The future of the Fantastic Beasts franchise hangs in the balance at Warner Bros. According to a new report from Variety, the studio is waiting to see how the new movie The Secrets of Dumbledore fares at the box office before greenlighting the once confirmed fourth movie. The Fantastic Beasts saga had previously been announced as a five-movie series. Although recent scandals surrounding the franchise have put its future in doubt.
There’s the re-casting of Johnny Depp who played the evil wizard Grindelwald in the first two movies. Depp was sacked from the franchise during his very public legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard. At the time public opinion was against Depp but as further evidence has come to light the sentiment has swung in his favor. Now, his character is played by Mads Mikkelsen. However, fellow Fantastic Beasts star Ezra Miller remains a part of the series despite his very public controversies and recent arrest. Two years ago, Miller was videoed choking a woman outside a bar. Last month, Miller was arrested in Hawaii for disorderly conduct and harassment. The pattern of incidents has led to Warner Bros sidelining Miller during the press junkets for the new Fantastic Beasts movie and trying to downplay his role in the movies.
Then there are J.K. Rowling’s heavily publicized and controversial views on transgender women. Actors in J.K. Rowling’s works have been quick to criticize the author over her views. However, Variety reports that the stars of the Fantastic Beasts franchise feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. The actors have been avoiding the press so as not to be forced into criticism of Rowling while also being contractually obligated to promote her work (she is one of the writers of the Fantastic Beasts movies).
With all of the controversies, Warner Bros. is watching how The Secrets of Dumbledore performs before continuing the series. The first film grossed $800 million at the worldwide box office while the second had an almost 20% drop to $650 million. If The Secrets of Dumbledore continues that trend then it could stop the series in its tracks.
