Well, once again it seems that fans and internet rumors have been proven wrong, even when coming from a reliable “source.” The production designer for ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ Stuart Craig told website Snitch Seeker that the movie’s sequel would pick up almost immediately where the first movie left off, or at the very least, just a few weeks later. The internet took it for fact as it came from a source working on the films, but JK Rowling herself took to Twitter to debunk the rumor:
This isn’t correct, I’m afraid! The sequel doesn’t begin days after first movie ends (although we do go to Paris.) https://t.co/lkvIozKweU
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 13, 2016
What we do know about the new franchise, though, is far more interesting. First of all, we know now (thanks to information from Rowling herself released last Friday) that the series will take place over 19 years, ending in 1945, the year which we know from the ‘Harry Potter’ books that Dumbledore and Grindelwald have their famous duel and Dumbledore defeats his old friend, hinting that the duel will indeed take place in this franchise. Based on the 19 year timespan, we can assume the sequel will take place at least a year or 2 after the first ‘Fantastic Beasts’ film, and we know it will take place in Paris. We know Grindelwald will be in the film, as will a young Albus Dumbledore who they are casting now, even though JK already has an actor in mind, but she will not reveal publicly who she wants for the role.
And yet, aside from these facts, we do not know much else about the franchise, which is probably just as well, as a little mystery is good for a healthy franchise. The details and spoilers will come later, close to the release of the actual sequels. For now, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping the first ‘Fantastic Beasts’ is worthy of a franchise, and that Warner Bros does not have another DCEU situation on its hands. Are you excited for ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?’ Share your thoughts on the new franchise in the comments section below!
Nick is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles, who belongs to the privileged few who enjoyed the ending to ‘Lost.’ For more of Nick’s thoughts and articles, follow him on Twitter.
