Big Things Ahead for Fantastic Beasts Franchise

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opened this past weekend to positive reviews and over $200 million in box office revenue worldwide. While more Harry Potter lovers are sure to hit their local theater this holiday season, J.K. Rowling and others involved behind the scenes of the new franchise are discussing its' future—and it's bolder and less rigid than you might expect.

In a series of tweets, the mastermind herself confirmed that the new series will consist of 5 films that extend over a 19 year period, from 1926 to 1945.  Originally planned as a trilogy, the recent release marks Rowling’s debut as a screenwriter. Franchise alum David Yates returns to the directing chair after leading the last four Harry Potter films, and more recently, The Legend of Tarzan.

According to producer David Heyman, protagonist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who Rowling confirmed was indeed wearing a Hufflepuff house scarf in the film, won’t always be front and center of the four sequels. “Dumbledore and Credence and Grindelwald. I think they will be the main players.”  With the reveal of Jonny Depp portraying Gellert Grindelwald at the end of Beasts and the announcement of a young Dumbledore appearing in a major capacity in the next film, this new franchise is shaping out to contain a plethora of wizarding world lore mentioned in the original series.

The first Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel is set to be released on November 16, 2018.