Warner Bros Downplays Priority of Fantastic Beasts Franchise
The Fantastic Beasts franchise's future is uncertain as Warner Bros puts it on hold, signaling that it is no longer a priority for the studio
It has been some time since the release of the Fantastic Beasts series on our screens, and Warner Bros. has announced that it will be quite some time before we get to see more of it.
J.K. Rowling, the original creator, has mainly been focusing on the Harry Potter realm, with the release of the highly anticipated Hogwarts Legacy video game, which has garnered a significant fan following. Additionally, there have been announcements regarding a forthcoming TV series.
The Fantastic Beasts franchise serves as a precursor to the events in the Harry Potter timeline, specifically the current trilogy of movies starting from 1937. The synopsis of the first film is as follows: "In New York, magizoologist Newt Scamander's magically expanded suitcase releases numerous magical beasts that escape. Newt must locate these creatures before they wreak havoc."
Although the initial reception from fans was positive, subsequent films in the prequel series faced difficulties, resulting in an expected decision made by Warner Bros., the parent studio.
Fantastic Beasts franchise on hold and not a priority
According to long-term director David Yates, Fantastic Beasts films are currently not a priority to Warner Bros., with any future films in the pipeline now on hold.
During an episode of the Inside Total Film podcast, Yates discussed the current status of the upcoming film. He mentioned that the project was temporarily put on hold after the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore in 2020. The team behind the movie felt a sense of pride and satisfaction with the final product, and therefore decided to take a break and reflect on their accomplishment.
During the interview, Bates mentions that the studio initially intended for there to be three movies, but later J.K. Rowling suggested a total of five.
Yates explains, "The revelation that there would be five films caught most of us off guard. Jo casually mentioned it during a press screening for FB1. We were all fully committed to FB1, and then Jo unexpectedly announces, 'Oh, by the way, there are five of them.'"
No one had informed us that there would be five films, causing surprise among all of us. Although the initial film performed well in terms of box office success, the last two films failed to replicate its success. This could be one of the factors leading to the decision of putting Fantastic Beasts on hold.
In addition to this, the ongoing controversies surrounding J.K. Rowling are likely to have had an impact, with some critics pointing out that the franchise has deviated from its original path.
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