Guys, we’re in this for the long haul.
Remember when the “Fantastic Beasts” movie was first announced as a single film? Then it became a trilogy? Then a five-parter?
J.K. Rowling raised some eyebrows as the series grew in size and scope, but if anyone can create a whole new world out of a tiny fake textbook, it’s Queen Rowling. She is going all-in on this … er, beast, and we are here for it.
But just in case she needs some inspiration (doubtful), here are some suggestions of what the remaining four movies could be about.
Fantastic Beasts and Oh, I Think I See One There
Rowling has confirmed on Twitter that the gang goes to Paris in Movie 2, so perhaps a visit to Beauxbatons is in order. But while it would be fine to see another wizarding school and to chase some beasts with fancy French names, I’m offering up this highly controversial suggestion: Beauty and the Beast crossover/reinterpretation. Sometime in the early 1930s, after hearing rumors about a strange creature in the rural French countryside, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) goes to investigate and winds up at the Beast’s castle while Belle (Emma Watson, obviously) is being held captive inside. Newt realizes the Beast has just been the victim of a bad Transfiguration spell gone wrong and reverses its effects, engineering Belle and the Beast’s happily ever after.
After-credits scene: Turns out the witch who cast the spell on the Beast was really Grindelwald, to remind you he’s the bad guy in this tale.
Fantastic Beasts and Nope, I Did Not Sign Up For This
In the late 1930s, Newt’s adventures bring him to Northern and Eastern Europe. Not only does this mean we get to see Durmstrang and visit wandmaker Gregorovitch (Grindelwald stole the Elder Wand from him, remember?), but it will also allow Rowling to highlight the parallels between Grindelwald’s rise to power and Germany’s rise to power in the lead-up to World War II. The third movie is prime time for some Time-Turner nonsense to make a cool blows-your-mind final sequence.
After-credits scene: The Time-Turner is the one that Hermione uses in “Prisoner of Azkaban.”
Fantastic Beasts and What was the Premise of This Series, Again?
In the early 1940s, Newt travels to the jungles of Borneo in Southeast Asia under the premise of trying to find an Acromantula in its native habitat but actually is going behind enemy lines to infiltrate a group of Grindelwald supporters. Naturally, there are shenanigans in trying to get to Borneo, and some cross-cultural confusion that hopefully will be comical and not at all racist or insensitive. Probably a character we’ve come to know and love will die near the end, because Rowling likes breaking our hearts like that.
After-credits scene: A random person in Newt’s entourage snags an Acromantula egg and sells it to young Hagrid.
Fantastic Beasts and God, I Hope This Doesn’t Become like the ‘Fast and Furious’ Franchise
Just kidding, if Rowling did expand the series even further, we’d still watch them. In 1945, Dumbledore and Grindelwald have their final battle, which hopefully will not require the destruction of an entire city. It’s difficult to imagine Newt as anything but a bystander, but maybe it’ll turn out he’s been collecting and training various beasts all these years, and they’ll help the war effort in some way.
After-credits scene: Newt (still played by Redmayne, who truly might be old at this point) is writing an updated intro for the 34th edition of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” in 2025. Then he goes to visit his grandson Rolf and granddaughter-in-law Luna, nee Lovegood, and his great-grandchildren. Harry and Ginny Potter and Ron and Hermione Weasley happen to be visiting at the same time, offering the chance for some brief and pricey cameos.
