Fantastic Beasts star Dan Fogler has given an update on when filming of the third installment in the Harry Potter prequel/spin-off franchise will begin.
At the start of 2019, filming was reported to begin in Fall 2019 which obviously never happened. Comicbook.com reported that Fogler, who plays American No-Maj Jacob Kowalski, gave an update at Leaky Con 2019. He said:
“We haven’t started filming yet. We start in February. Last we heard, J.K. [Rowling] … she’s been writing furiously, everyone was really happy with what she submitted, and we’re all just waiting for the new script. And that’s where we’re at.”
The poor critical and fan reception of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, not to mention subpar box-office returns, sent the franchise into a brief hiatus. J.K. Rowling, who needs no introduction, is still working hard on writing the screenplay. Fingers crossed she’s able to turn out a script that is a standalone adventure while still setting up the inevitable Grindelwald/Dumbledore fight.
Although Fogler hasn’t received a script yet, he discussed his hopes for Jacob:
“I hope that he gets Queenie back. … I haven’t seen a script yet, and I’ve lost a significant amount of weight, and I think it will be funny if — you know how she put a spell on me to follow her around like a puppy? What if she also put a spell on me to get fit? So there’s that. But also, on a philosophical level, it’ll be interesting… We’re in the middle of the Depression, he’s just on a bender of loss. He lost her … I’m just saying this is the thing that I have in my head, that he’s lost his appetite.”
I think the philosophical option is the best way to go. Fogler’s Jacob is one of the breakout characters in the Fantastic Beasts franchise and he brings some much-needed humor to the films. The Crimes of Grindelwald felt like its sole purpose was setting up the next three films. It’s my least favorite film in the Wizarding World franchise. Although, I do like Jude Law’s take on Albus Dumbledore. And Johnny Depp would be great as Grindelwald if he didn’t have such a weird appearance.
All that aside, I’m really hoping Rowling is able to knock out a worthy script that brings the Fantastic Beasts series closer to the heights of Harry Potter.
Fantastic Beasts 3 hits theaters November 12, 2021.
Were you disappointed in The Crimes of Grindelwald? Do you think Rowling can course-correct with the third film?
