The Fantastic Beasts series has been somewhat of a disappointment for Warner Bros. The first film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was successful enough to guarantee a sequel, even if it didn't reach the heights of the Harry Potter saga.
The sequel, subtitled The Crimes of Grindelwald, fared even worse critically and commercially, begging the question, is there still value in the franchise? A third film, The Secrets of Dumbledore, will release in a month, but some fans are already wondering if it's time to put the series to rest. Still, others believe the story is promising and would like to see it through, proving there are more than enough arguments on both sides.
Fantastic Beasts Should Continue!
Queenie & Jacob Deserve Closure
If there's one truly compelling story that fans are emotionally invested in, it's the love affair between witch Queenie Goldstein and Muggle — er, no-maj — Jacob Kowalski. Thanks to the charming chemistry between Alison Sudol and Dan Fogler, Queenie and Jacob became instant fan favorites, with many considering them the highlight of the entire saga and one of the best couples in the Harry Potter canon.
The Crimes of Grindelwald separated them by having Queenie join Grindelwald in a contrived plot twist that was a blatant way to introduce unnecessary drama. Still, fans look forward to the couple having a proper ending. Whether they stay together or separate, Queenie and Jacob deserve to see their story through, and fans might agree to a fourth entry in the series just for the sake of this romance.
More Magical Creatures
One of the reasons the first entry in the Fantastic Beasts saga was successful was its focus on a new and intriguing side of the wizarding world: magical creatures. Thanks to some truly impressive VFX and a slew of creative designs, the beasts in the first movie were dazzling, wowing audiences who wanted to explore new corners of Harry Potter's sprawling world.
The franchise still tries to include a few creatures, but with its focus shifting to another unnecessary Wizarding War, the beasts inevitably become an afterthought. Future entries in the saga can solve this by once again placing the beasts in the spotlight, thus restoring the series' original purpose.
A Chance For Real Representation
J.K. Rowling has said there are numerous LGBTQ+ characters in her series. However, they have never been properly represented onscreen. The Fantastic Beasts franchise hinted that it would finally show some representation by including Dumbledore and Grindelwald — whom Rowling claimed engaged in a love affair as young men — as prominent characters.
Alas, The Crimes of Grindelwald made zero effort to address their relationship. A title like The Secrets of Dumbledore invites several intriguing theories, including one where the romance finally comes to light. However, nothing is certain.
The Story Needs A Proper Ending
Three movies in, and the plot of Fantastic Beasts seems as incomplete as when it began. Fans who see The Secrets of Dumbledore will have invested five years into this story, expecting to see at least some semblance of an ending. It's unlikely that Warner Bros. plans for The Secrets of Dumbledore to be the final film of the saga, meaning it'll most likely end on a cliffhanger.
Discontinuing the series would be a disservice and even an insult to the fans who have followed the story for this long. A fourth film is necessary to tie the loose ends and provide a real ending for this aimless narrative.
Fantastic Beasts Should End Already...
Too Much Behind-The-Scenes Chaos
The Fantastic Beasts franchise has so many behind-the-scenes issues that the backstory often detracts from whatever's happening in the movies. From Johnny Depp's troubles and eventual recasting to Ezra Miller's problems with the law and Rowling's fall from grace, the saga has many issues behind the camera.
It might be wise for Warner Bros. to move away from the franchise and start over with a new and unproblematic cast. Considering how disappointing the series has been so far, it's not like Warner Bros. is sacrificing much.
No Need For Another Wizarding War
Fans reacted to the reveal that Grindelwald was behind the events of the first Fantastic Beasts movie with a tired and prolonged sigh. After all, the previous, wildly successful franchise had already centered on the battle between a reluctant hero and the supposed greatest dark wizard of all time.
There's a sense of been-there-done-that to the Fantastic Beasts franchise that makes it less exciting. There's also the matter that fans already know Grindelwald isn't as dangerous as Voldemort, the evilest character in the wizarding world, thus making the entire Beasts series underwhelming by comparison. Fans don't want to see another movie about a Wizarding War, let alone five.
The Story Is Aimless
What exactly is the point of the Fantastic Beasts franchise? It began as an apparent one-off focusing on a minor yet beloved character of the Wizarding World before evolving into yet another battle of good versus bad wizards. The movies keep introducing new characters without truly developing any of them, juggling multiple storylines without any sense of where they're going and without any promise of a clear resolution.
The Fantastic Beasts saga is a meandering mess of characters rehashing a familiar story. The stakes are supposedly high, but fans don't seem to care this time because, unlike the Potter saga, there's no compelling figure at the center of Fantastic Beasts; in fact, there might not be a center at all.
J.K. Rowling
It's no secret that Rowling is currently one of pop culture's most divisive figures. The writer's controversial stance on trans issues significantly diminished her popularity and even relevance. Recently on Twitter, Rowling doubled down on her anti-trans sentiments, fanning the flames of her controversy.
The Harry Potter franchise had a significant LGBTQ+ following, many of whom feel attacked because of Rowling's beliefs. With her being so involved with the Fantastic Beasts franchise, perhaps the best thing is to scrap it and focus on another part of the larger Wizarding World. Rowling already has a reputation for making mistakes within her own saga, and considering how confrontational she's becoming, if possible, it might be best to keep her away from any future big-screen Potter projects.