After the stories featuring their beloved characters had finally drawn to a close in 2011, Potter fans were excited when they learned that the story was to be given a new lease of life through five films via Fantastic Beasts, a prequel to the tales of the boy wizard.
Beset by scandal and controversy, unfortunately, it’s fallen far short of their expectations.
Potter heads flocked to see the first in the franchise. Although it didn’t reach the heights of the Potter films, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them grossed over $800 million globally.
Fans were a little disconcerted to discover that instead of featuring Hogwarts, the beloved school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a whole host of new characters were shot in different locations.
That disappointment spilled over into the second in the series, The Crimes of Grindelwald. Negative reviews about the convoluted plot saw a box office drop of almost 20%, making it the lowest-grossing Potter film ever.
There’s Been A Long Wait For Part Three
The third installment, Secrets of Dumbledore, had already been delayed for a reworking of the script and format to try to please fans when the Covid19 pandemic hit.
Hoping the next film would turn things around, fans had a lot to say about the new Fantastic Beasts movie.
By the time the third film finally hit screens this year, it seems that the weight of just too many controversies might have spelled the demise of the franchise.
The Creator Of The Saga Is One Of The Biggest Problems
Perhaps one of the biggest problems for the prequel franchise has been the creator herself. The screenplays, penned by J.K.Rowling have not been well received by fans.
In addition, Rowling has been slammed for her trans-phobic tweets. Her controversial posts on social media have seen her toppled from her seat as a beloved author.
Rowling's controversial views on sex and gender identity have angered fans in the LGBTQ+ community, who have taken the decision to no longer financially support the writer: That includes no merchandise sales and no attendance at World of Potter theme park.
They’ve also boycotted the screenings of the film, which has dented numbers substantially.
Fans were also disappointed that Warner Bros agreed to cuts when China censored gay dialogue in the latest Fantastic Beasts film.
Stars Are Scared Of A Connection To Rowling’s Controversies
There’s another problem: Stars of The Secrets Of Dumbledore are nervous to align themselves with the writer for fear of being connected to her views.
That means actors like Jude Law and Eddie Redmayne aren’t doing the usual round of press interviews, leading to less publicity for the ailing film.
With Johnny Depp embroiled in one of Hollywood's ugliest divorces, the actor may also be threatening the films' success; he exited the series after accusations of abuse by ex-wife Amber Heard surfaced.
It’s sparked bitter legal battles that are still ongoing.
Whether Depp emerges as innocent or not, he won’t be going back to the franchise. Fans have called out Warner Bros for keeping Amber Heard on 'Aquaman', but booting Johnny Depp off 'Fantastic Beasts'.
Ezra Miller Has Added Even More Controversy To ‘Fantastic Beasts’
As if Depp and Rowling hadn’t created enough problems for the producers, another emerged just a day before the world premiere of The Secrets Of Dumbledore.
Since 2020, Ezra Miller, who plays Credence Barebone, has seen negative press. That year, a video showing the actor choking a young fan went viral.
Since then, the actor has been arrested twice in Hawaii on charges of harassment and assault. They’ve also been handed a restraining order from a couple who claim Miller broke into their room and threatened to kill them.
The incidents have forced Warner Bros. to downplay Miller’s involvement in the film franchise.
Is There A Curse On The Franchise?
Since Harry Potter burst into our lives in 1997, the books and films about the world the boy wizard inhabits have been contentious, because of their connections to the occult.
As a result, the string of bad luck that’s hit the latest franchise has led fans to wonder if Fantastic Beasts is cursed.
Whether that’s true or not, it seems that one of the biggest issues with Fantastic Beasts is that audiences don’t really like the series. It's certainly not the first time Hollywood has seen actors and writers becoming controversial, and it won't be the last.
But fans who may have continued their support despite the negative press, don't feel the end product is worth fighting for. Moviegoers have complained that the plot is just too convoluted and that there are far too many characters.
Considering that the series was meant to expand on the Wizarding World, it’s a problem that the magic has been lost along the way.
With no screenplay yet written for the fourth installment of the series, there’s speculation about whether Fantastic Beasts will continue. And with Warner Bros waiting to see how much The Secrets Of Dumbledore will make at the box office, there’s a chance that the nails hammered into the coffin of Fantastic Beasts will be three too many.
