The Fantastic Beasts saga was designed as a story divided into five cinematic chapters, but it could end sooner than expected.
Variety sources confirm that the script for the fourth film has not yet been made.
That’s because Warner Bros. executives are waiting to see how Fantastic Beasts: Dumbledore’s Secrets , released last week in 22 international territories, will be received.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them grossed $ 800M, The Crimes of Grindelwald instead grossed $ 650M (nearly -20%). Since the pandemic began, just five Hollywood films have grossed more than $ 500M at the global box office. The film will not be screened in Russia, and as we have seen in China more than 50% of the cinemas are closed, a major blow to the latter in terms of box office.
If the film is successful, the studio will give the green light to the other two cinematic chapters, but how much will it have to collect? Topping $ 400M at the worldwide box office is considered a good milestone today, but to be a success it should at least reach $ 700M.
The synopsis
Professor Albus Dumbledore knows that the powerful dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to take control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him on his own, he assigns the magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead a fearless team of wizards, witches and a brave Muggle baker on a perilous mission. On their way they will encounter animals old and new and will clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore be on the sidelines?
The cast
The third installment will see the return of Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander), Jude Law (Albus Dumbledore), Ezra Miller (Credence / Aurelius Dumbledore), Callum Turner (Theseus Scamander), Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein), Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski) , Katherine Waterston (Tina Goldstein).
Alongside them also Victoria Yeates (Bunty), William Nadylam (Yusuf Kama), Poppy Corby-Tuec h (Vinda Rosier), Jessica Williams (Professor Eulalie “Lally” Hicks), Richard Coyle and Oliver Masucci .
JK Rowling and Steve Kloves are the authors of the screenplay, with David Yates as director .
The producers are David Heyman, Rowling, Kloves, Lionel Wigram and Tim Lewis , who have collaborated in the previous two chapters. Neil Blair, Danny Cohen, Josh Berger and Courtenay Valenti are executive producers.