Fantastic Beasts Without Newt Scamander? Say It Isn’t So!
Several bits of news have recently dropped regarding the future of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them franchise, but despite the obvious reasons behind it, for me the most surprising news is that Newt Scamander won’t be the main character in future installments.
Warning: Although this article focuses on Newt Scamander, major spoilers for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them are mentioned. Proceed at your own risk.
While there hasn’t been any specific mention of exactly when Newt Scamander will cease to be a main character, the fact that this announcement comes so close on the heels of the first film’s release probably doesn’t bode well. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them pulled in $75 million in its opening weekend – which is pretty solid, but still leaves Fantastic Beasts at the bottom of the list for opening revenues of Rowling’s wizarding world movies. However, I can’t say that I agree with the Bleeding Cool writer who said that Newt Scamander seemed a strange character on which to hang an entire franchise – yes, he was socially awkward and clearly preferred spending his time with his creatures, but all of that made him not just endearing but different. We have plenty of “chosen one” heroes out there – perhaps too many, if we’re honest with ourselves – and I found Newt to be a refreshing addition to not just the wizarding world, but to mainstream media in general. Because let’s face it, Harry Potter fans – if Rowling’s wizarding world isn’t completely mainstream, it’s certainly skirting the edge of it these days.
All that said, the other recent piece of news regarding the Fantastic Beasts series is that its time frame will span from 1926 to 1945, so sadly it does make sense that Newt Scamander won’t be a main character in the later films. Producer David Heyman recently told CinemaBlend,
I don’t think [Newt will be at] the heart of all of them. I think he’ll be part – so will Tina, Queenie and Jacob – will be part of the next one.
And I’ve heard that Dumbledore has been confirmed, too.
And Credence and Grindelwald. I think they will be the main players.
I don’t even think it’s fair to continue calling it “speculation” in regards to these movies eventually focusing on the relationship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, and that Dumbledore will likely [hopefully] be portrayed as openly gay. Additionally, Heyman’s mention of Credence’s return seems like pretty solid proof that the wisp of Obscurus that appeared to survive the MACUSA Aurors’ attack is enough for that character to return.
I’m definitely happy that they aren’t completely writing off Newt, Tina, Queenie, and Jacob (especially Queenie and Jacob!) but I do hope that we won’t see a major flip in the main character lineup as soon as the second installment.
What do you think about the news that Newt Scamander won’t be running the show in future Fantastic Beasts films? Do you think this change will happen right away, or later in the five-film series? Let us know in the comments!
Author: Tara Lynne
Tara Lynne is an author, fandom and geek culture expert, and public speaker. She founded Ice & Fire Con, the first ever Game of Thrones convention in the US, and now runs its parent company Saga Event Planning.
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