The Fantastic Beast films, with the first entry releasing in 2016, were an attempt by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to revive the Harry Potter franchise after the last entry Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, released in 2011. While audiences went into it expecting a singular sin-off exploring the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, it surprised audiences by introducing Grindelwald, an evil wizard before the time of Harry Potter.
It turns out that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was the first film in a five-part prequel series, showing the build-up and famous duel between Albus Dumbledore and his former love Grindelwald hinted at in the Harry Potter novels, with subsequent installments planned. But, as the third film has now come and gone out of cinemas, the status of the Fantastic Beasts franchise is in a bad way, with multiple factors contributing to this.
What is the status of Fantastic Beasts 4?
Unfortunately for fans of the first Fantastic Beasts films, there will not be a fourth entry into this franchise. David Zaslav, the President and CEO of WBD, the studio that owns the movie, confirmed in November 2022 that there were no Harry Potter or Fantastic Beasts movies in development.
The Harry Potter franchise as a whole is in a less-than-ideal position. However, WBD hopes that the recent open-world video game Hogwarts Legacy will be critical and audience success. They will likely want to capitalize on this success with a film or TV entry if it is.
Is Fantastic Beasts 4 confirmed?
There are no plans to make a Fantastic Beasts 4, and it looks like this franchise is over. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore did at least end in a rather neat fashion, with everyone involved somewhat aware that the film might be their last.
This intuition proved to be correct, as there is no Fantastic Beasts 4 or Fantastic Beasts 5 in development, with the story of stopping Grindelwald happening off-screen.
Why is Fantastic Beasts canceled?
Looking at the film, it’s clear that there are three main reasons that the franchise was shelved, controversy, poor critical acclaim, and poor performance at the box office. Taking each one in turn, the picture becomes a lot clearer:
- First up is the controversy, and The Secrets of Dumbledore is knee-deep. WBD firing Johnny Depp as Grindelwald caused a lot of contentious feelings in the fanbase, especially as his defamation trial captivated the attention and began mere days after the film opened in cinemas, meaning these feelings never had a chance to dissipate.
- J.K. Rowling has divided fans with her opinions on sex and gender, and several reports and viral videos of troubling behavior from Credence actor Ezra Miller were rising. Fans were boycotting the film for any one of these reasons, and the feelings now doubt would have carried over to any sequels.
- The reviews for the Fantastic Beasts films have also been poor. Looking at Rotten Tomatoes, the first film got a 74% fresh critics rating and a 79% audience rating. The second installment took this off a cliff, with a 36% critics score and a 54% audience score. The Secrets of Dumbledore only barely improved the critic score to 46%, but the audience members that did go and see the film (more on this in a second) gave it a franchise-high rating of 83%. So any other film needed significant quality improvements to bump up its critic’s score.
But this franchise hasn’t just declined in quality; it’s also seen a massive decrease in box office sales. The first film in the franchise brought in a respectable $814 million worldwide, and the second one brought in a still OK $654 million worldwide. Still, once The Secrets of Dumbledore had completed its worldwide box office run, it had only made $400.5, less than half of the first film. What’s more, this is off a budget of around $200 million, which often doesn’t include marketing costs, when it may be all said and done that the film didn’t make a profit.
This box office blow more than certainly ended any hopes for a fourth film, especially with the new Zaslav wanting to maintain fiscal responsibility at WBD. However, there may be a glimmer of hope for a new entry into the Wizarding World at some point, as he has expressed an openness to developing more Harry Potter content.
I absolutely loved The Fantastic Beasts films and was hoping for a 4th and 5th film as well. I am to say the least very disappointed in reading this news! I would love to know what happened to Jacob and Queenie, Credence, Newt and Tina and not to mention the amazing Beasts he looked after. As well as when and how Gridelwald was found, tried and sent to Azkaban for the remainder of his life! Dissapointed on so many levels.
