harlem to a No-Maj (non-magical) family. She was a total bookworm who discovered Dumbledore’s work in the Ilvermorny library and started a pen-pal relationship with him long before the movies took place.
It's that "precocious student turned peer" energy that makes her dynamic with Jude Law’s Dumbledore so good. She’s one of the few people he actually trusts to execute a plan without explaining every single step.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Future
Here is where things get kind of messy. If you search for "Jessica Williams Fantastic Beasts 4," you'll find a lot of conflicting reports. Some sites claim she's signed on for two more movies. Others say the franchise is dead.
The truth? It’s complicated.
The original plan was always five movies. Jessica Williams herself mentioned in interviews during the Secrets of Dumbledore press tour that Lally was supposed to be a "formidable" part of movies 3, 4, and 5. But as of 2026, Warner Bros. hasn't officially given the green light to the fourth installment. The third film did okay, but not "Harry Potter levels" of great.
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Director David Yates has mentioned that the franchise is "taking a pause." While the lore is all there—and Lally Hicks is clearly positioned to be a major player in the global wizarding war—we are currently in a "wait and see" period. It’s a bummer, because Lally is easily the most refreshing character they’ve added to the Wizarding World in a decade.
The "Bridge" Character
Lally serves a specific purpose that most viewers overlook. She is the bridge between the American wizarding culture we saw in the first movie and the European conflict that dominates the sequels. By making her a Charms professor, the writers gave her a "lateral thinking" style of magic. She doesn't just blast things; she uses cause-and-effect. Remember the scene where she thwarts an assassination attempt while basically playing a magical game of chess? That’s pure Lally.
She also represents a shift in how representation works in these movies. She isn't there as a "love interest" for Newt or anyone else. She’s there because she is the best at what she does. She provides the "intellectual steel," as some critics put it, that the team desperately needed.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're a fan of Jessica Williams or the character of Eulalie Hicks, there are a few things you can actually do to keep the momentum going or dive deeper into the lore:
- Read the Screenplay: The published screenplay for The Secrets of Dumbledore actually contains some stage directions and nuances for Lally that didn't quite make the final edit. It gives you a better sense of her "inner monologue."
- Ilvermorny Lore: Check out the original writings on WizardingWorld.com (formerly Pottermore) about Ilvermorny. Understanding the four houses of the American school (Horned Serpent, Wampus, Thunderbird, and Pukwudgie) adds a lot of context to why Lally is so different from a Hogwarts professor.
- Support the Actress: If you loved her vibe in Fantastic Beasts, go watch her in Shrinking on Apple TV+. It shows her range and that same "fast-talking, brilliant" energy that made Lally Hicks a standout.
- Keep the Discussion Alive: Studio executives actually look at social media engagement. If there is ever going to be a Fantastic Beasts 4, it’ll be because fans kept talking about characters like Lally and Newt.
Jessica Williams took a character that could have been a footnote and turned her into an icon. Whether or not we ever see her pick up that wand again, she’s already made her mark on the Wizarding World.
To get a true feel for her performance, re-watch the dinner party scene in The Secrets of Dumbledore. Pay attention to her timing—it’s a masterclass in how to play a character who is three steps ahead of everyone else in the room.
Next Steps: You can explore the official character files on the Wizarding World website for more on Lally's specific wand wood and core, or look into Jessica Williams' interviews with Collider where she breaks down her "wand school" training in even more detail.