‘Harry Potter’: Will there be ‘Fantastic Animals 4’ or is the saga dead?

What is happening with ‘Fantastic Animals’? Will we soon see a fourth film in the prequel to the ‘Harry Potter’ Universe? Is the series dead? Numerous questions around one of the essential franchises in the history of cinema and multiple possible scenarios on the horizon (not all with a happy ending…).

‘Harry Potter’ has positioned itself as one of the highest-grossing sagas in history, some of its films are among the best fantasy films in the history of cinema, and its magical universe, designed by British author JK Rowling, has served of inspiration for an entire generation, which has seen young magicians grow up simultaneously with theirs.

However, different controversies have arisen around the latest films and several members of this enchanted world and, some of them, have come to question its durability and the future of it.. After more than two decades of film production and literary publication, in 2022 the franchise could come to an end. But is this true? Is it one more speculation that is around the internet, but that has no foundation? To understand where the saga is, let’s briefly recap until its beginnings. That, of course, if you have already discovered which Hogwarts house from ‘Harry Potter’ you are from. Priorities.

When and how did ‘Fantastic Animals’ come about?

Following the release of the eighth and final film, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Part II’, – which adapted to the cinematographic format a part of the seventh novel of the saga -, It looked like the magical universe might have come to an end, in 2011. Potter’s story spanned 19 years after his victory against Lord Voldemort and the adventures of the mature Potter seemed to have more to do with offices and ministries than the trolls, dementors and dark wizards we were used to. Did the story end there? Nothing of that.

Not only for the publication in 2016 of a play, ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, which managed to lengthen the saga briefly, but that same year, The first prequel film of the magical universe was released in theaters: ‘Fantastic Animals and where to find them’.

As a result of this, a total of 5 films were intended to be released, which would follow the adventures of our new protagonist Newt Scamander, set decades before the birth of the “boy who survived”.

The first sequel in the franchise quickly became a hit, grossing $812.5 million at the worldwide box office. The potterheads They had been devoid of new audiovisual content from Rowling’s universe for 5 years and they needed it like rain in May.

After this film, two more would come, ‘The crimes of Grindelwald’ (2018) and ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’ (2022), which would (clearly) raise less than its predecessor, adding 654.9 million and 405.2 million, respectively. Is this the only indication that allows us to question the future of the franchise? Absolutely. In addition to this clear drop in attendance by the public at the theaters, various conflicts arose around the saga that sullied the name of the franchise. (But we’ll see that later.)

‘Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets’ and the resounding premiere

No one could have imagined years ago uniting in the same sentence “loud” and “Dumbledore”. (Or well, almost no one). However, in 2022 everything seems possible with this franchise.

The third of the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films focused on the past of the mythical director of Hogwarts and good friend of the young Potter, Albus Dumbledore, one of the key characters in the original ‘Harry Potter’ saga. And, thanks to the good esteem that the audience has always professed to him, an intense reception on the part of the spectators could have been expected. However, ‘Dumbledore’s Secrets’ was the lowest-grossing premiere in franchise history. (Yes, we’re still talking about $400 million, and that’s not bad, but when compared to the $1.3 billion raised by one of its predecessors… It falls short.)

The critics completely rejected this last film in the saga. Some empty scripts and a forced plot were blamed on him. A vague content that did not do justice to the path from which it came. This led to the question: Is it necessary to continue prolonging this feeling of forced narration? Does the saga really need to be continued? Here arises the diversity of opinions. From the most righteous fans who defend tooth and nail the extension of the franchise, to the most skeptical who believe that this has been dead for several years…

What controversies are there around ‘Fantastic Animals’?

Where to begin… The years have not been particularly kind to some of the most iconic figures in the wizarding industry.

First of all, the Internet was fired against JK Rowling after repeated comments of a transphobic nature that he posted on Twitter and on his website. With this, the usual image of integration that the ‘Harry Potter’ saga defended was compromised by the author herself. Several of the main cast members, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson or Eddie Redmayne, spoke out against the writer and denounced the intolerability of his comments. While others like Ralph Fiennes defended Rowling.

To continue, Johnny Deppwho gave life to the villain Gellert Grindelwald, was brought to trial by his ex-wife Amber Heard and his image was also compromised by the accusations of gender violence that fell on him. The actor was expelled from the cast after ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald’ and was replaced (in the third) by Mads Mikkelsen. Now, after the resolution of the trial and the apparent “turn to the tables” of the actor, the possibility of his return is raised (if the saga continues…).

To all this were added the numerous scandals that have surrounded ezra miller, performer in the prequels, giving life to Credence/Aurelius Dumbledore. His various quarrels with the law and the accusations that fall on his person, – among which are included: robberies, harassment, grooming to minors, mistreatment, possession of weapons and a long etc… (which would occupy more than one article like this)–, compromised its image and, consequently, that of the franchise.

What remains to be told in ‘Fantastic Animals’?

In the next 2 potential films, the events that continue until the explosion of the War against Grindelwald would be narrated., in which former lovers face life and death, in 1945. The great duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald is undoubtedly a historic event. However, it does not seem like excessively extensive content to fill two entire films. Yes, the uprising of the “pure bloods” coincides with the Second World War and the Nazi regime; yes, the historical similarities are there and could be very playful but, still, What other possibilities would there be? What do we need to know about the most relevant facts of this magical community?

if you were thinking about the origin and development of Voldemort, maybe you are not wrong. This is one of the theories that could be considered as possible, if we look at the great gaps that the story presents within the film adaptation. The Dark Lord was born on December 31, 1926, shortly before the events that occurred in ‘Fantastic Animals 1’. When the great battle between the two wizards takes place, he is already 18 years old and has spent his teenage years at Hogwarts. Where is he when all this happens? Will he take a passion for the “pure blood” from his predecessor Grindelwald?

Those who have read the original JK Rowling novels will have seen that the films suppressed the past history of Tom Riddle’s family, reducing it to a mere outline. We also hardly know anything about the First Wizarding War and the horrors it produced, around the wizarding and Muggle world, after the rise of the Dark Lord… What about the relationship between Voldemort and Nagini? (This second character has already been introduced in ‘Fantastic Animals’, it would just have to be developed…). Perhaps, if the years pass within the fiction, we could get to see all these lost elements, once and for all, on the big screen.

The future of the franchise is truly uncertain. Confirmation that there is a written script has not been published, nor the green light for the production of another tape. There are numerous possible futures and one of them is that, fortunately or unfortunately, we will never see JK Rowling’s universe on the big screen again (with a new release). Time will tell.

All the movies in the ‘Harry Potter’ saga are available on HBO Max.