The Fantastic Beasts franchises are based on the characters created by J. K. Rowling. They serve as prequels and spin-offs to the Harry Potter films.
No official confirmation of a fourth movie being in production exists.
The first film in the franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, premiered on November 18, 2016. It was followed by Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, released on November 16, 2018, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, released on April 15, 2022.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the third film in the franchise, left fans with many questions, leading to speculation that a fourth film might be in the works.
Here is what we know so far about the film franchise:
Rowling’s initial plan for the Fantastic Beasts
J. K. Rowling, a co-screenplay writer and producer of the Fantastic Beasts films, said in 2016 that the franchise would have five films. She later added that the timeline of these prequels would be set between 1926 and 1945.
Following her controversial remarks on transgender people, the films have actively been boycotted by fans. Speculations have been that the series could be shortened if audience interest continues to decline.
Cast and Crew Status
Some cast members have been involved in controversies affecting their roles within the Fantastic Beasts franchise. The most recent controversy involved Ezra Miller, who portrays Credence Barebone.
Ezra Miller appeared to have choked a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland, in a video that circulated online on April 6th, 2020. He had also been arrested over allegations of being drunk and disordered while in Hawaii.
Miller has been the subject of multiple damning investigative reports regarding their escalating, erratic, and concerning behavior. Given their reputation, there’s a probability he will not be coming back.
Johnny Depp was removed from the Fantastic Beasts franchise by Warner Bros after he lost his libel case against the UK tabloid, The Sun. The tabloid had referred to him as a “wife-beater” amid his divorce from Amber Heard. He was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen.
It’s unlikely that Mr. Depp will return to the franchise. If the films return, the future of some cast members may depend on scheduling and contract negotiations.
Box Office Performance of the third Fantastic Beasts film
The third film in the franchise garnered a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and $407.2 million at the global box office against its $200 million budget.
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
This was the lowest box office performance of the three films in the franchise. Given the dismal performance, it was reported that Warner Bros, by November 2022, was not looking to produce more Fantastic Beasts films anytime soon.
Warner Bros. vow of silence
Warner Bros. has been relatively quiet about the future of the Fantastic Beasts series since the third film’s release.
David Yates, who directed all three previous films, referred to the franchise as “parked” during an interview with the Inside Total Film podcast in October 2023.
Apart from those remarks, no announcements have been made about a fourth instalment of the franchise.
Reports suggest the studio is reevaluating the franchise due to its mixed reception and financial performance.
To sum it up, the franchise’s future hangs in limbo, and fans remain speculative about the release of the 4th film.
Warner Bros. is assessing the series’ future, so fans must stay tuned for further updates.