Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released worldwide in 2016, followed by The Crimes of Grindelwald in 2018, and The Secrets of Dumbledore in 2022. The series has been commercially successful, having collectively grossed $1.8 billion across three films so far. While the first film received positive reviews, the last two films have received mixed reviews, with many critics deeming the series to be inferior to the Harry Potter films.
On 12 September 2013, two years following the conclusion of the Harry Potter film series with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Warner Bros. announced a new attempt as expanding the fictional universe of Harry Potter into a "Wizarding World", with J. K. Rowling developing a script for a prequel film, titled after a "textbook" Rowling had written in 2001 to be sold to raise money for the British charity Comic Relief, based on the in-universe textbook of the same name from her Harry Potter novel series. Set seventy years before the adventures of Harry Potter and following the adventures of its fictional author Newt Scamander, the film would mark both Rowling's screenwriting debut and the first intended instalment in a new series, tentatively entitled Fantastic Beasts.[10] According to Rowling, after Warner Bros. suggested an adaptation of either Fantastic Beasts or Quidditch Through the Ages, she wrote a rough draft of the script in twelve days. She said, "It wasn't a great draft but it did show the shape of how it might look. So that is how it all started."[11] In March 2014, it was announced that a trilogy was scheduled with the first instalment set in New York,[12] and seeing the return of producer David Heyman, as well as writer Steve Kloves, both veterans of the Potter film series.[13][14]
The second film was announced in March 2014.[12] In October 2016, it was revealed that Yates and Rowling would return as director, and screenwriter and co-producer, and Redmayne would be returning to play the lead role of Newt Scamander in all the series' films.[24] In November 2016, it was confirmed that Johnny Depp will have a starring role in the sequel, reprising his cameo role as Gellert Grindelwald from the first instalment, replacing Farrell.[25] Later that same month it was also announced that Albus Dumbledore would be appearing in future instalments, albeit with a younger actor for the prequel film series, intended to eventually supplant Redmayne's Scamander as protagonist of the series.[26] In April 2017, it was confirmed that Jude Law had been cast as Dumbledore[27] with the film being short and set in New York City, Britain, and Paris.[28] Principal photography began on 3 July 2017, at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden,[29] and wrapped on 20 December 2017,[30] with Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald releasing on 16 November 2018.[31]
Originally scheduled to begin filming in July 2019, and released in November 2020, production of the third film was pushed back to late 2019 to allow more time polishing the script and re-plan the future of the Fantastic Beasts series.[32] In 2018 on Twitter, Rowling promised that the third film would give answers to the questions left unsolved in the first two. In October 2019, Dan Fogler claimed that principal photography on the third film would begin in February 2020.[33] In November 2019, it was announced that the script had been written by both Rowling and Steve Kloves, the latter of whom returned after being absent as a writer on the first two. On 16 March 2020, the very day that principal photography would begin, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Warner Bros to postpone production of its third Fantastic Beasts film.[34] This made the film be postponed again, from a 12 November 2021[35] to a 15 July 2022 release.[36] On 20 August 2020, filming was confirmed to start in September.[37] On 20 September 2020, Eddie Redmayne confirmed that filming was two weeks underway with safety precautions in place to keep the cast and crew safe from COVID-19.[38] On 6 November 2020, Johnny Depp informed that Warner Bros asked him to step down as Grindelwald and he accepted to do it.[39] Later, on 25 November 2020, Warner Bros. announced that Mads Mikkelsen would replace Depp in the role of Grindelwald.[40] On 3 February 2021, filming in the UK was shut down after a production member tested positive for COVID-19.[41][42][43] Composer James Newton Howard confirmed later that month that production had wrapped filming.[44] In September 2021, the film's release was pushed forward three months to 15 April 2022, alongside the announcement of the full title: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.[45] It premiered one week early in a few European and Asian countries.[46][47]
In 1926, Newt Scamander arrives in New York City with his magically expanded briefcase which houses a number of dangerous creatures and their habitats. When some creatures escape from his briefcase, Newt must battle to correct the mistake, and the horrors of the resultant increase in violence, fear, and tension felt between magical and non-magical people (No-Maj).[48]
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
A few months have passed since the events of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Gellert Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and has begun gathering followers to his cause – elevating wizards above all non-magical beings. Dumbledore must seek help from his former student Newt to put a stop to Grindelwald.[29]
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Several years after the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, the story begins in the UK, the US and China, and proceeds to take place partly in Berlin, Germany and partly in Bhutan, Asia, and leads up to the Wizarding World's involvement in World War II, as Newt Scamander and company returning for another adventurous journey through the wizarding world, attempting to defeat the maniacal Gellert Grindelwald despite Albus Dumbledore being unable to fight against him.[49][50]
Future
In October 2016, Rowling announced that the Fantastic Beasts film series would be composed of five films,[24] later confirming that the story of the series would consist of a sequence of events that occurred between the years of 1926 and 1945.[51] In February 2022, producer David Heyman revealed that work on the script for Fantastic Beasts 4 had not yet begun.[52] In April 2022, Variety reported that Warner Bros greenlighting the final two instalments would be dependent on the critical and commercial performance of The Secrets of Dumbledore.[53][54][55][56] Mads Mikkelkson believed that Johnny Depp could return as Grindelwald in another film.[57][58]
In November 2022, Variety reported that Warner Bros. Discovery had no Wizarding World films in active development and was not in "active discussions" with Rowling regarding the future of the franchise, leaving the future of the Fantastic Beasts series in limbo.[59][60][61][62] In October 2023, director David Yates made comments that the franchise had been "parked" following the third film. He also disclosed that the idea of it being a five-film franchise had been a "surprise" after many had only initially committed to doing a single film.[63]
In October 2023, Director David Yates spoke to Inside Total Film podcast about the future of the Fantastic Beasts films: "Speaking about the future of the franchise, Yates said: "I'm sure at some point, we'll be back. But yeah, I haven't spoken to Jo, I haven't spoken to [producer] David Heyman, I haven't spoken to Warner Bros; we're just taking a pause. It's quite nice."[64][65]
Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History is a documentary film that was broadcast on BBC One on 27 February 2022. Presented by Stephen Fry, the documentary tells magical stories about mythical creatures and beasts from J. K. Rowling's works, and their connection to real-life animals.[70]
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – The Original Screenplay
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – The Original Screenplay is an official book containing the original screenplay written by J. K. Rowling for the film of the same name.
On 1 September 2016, Pottermore released the final covers for the UK and US editions of the screenplay. The cover artwork and interior illustrations were designed by Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, the founders of MinaLima.[73]
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay was released on 16 November 2018, the same day the film premiered in the UK and US. It was released in both book form and digital form. The events of the screenplay followed the screenplay of the second film. It was written by J. K. Rowling. The cover was designed by MinaLima Design. The book does not contain Rowling's original version, but has been edited to align with the final theatrical cut of the film. As such it does not include any deleted or extended scenes and has been updated to incorporate ad-libbed or modified dialogue.[74]
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – The Complete Screenplay
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – The Complete Screenplay is the screenplay for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. It was released on 19 July 2022. The book was designed by Paul Kepple and Alex Bruce at Headcase Design. The events of the screenplay follows the screenplay of the third film. It was written by J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves.[75]
Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature was open from 9–15 December 2020 and from 17 May 2021 to 3 January 2022 at the Natural History Museum. It consisted of creatures, specimens and artefacts from the museum's scientific collection displayed side by side with elements from the Wizarding World as well as digital installations. This exhibit featured 100 objects, including props from the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter films.[102] There is a similar exhibition set to open at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada on 11 June 2022 through 2 January 2023.[103]
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