Fantastic Beasts 4 must take its chance to fix a time-sensitive plot hole in the Harry Potter timeline. Secrets of Dumbledore paints itself into a corner by prematurely pitting Grindelwald and Dumbledore against each other for a climactic showdown. The extensive Harry Potter lore has not always been handled with care throughout Fantastic Beasts, but future sequels may be able to settle the franchise's biggest timeline dilemma.
The original Harry Potter series takes place within the 1990s, and the Fantastic Beasts saga is established as taking place several decades prior. One of the most important battles in the history of the Wizarding World is the legendary 1945 duel between Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald. The events of Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore happen in 1932, so the long-anticipated battle remains unseen despite Grindelwald and Dumbledore's tense showdown following the Supreme Mugwump election. Unless Fantastic Beasts 4 time jumps thirteen years, the historical fight cannot be shown and simultaneously respect Harry Potter's solid timeline.
Creating such an enormous gap between Secrets of Dumbledore and the epic fight between Dumbledore and Grindelwald leaves Rowling's fortified timeline at high risk of facing retcons. However, the final battle between the infamous wizards not only foreshadows their destined duel, but proves why it will take thirteen years to reach it. Their battle in the Fantastic Beasts 3 ending culminates with both Dumbledore and Grindelwald placing their hands over each other's hearts. Although they point their wands at one another, they cannot pull the trigger (so to speak). Early in the film, their past romance and lingering feelings are explicitly addressed, and it appears neither is prepared to beat the other in a duel when the obstacle of their mutual love remains impenetrable. Fantastic Beasts 4 can confront this issue since the plot will likely revolve around the immediate aftermath of Grindelwald's near dictatorship. The next sequel may not show the primary duel, but it can follow Jude Law's Dumbledore mentally preparing himself for it.
Will Dumbledore Face Grindelwald Again In Fantastic Beasts 4?
Even if Mads Mikkelsen's Gellert Grindelwald somehow doesn't return for Fantastic Beasts 4, Grindelwald will play a major role in Dumbledore's story going forward. The focal point in the film may be Dumbledore's mission to dismiss any lingering affection he has for Grindelwald. If Mikkelsen returns as Grindelwald, however, that doesn't necessarily mean they will face each other. The duel in Secrets of Dumbledore was unknown in Harry Potter's chronology before the film premiered, so there may be bigger battles throughout their decades-long rivalry. To avoid retcons, Fantastic Beasts 4 must either exist within the thirteen-year gap or thoroughly explain why the primary battle has taken so long to happen. Grindelwald may be in hiding preparing himself to defeat Dumbledore, as his obstacle mirrors his former lover's. Another explanation to why they may not face each other in Fantastic Beasts 4 could be that Dumbledore is recruiting a stronger army, using trusted allies like Fantastic Beast's Newt Scamander as his starting point.
Even if Dumbledore and Grindelwald do not meet back up in Fantastic Beasts 4 for their legendary 1945 battle, there is little reason why they should not face off again as they build their strengths for the ultimate fight. Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore proved the two wizards still have a lot to overcome to defeat each other. Fantastic Beasts 4 has an opportunity to fix this glaring issue in Harry Potter's timeline and avoid disregarding its lore.