Director David Yates Confirms ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Franchise on Hold After Three Films
Director David Yates has confirmed that the “Fantastic Beasts” spin-off franchise, set in the Harry Potter universe, has been put on hold after three feature films.
Yates, who directed the final four Harry Potter movies, had previously hinted at the possibility of the Newt Scamander-led storyline coming to an end.
“Fantastic Beasts” explores the adventures of Newt Scamander and his encounters with magical creatures 70 years before the events of the original Harry Potter book series.
The series has been paused following the release of the third and final movie in the trilogy, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” in 2022.
David Yates mentioned in an interview with Total Film that the team decided to take a break after the release of the latest film. He expressed pride in the work but also acknowledged the challenges, especially filming during the pandemic.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” featured Mads Mikkelsen taking over the role of Grindelwald from Johnny Depp and delved into Grindelwald’s complex relationship with Albus Dumbledore, portrayed by Jude Law.
The announcement about pausing the “Fantastic Beasts” series comes in the wake of HBO’s confirmation that a Harry Potter TV series is in development. This TV series aims to retell the seven-book series on the small screen.
Despite the pause, David Yates has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the Harry Potter universe in the future, stating that he would “never say never.” He mentioned his excitement about exploring new non-wizard related projects.