“Fantastic Beasts” franchise probably dead, say Jude Law and Eddie Redmayne

Jude Law loved playing young Dumbledore in two Fantastic Beasts films, but he told it diversity as part of a new cover story that his time as the legendary “Harry Potter” wizard is most likely over as Warner Bros. turns its attention to a television series based on the original seven novels by JK Rowling.

“I know it’s definitely on hold,” Law said of the future of the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise. “My guess would be that now that they’re making ‘Harry Potter’ as a TV show, they’ll probably put their energy into that. I certainly haven’t heard anything is in the offing.”

The Fantastic Beasts franchise began in 2016 with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The film, whose screenplay Rowling herself co-wrote, grossed a whopping $814 million at the global box office, but that magic quickly faded when sequels The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) earned mixed reviews and burst at the box office with $654 and $407 million, respectively.

The focus of the franchise, which according to Rowling should consist of five films in total, is the British magician and “magizoologist” Newt Scamander, played by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne. Newt finds himself in the middle of an escalating war led by the evil wizard Grindelwald. In the last two films, Law played the role of Dumbledore.

In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, Redmayne also expressed doubts that the Fantastic Beasts series will continue and Rowling’s original goal of five films will be achieved.

“I think this is probably the last time they’ve seen Newt,” Redmayne said. “It was a very open answer, but yes. And that’s as far as I know. I mean, you’d have to talk to the people at Warner Bros. and JK Rowling, but as far as I know, that’s all.”

In conversation with diversity For his cover story, Law recalled his first meetings with Rowling about taking on the role of a younger Dumbledore. They first met in 2017 and Rowling told the actor the character’s entire storyline in the Fantastic Beasts series.

“I had a pretty clear idea of ​​where it was going,” Law said, recalling that Rowling gave him many notes, including one in which Dumbledore saw himself as a monster. “And that’s why he liked Newt, because Newt cared about monsters.”

In the films, Dumbledore struggles with his identity as a gay man who falls in love with Grindelwald. “Because of Dumbledore’s past,” Law remarked, describing an argument with Grindelwald that led to his sister’s death, “I think he always felt guilty about being misled because he was in love.” It followed him. He felt unpopular because he trusted his heart.”

Law added that he found “a nice place” for himself as an actor by taking on the role of Dumbledore and getting a feel for his “extraordinary powers.”

“I liked his heart and that’s why I liked playing against him. “I always enjoyed following in his footsteps,” Law concluded.

Read Law’s in its entirety diversity Cover story here.