Just a few weeks ago, ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’, the third installment of ‘Fantastic Beasts’, the ‘Harry Potter’ spin-off saga that was the opportunity to bring the ‘Wizarding World’ back to the big screen, hit the billboard. by JK Rowling. What at the time it was announced as a franchise of five films today its continuity is in danger.
various controversies
Despite its promising start with ‘Fantastic Animals and where to find them’ back in 2016, both in terms of criticism and collection, there have been many adversities that have hit the franchise since then. In the first place, the controversy raised by JK Rowling’s transphobic accusationsnot only author of the book saga but also screenwriter of the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ movies and executive producer.
To this we must add the bad reviews received by the second part, ‘Fantastic Animals: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ and that the collection of ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’ is falling short of its predecessors.
Also the complaints from the fans regarding the inconsistencies with respect to the original saga, as well as the commented initial will not to openly show Dumbledore’s homosexuality.
As if that weren’t enough, the cast has also sparked controversy, with the cases of Ezra Miller, recently arrested on multiple occasions for assault, harassment and disorderly conduct, and that of Johnny Depp, which resulted in the departure of the actor from the saga and his replacement by Mads Mikkelsen. Other film sagas have been canceled before for less.
Return to Hogwarts
With so many factors against it, it is not surprising that doubts arise about whether the predictions of turning the saga into a pentalogy will really be fulfilled or if it is time to close this chapter of the ‘Magical World’. At the moment, this third part is receiving mixed reviews, with a consensus that it improves in relation to its predecessor (which was not very difficult either, it must be said).
Now that the plot of Grindelwald seems to be over, what remains to be told that makes it worth continuing to stretch the gum? As this third concluded, the next logical episode would be Newt’s stay as a teacher at Hogwarts. It may be the perfect opportunity to return to the spirit of the first film, more adventurous and carefree, which worked so well and can give a lot of play surrounded by new students from the magical school.
Since the story loses steam when it approaches more grandiose plots, why not lower the pretensions, embrace the adventure genre and become the fast-paced entertainment movie that it could be? Precisely, what has worked best in the three films are their moments of humor, such as the scene with the crab creatures or Kowalski’s own character, and the naive idealism that characterizes Newt’s love for magical creatures. A fourth installment that recovers and enhances all this would be something worth seeing.
And what about Grindelwald?
Another reasonable doubt that arises about the future of the saga is whether Grindelwald has a place in it. Taking into account what it has cost to carry out the character and the commitment to an actor as powerful and charismatic as Mads Mikkelsen, it would be strange not to have him at least for the next film.
Without a doubt, the character must continue to be present in the saga, but now that we know his past and why he is the way he is, it’s a good time for me to take a step back and return the protagonism to the rest of the characters. We don’t need to know anything more about him but every story needs a villain and, if you remember, in many films of the original saga, not everything revolved around the villain, but rather he played the role of ‘final boss’ in the outcome.
In relation to this, the main and most important reason why this franchise should continue with at least one more installment is precisely that final climax. If something has left a bittersweet taste in these last two parts have been the final battles. In both, a certain restraint was noticeable, as if they did not want to take out all the artillery and reserve it for the grand finale that would close the saga.
Despite the continuous stumbling of ‘Fantastic Beasts’, it is still a saga with a lot to offer and whose next film could give more play by returning to its origins and recovering that more playful tone, parking the already exhausted Grindelwald plot a bit and giving the followers of the saga the tremendous outcome that has been delayed so long.