Why the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Franchise Couldn’t Match Harry Potter’s Success

The goal of the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series was to capitalize on the enormous fan base and widespread popularity of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise to further expand its magic. J.K. Rowling made her screenwriting debut with ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’, which Warner Bros. released to start the series. The film was written by Rowling and directed by franchise veteran David Yates. The movie was a promising beginning and had an amazing cast, including Eddie Redmayne. In an effort to create a larger story inside the Wizarding World, Rowling revealed ideas for a five-film arc after it became successful.

However, the franchise was dropped by the time of ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’, the third instalment. With every sequel, box office receipts decreased and the storyline started to depart from the initial idea. The first movie developed the narrative of the Wizarding World by focusing on the adventures of magizoologist Newt Scamander in 1920s New York. This was a novel approach. However, the addition of Gellert Grindelwald as the enemy changed the tone of the series, directing it toward a more expansive war narrative that didn’t seem to be related to Newt’s story.

Image Courtesy: HBO

Since Newt Scamander was presented as an awkward and reserved lead, he lacked Harry Potter’s relatability, which made it difficult to build a whole series around him. This adult viewpoint was interesting for a single movie, but it wasn’t able to support a long-running series.

The franchise’s problems were made worse by scandals involving important characters. Fans were offended by J.K. Rowling’s remarks on the transgender community in public, Johnny Depp was replaced as a result of his legal battle, and Ezra Miller’s off-screen conduct generated further bad news. Fantastic Beasts’ potential to distinguish out was weakened by these problems as well as intense competition from properties like Star Wars and the MCU.

Even though Fantastic Beasts had some brilliant moments, including Jacob Kowalski’s character and the introduction of new Wizarding World settings, it was unable to recreate the enchantment of its predecessor. Today, the franchise acts as a reminder of the distinct charm that contributed to Harry Potter’s fame.

–Farheen Ali