I know many are disappointed about this news, especially after the release of Hogwarts Legacy. The fact that J.K. Rowling has openly stated her views on the LGBT community does have terrible impact, which is really sad. Harry Potter was what kept me going when I was a kid, after living in an abusive home and then being put into the foster system after coming out to my family. Though it is fantasy, reading about Harry Potter’s courage helped me endure. Despite J.K. Rowling’s behavior, she still wrote an incredible series and that cannot be denied. But she did not have anything to do with the game, Hogwarts Legacy. Speaking of which, small and not really important spoiler, there is a same sex married couple in the game, and you meet them both while exploring. I do hope that with the success of this new game, maybe WBD will start developing the last two films and give closure to its fans. And personally, if they do, I hope they bring back Johnny Depp as Grindlewald. No offense to the last actor, but Johnny Depp captured the nature of Grindlewald much better.
Very let down and on so many levels No ! Secrets of Dumbledore 100% did not give us answers that where promised with the full lead up of films . I don’t feel it should be taken on Box office figures as there was lots of ways to watch the last film after the time in cinema as lots of public where still worried after covid and enclosed space ! . Also I feel the pointers of certain stars being changed for various reasons , should not be a excuse to let down the true fans awaiting unanswered questions . Nagini choices ? Voldermont being born , Harry’s parents and the original order . Totally feel let down and there should be a petition to see the thoughts of real fans .
Why ban a series because someone’s opinions don’t match yours? What a pathetic time we live in when we can’t have diff opinions or views without upsetting somebody. I loved the Fantastic Beasts series, as i did Harry Potter. I disagreed with the firing of Depp… but I still went to the theater. Maybe these movie companies etc should go with Innocent until proven Guilty, and if it isn’t affecting their performance, DON’T JUST FIRE PEOPLE and end a career or series because it a few people whined. To each their own, that’s what makes us different.
I am so disappointed to hear that there will be no more Fantastic Beasts movies. I enjoyed all 3 of the ones produced so far.
I feel let down sort of left hanging with no completion of the story. I sincerely wish you would reconsider for all of us HP diehard fans.
Fantastic Beasts helped us gain understanding of pre-Harry Potter events.
I can’t believe that they won’t make at least a 4th installment of this movie. We need to see the duel. Stopping this franchise because the author made some controversial statements is not a good business reason for doing so. I disagreed with Depp’s firing and wish he could come back to the role. While he wasn’t actually vindicated after the trials, he wasn’t found to the evil bastard many believe him to be. Either way, his personal life shouldn’t have prevented him from performing. This franchise needs to be completed and I urge them to do so.
I agree with everyone here, Warner Brothers needs to bring back the Fantastic Beasts Franchise and at least do one more movie to wrap everything up. I very much enjoyed the Fantastic Beasts movies (minus The Crimes of Grindelwald) as much as Harry Potter. As a Potterhead trying to navigate my love for the franchise as an adult I really like that the Fantastic Beasts films move away from Hogwarts and places it’s focus mainly on adult wizards trying to navigate life in both the wizarding and muggle worlds, while dealing with dark forces and controversial issues at the same time being in the same universe as Harry Potter.
hey you must keep going the fantastic beasts it was perfect and the third movie that everyone say that it was very bad they wrong. it was thew movie to put as in the next stage of the story and that stage it will be for sure better from the first. with many battles and if i remember correct maybe the voldemort as tom riddle and his life. maybe the time in hogwarts or his time to find and make the horcruxs and not only that. we need those days and those stories and fantastic beasts have the opportunity to give us all the back story. if you don;t want to make 2 movies make 1 more to close it….
and maybe some will say that I was wrong But I believe the worst thing that has the third movie was to stOP JOHNY DEPP TO BE GRINDELWALD DO YOU THING THAT MAYBE ONE PROBLEM THAT THE FANS DIDN;T WANT TO SEE THE MOVIE WAS THAT? OR MAYBE THIS IS THE REAL REASON THAT SAY THE MOVIE WASN’T GOOD?
of course mads mikkelsen did a very good work with the roll but I am sure may of the fans wants johny depp without caring them what problems has johny depp and what has he done or not.
PLS THINK AGAIN J.K. Rowling AND WARNER BROS ABOUT THE F.B.4 AT LEAST