TheFantastic Beastsmovies had their flaws, but the biggest plot point that the franchise was building towards had me incredibly excited, and now it’s possible it may never appear on the big screen. While Harry Potter was a global phenomenon and the movies only made the franchise stronger with nearly $10 billion at the global box office (viaThe Numbers), the spin-offFantastic Beastsmovies were cursed with bad luck. In just three movies, the role of Grindelwald as portrayed by three different actors, which didn’t help the films' continuity.
Then, various actors, and even the author of the original stories who penned the scripts for theFantastic Beastsmovies were caught up in drama that put them in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Ultimately, this confusion and drama, along with the films generally underperforming, led to the franchise beingput on indefinite hold after just three of the intended five movieswere made. But that leaves thestory of Dumbledore and Grindelwaldhanging with no resolution. This is potentially the biggest missed opportunity with the franchise being cut short.
Potentially The Greatest Love Story In The Wizarding World Goes Unseen
Considering the extensive lore and backstories of the Harry Potter books and the expanded universe, what happens to Dumbledore and Grindelwald is no secret. However, theFantastic Beastsmovies made a promise to put this precarious relationship on the big screen. The love shared between these characters, which is tested due to their wildly different beliefs and views, is supposed to lead to an eventual duel of epic proportions. And while it’s lovely to have the story in the novels and briefly mentioned in the films, this was a moment that I was genuinely incredibly excited to see in live-action.
Every Actor Who Has Played Grindelwald In Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts
The dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald has been played by many actors in the Wizarding World. Who are they and what did they each bring to the role?
And regardless of whether the story played out against Johnny Depp or Mads Mikkelsen, it would have been spectacular to have these heavyweight actors step up to the plate and take on Jude Law’s Dumbledore. All three actors are incredibly talented, and capable of playing a range of emotions and characters that encompass good, evil and everything in between. But now, itseems nearly impossible for this love story and duel to ever play outin a visual format.
Grindelwald’s Rise & Fall Was One Of The Most Exciting Parts Of The Harry Potter Spinoff
Grindelwald Has A Unique Story In The Potterverse
It’s no secret that the stories of the villains are often more exciting and compelling than the heroes. The motivations and situations that lead to these characterswalking down a path that will make them an outsider, and cause them to do increasingly morally ambiguous things. A hero has a path to becoming the best, but for as long as stories have existed, these stories have already been told countless times. Now, cinema has turned its attention to the villains to try and decipher the puzzles of their minds.
Grindelwald was just such a compelling character, who appeared to have a much more nuanced arc than someone like Voldemort.Grindelwald had a bright future, and the potential to be great, along with having the love of a truly great man. But ultimately, he chose to continue on a darker path and do things that severed his connection to his beloved Dumbledore. But by the end of the third movie in theFantastic Beastsseries, his story has only been half told. This is ultimately an incredibly frustrating way for the Dumbledore and Grindelwald story to conclude.
Fantastic Beasts 4 Not Happening Means We’re Stuck With Aberforth’s Version Of Events
Aberforth Delivers A Brief And Unmoving Love Story In Harry Potter
Obviously, as I mentioned above, there are other allusions and accounts of the story within the world of Harry Potter. Most notably, Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth, offers upan account of how Albus and Grindelwald’s relationship evolvedas the pair became more opposite in their beliefs. And, as lovely as it was to hear Aberforth speak about his brother in theHarry Pottermovies, it wasn’t nearly the same as getting to experience that play out on the big screen. No shade to Aberforth, but his storytelling only does so much to unpack the complex love story that has the potential to be the greatest love and loss story that exists in theHarry Potteruniverse.
Fantastic Beasts 4 Could Have Revisited One Dark Story The Harry Potter Movies Cut
There are many reasons why Fantastic Beasts 4 should have happened, and this unresolved plot point would have been a great addition.
Providing the personal touch of either Dumbledore, or Grindelwald’s point of view would be invaluable, and could literally change the way the entire story is viewed. Rather than athird party storyteller providing the detailsthat they think are important, Dumbledore could have put the personal, emotional touch back in. On the other hand, seeing Grindelwald’s motivations behind making these choices, despite what he will lose, could have been one of the best parts of these movies. But now, the only account available is Aberforth’s watered down version, with no visual queues or deeper emotions.
The Harry Potter Franchise Can Still Return To This Subplot Later On
The Future Of The Wizarding World Could Be Bright
Of course, there is a glimmer of hope that remains. With theHarry Potterfranchise set to get a reboot on HBO, the multi-year series has a lot of room to explain and explore details that couldn’t be properly examined in the movies. There is everyopportunity that this series will include flashbacksand take a closer look at pivotal characters, such as Snape, Harry’s parents, Sirius Black, and Dumbledore. The show can finally give these characters the attention they deserve, and show off their stories visually.
The complex love story that has the potential to be the greatest love and loss story that exists in theHarry Potteruniverse
If the show does go down this route, Dumbledore and Grindelwald’s story could play out, and we can finally see the duel that ends their relationship. On the other hand, it’s possible that the TV show would reignite excitement and enthusiasm for the franchise in such a way that revisiting the fourth and fifth installments ofFantastic Beastscould be an option. After all, director David Yates, who helmed all the prequel films and the final four Harry Potter films, has said thattheFantastic Beastsmovies are simply “parked,” which could mean they will come back down the road.
Fantastic Beasts
TheFantastic Beastsfranchise is a prequel and spin-off of theHarry Potterseries, set in the Wizarding World. It follows the adventures of Newt Scamander, a magizoologist who travels the globe studying magical creatures. The series expands into the political and social conflicts of the magical community, particularly the rise of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald and his confrontation with a younger Albus Dumbledore. The films focus on themes of friendship, loyalty, and the battle between good and evil, against the backdrop of a magical world in the early 20th century.
