Fantastic Beasts 4: Will It Happen?

Fantastic Beasts 4: Will It Happen? Franchise Future & Everything We Know

Fantastic Beasts 4 is the anticipated sequel to 2022's Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, though Newt Scamander's return for another feature-length Wizarding World movie is far from certain. The Fantastic Beasts franchise, a prequel series set decades before the Harry Potter films, has not had the smoothest journey. Between the release of the second and third films, the role of Grindelwald was recast — with Mads Mikkelsen replacing Johnny Depp — and J.K. Rowling at the center of controversy. The Secrets of Dumbledore is the third installment, following Albus Dumbledore, Newt Scamander, and their allies as they aim to stop Gellert Grindelwald taking over the Wizarding World.

The third film certainly leaves room for more of Grindelwald and Dumbledore’s story to be told in Fantastic Beasts 4. Before the release of The Secrets of Dumbledore, it seemed rather clear there would be a fourth installment of the franchise. However, the future of Fantastic Beasts could depend on a lot of factors, especially now that HBO is officially expanding the Wizarding World franchise with a Harry Potter reboot television series. With WarnerMedia merging with Discovery too it seems likely that the Fantastic Beasts franchise may forever be a trilogy with no Fantastic Beasts 4 release date in sight.

The Latest Fantastic Beasts 4 News

The most recent Fantastic Beasts 4 news came on October 26, 2023, and could be the final nail in the coffin for the struggling Harry Potter prequel franchise. As reported by Deadline, filmmaker David Yates has confirmed that the Fantastic Beasts franchise has been parked and development isn't continuing. While WB. themselves have yet to give an official statement confirming Fantastic Beasts filmmaker Yates's comments, the studio hasn't denied them either, and his remarks align with previous responses from the cast and crew of the prequel franchise about the status of Fantastic Beasts 4.

With Beasts, it’s all just parked. We made those three movies, the last one through a pandemic, and it was enormous fun, but it was tough," Yates explained in an interview while promoting his Netflix movie Pain Hustlers, "We’re all so proud of [Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore]. When it went out into the world, we just needed to sort of stop and pause, and take it easy.” While it was teased when the first movie arrived that Fantastic Beasts would be a 5-movie franchise, it seems that events in the years since have ensured it will end as a trilogy with no Fantastic Beasts 4 in sight.

Fantastic Beasts 4 Hasn't Been Confirmed

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was initially envisioned to be the third in a five-part pentalogy of Fantastic Beasts movies. However, there's still no word on whether Fantastic Beasts 4 has been confirmed as of late 2023. Comments like those from star Eddie Redmayne and the new Harry Potter TV series aren't exactly promising. Redmayne revealed in a December 2022 interview (via IndieWire) that he's heard neither hide nor hair about plans for Fantastic Beasts 4. With the Harry Potter reboot television show now at the forefront of the goings-on in the Wizarding World franchise, it looks like WB will focus all its efforts there rather than a Fantastic Beasts movie.

Fantastic Beasts 4 Cast

Since Fantastic Beasts 4 hasn't been confirmed yet, there is no cast to report. That being said, on the slim chance that the movie is still happening, it's best to look back at previous installments to see who would carry over. Rowling doesn't look like she's giving Ezra Miller (The Flash) the boot just yet, and he'd likely return as a dying Credence. Presumably, Mads Mikkelsen (Doctor Strange) would stay in the role of Grindelwald, as Johnny Depp most certainly won't return, and Jude Law (A.I.) would remain as Dumbledore.

Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl) hasn't heard anything about Fantastic Beasts 4 going by his previous comments, but he'd definitely come back as Newt if the opportunity arises, and the same goes for Dan Fogler's (Balls of Fury) Jacob Kowalski. As for Queenie, Tina, and the rest of the gang, their lack of presence in Secrets of Dumbledore makes their futures less certain (particularly Tina).

Fantastic Beasts 4 Story

The plot of Fantastic Beasts 4 was teased by the ending of the third movie. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore ends with Aurelius being taken by Aberforth Dumbledore, who is revealed as Aurelius’ father. After losing the elections to lead the International Confederation of Wizards (ICW), Grindelwald and Dumbledore are now able to duel each other after the latter aims to defend Aurelius’ life from the former’s wrath. The breaking of the blood pact is crucial to how the franchise moves forward.

Dumbledore is no longer hindered by it and can finally engage with his ex-lover in a way he couldn’t for years. More importantly, the ending of The Secrets of Dumbledore reveals Grindelwald’s bad intentions to the entirety of the Wizarding World, who was watching the events of the election unfold. That could mean Grindelwald remains in hiding for most of Fantastic Beasts 4, building his army behind the scenes before returning to the public eye.

What HBO's Harry Potter Reboot Means For Fantastic Beasts

The latest creative direction from WB. for the Wizarding World franchise is a Harry Potter reboot television series, which is officially making its way to HBO Max — and the news doesn't bode well for Fantastic Beasts 4. After Fantastic Beasts 3's poor foray at the box office, the fate of the Wizarding World hung uncertainly in the balance. Warner Bros. doubled down on its commitment to the Wizarding World franchise, despite its recent failures, as other products outside of Fantastic Beasts, such as the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage play and the Hogwarts Legacy video game, performed exceptionally well.

While the announcement of a Harry Potter reboot television show being officially in the works at HBO Max is exciting news for HP fans, it seems like the final nail in the coffin for Fantastic Beasts 4. With star Eddie Redmayne's admission that he's heard no news of the sequel, David Yates' full schedule, and now the announcement of a new Harry Potter project officially in development, Fantastic Beasts 4 seems to have been pushed to the wayside in pursuit of bigger and better things. Either way, Warner Bros. new focus could also end the possibility of a Fantastic Beasts 4.