At one point in time, the magical world of Harry Potter was a second home to many. Whether it was for the novels or the movies, fans everywhere saw themselves in the colors of their favorite houses and casting spells with their homemade wands. It’s been a long time since the adventures of Harry and his friends came to an end, though. And the magic hasn’t been the same.
When Warner Bros. announced the production of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, fans were elated at the prospect of returning to the beloved wizarding world. It would be a new adventure for a new generation of Potter fans. It was a success, too — the first film at least. The subsequent two, The Crimes of Grindelwald and this year’s The Secrets of Dumbledore would not meet the standards that fans expect. Mired by controversy and poor storytelling, the magic has diminished. Indeed, The Secrets of Dumbledore failed to impress fans and critics and was a disappointment at the box office. In total, five Fantastic Beasts movies were confirmed to be planned back in 2016. In 2021, director David Yates confirmed interest in returning to direct the remaining two films. However, now, the future is in question: should Fantastic Beasts 4 still happen?
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Storylines Concluded in The Secrets of Dumbledore
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Fantastic Beasts 4 could continue if Warner Bros. decides there’s still life within the wizarding world, but if they wanted to discontinue their efforts, now may be the best time. While not every character from the series saw their arcs concluded, three of the main story threads were. The muggle Jacob reunited with Queenie, who had joined the side of Gellert Grindelwald in The Crimes of Grindelwald, and the two married with most of the characters in attendance. Credence, the troubled Obscurial drawn into Grindelwald’s cause, was revealed not to be Dumbledore’s brother but his nephew and renounced his allegiance to the dark wizard before reuniting with his birth father Aberforth.
Then, there’s the story of Albus and Grindelwald, the relationship that became the focal point of the Fantastic Beasts series. Having broken the blood pact that prevented them from fighting, they immediately dueled to a stalemate. Grindelwald escaped, and the confrontation set up their final duel in 1945. It’s known from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 that Dumbledore will win, but the fight will complicate the already complicated history of Dumbledore further. Perhaps it would be best to end the story with their fight from The Secrets of Dumbledore as their conclusion. At the very least, it would leave a little mystery surrounding Dumbledore’s character.
A Decline in Revenue
Looking from outside the story, things haven’t been looking good for some time. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was a commercial success, earning $800 million worldwide, but The Crimes of Grindelwald drew in 20% less than its predecessor with $650 million. The disappointing turnout put the franchise on thin ice with Warner Bros., meaning The Secrets of Dumbledore would have needed to do better if there was any hope for the final two films in the franchise. Unfortunately, the film was snake bitten from the start. The COVID-19 pandemic upended the theatrical business, putting a roadblock in the way of its drawing power. Then, there’s the slew of scandals from those involved: Johnny Depp, Ezra Miller, and J.K. Rowling became absorbed in controversy, further turning fans away from the picture.
Internationally, the studio had to remove dialogue regarding the queer nature of Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s relationship. If not for this, it would have been banned in countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates due to their strict censorship mandates on sexuality, swearing, and other aspects that conflict with their cultural values. Furthermore, the film was not released in Russia due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. About 75% of the global revenue for Fantastic Beasts came from overseas. In a time of such immense unrest, The Secrets of Dumbledore never stood a chance.
Lack of Fan Support
Another notable flaw in this series is crucial: fans are just not getting behind it. Expectations were high going into Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as many long-time Harry Potter fans wanted to recapture the magic they had grown up with, but by the time the sequel rolled around, the issues were glaring. Messy plotting, too many characters, and a lack of connection to Rowling’s source material were among some complaints lodged by fans. These issues forced Yates, screenwriter Steve Kloves, and Rowling to rework the Secrets of Dumbledore script to better capture the magic of the Harry Potter world. This retooling would make for a better film, but it was still poorly received.
The scandals surrounding the film also drove fans away. While many agree that Mads Mickelson made for a better Grindelwald, fans were furious when Depp was forced to step down due to his allegations of domestic abuse. The controversy surrounding Miller didn’t do the film any favors either, as his character has been one of the focal points of the series’ main storylines. But surprisingly, Rowling herself may have hurt the film the most. Her transphobic comments drove a serious wedge between fans and caused many to swear off the Wizarding World for good.
Chances of a Rebound?
Despite everything, Fantastic Beasts 4 could fair better. Depp recently won his defamation trial against Amber Heard and has seen his following grow. Bringing him back could buy back some goodwill from fans who gave up on the series following his departure. Miller’s part in the series doesn’t need to continue as Credence found a suitable ending for his story. The controversy surrounding Rowling may be harder to fix, though. Fans may come back in time, but it may be a while.
Warner Bros. has yet to make a decision, but the chances seem unlikely. The third film needed to make more money after The Crimes of Grindelwald had landed the series on thin ice, and it failed to do so. The studio may instead choose to make a separate spin-off within the same universe. Chris Columbus, director of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, has expressed interest in adapting The Cursed Child, which takes place after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and follows the children of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. There are also rumors that a new spin-off series is already in the works at HBO Max, although both they and Warner Bros. have denied the claim. Even if the rumors are false, box office disappointment may have killed the remainder of Fantastic Beasts. It may be time to try something new to revive the magic from the world of Harry Potter.
