Moving Fantastic Beasts Forward From Crimes Of Grindelwald

This weekend Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald came out to a mixed response by critics and film reporters. However, it didn’t stop it from being largely loved by the fanbase getting a worldwide box office total of $253.7 million.

Basically, it’s already started to making a profit for Warner Bros, but while film bloggers/reporters put to FB2 making less then it’s original looking back to the Harry Potter films, this seems a bit of a trend for the franchise.

As Chamber of Secrets made less its predecessor The Philosopher’s Stone, the third film Prison of Azkaban made even less then Secrets and this Alfonso Cuaron directed movie is the best in the series.

Azkaban was the lowest worldwide total of little over $249.5 million. The box office total continues to go up-and-down throughout the rest of the franchise.

The biggest issue for many in Grindelwald was the hit and miss messy nature of the film and I’d like to state I liked the film but I can see issues with it and here are some suggestions to bring everyone back together ahead of Fantastic Beasts 3 and the final two movies.

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!!!!

Bring a writer to work with JK Rowling

I’m sure this first point will be sacrilege to Potterhead’s and while I think JK is an incredibly talented novelist, it sometimes didn’t work in Grindelwald and for many in the first Fantastic Beasts.

Again I really enjoyed the first film so it clearly shows Rowling knows what she’s doing.

However, I do worry this will become the Star Wars prequels for Potterheads where it could split the fanbase and there are similarities between how George Lucas handle them (I love the prequels, by the way, I was at the right age to aim for) and how JK is doing Fantastic Beasts.

While I’m sure people will suggest new names, I think it would be best to bring someone who’s had time away from the franchise but knows it like the back of his hand and bringing back Steve Kloves as a co-writer could be a way to go.

A Need For A New Director

David Yates has been involved in the Wizarding World for seven consecutive movies, with his only breakaway being The Legend of Tarzan, and it’s gotten stale.

I didn’t mind Yates return for Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them as he’s a familiar face to kick off and new series for some new blood to take over.

Warner Bros, David Heyman and Rowling will need are good hard talk about bringing in a new helmer(s) going forward.

The first name that comes to mind is J.A. Bayona.

He did a fantastic (no pun intended) job with A Monster Calls, seriously see this film, as he can bring the heart and wonder to the Wizarding World. Additionally, he’s just done his first studio blockbuster with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

The 43-year-old has also dipped his toe into the horror genre and could really bring the darkness to Fantastic Beasts in what I’m predicting will be the darkest film in the Wizarding World.

The same could be said for my second choice being Corin Hardy.

The English director is currently directing his new series Gangs of London, but with filming set to begin at some point next year (probably around summer).

The reason why the 43-year-old should be on the shortlist is because of his work on The Nun for WB’s sister studio New Line made the studio a total of $364.9 million at the box office on a $22 million budget.

It’ll be interesting in seeing Hardy follow the like James Wan with Aquaman and David F. Samberg helming Shazam into the family demographic and see what fun he’d have In that sandbox.

One of the final names I could think of is Lynne Ramsey.

Not only would she be the first female director involved in the Wizarding World but also the Scot would be reuniting with her We Need To Talk About Kevin star Ezra Miller and even though I think she’d be ideal for James Bond or Batman because of the utterly fantastic You Were Never Really Here.

However, I think she could bring something new and fresh giving a different point of view.

Story Moving Forward

While I fully understand Crimes of Grindelwald was used to expand the world at the time and introduce the audience to Johnny Depp as the villain.

IMAGE VIA JAAP BUITENDIJK/ WARNER BROS

(disclaimer: I enjoyed Depp’s performance (would’ve still preferred Colin Farrell) and think it was one of his best for a long time making Grindelwald a smart and vicious bad guy.)

On the other hand, if JK Rowling is to be believed then Fantastic Beast 3 will be set in Brazil.

*de Janeiro! Sorry, don’t know how that happened!

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) 1 November 2018

Let’s just say I really ought to be able to spell Rio de Janeiro properly, given how many times I’ve written/typed it in the last few months.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) 1 November 2018

Hopefully, this will be set at least five years after the events in Paris as Rowling previously stated the story ends in 1945 so we still have 19 years to cover in three movies.

Grindelwald has become even more popular to the wizarding community and at this time Queenie (Alison Sudol) has turned even more on the dark side becoming his right-hand woman. While Miller’s Credence has become more powerful but now controlling his magic.

IMAGE VIA JAAP BUITENDIJK/ WARNER BROS

IMAGE VIA JAAP BUITENDIJK/ WARNER BROS

Additionally, with the Brazil placement, this makes that Claudia Kim’s Nagini will be the focus of the film as we see her battle her blood curse, maybe even becoming more snake-like in appearance with Newt travelling with her to try and help stop it.

Meanwhile, Katherine Waterson needs to have more to do as Tina after what little she got to do in this film. So maybe she’s angry, determined and still little depressed by her sister’s betrayal and joins Newt to Rio to help, while also working on a secret mission (that we learn about this time) from MACUSA.

IMAGE VIA WARNER BROS

I’d also add we won’t need Jacob (sorry Dan Fogler) for this film as his situation could be a conversation between Newt and Tina with Tina revealing Jacob hasn’t been the same since Paris. Then at the end of the film, Newt can visit his muggle best friend with Tina telling him they’re going to work together to get Queenie back.

This will set up FB4 and we could see returning characters like Dumbledore (Jude Law),  Seraphina Picquery (Carmen Ejogo), Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner) etc as they prepare for an incredible battle against Grindelwald and his followers.

IMAGE VIA WARNER BROS

I'm just pissed we won't be seeing any more of Zoe Kravitz.