After delays due to the pandemic, production on the thirdFantastic Beastsfilm, which finally begun in September, faces another delay. The UK shoot was shut down after a member of the team on set tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement, Warner Bros. says, “A team member fromFantastic Beasts 3has tested positive for COVID-19. The diagnosis was confirmed as a result ofrequired and ongoing testingthat all production employees receive, and the team member is currently in isolation. Out of an abundance of caution,Fantastic Beasts 3paused production and will be back up in accordance with safety guidelines.” The identity of the team member was not disclosed.
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Very little is known about the plot ofFantastic Beasts 3. The third film in the spin-off series to theHarry Potterstories brings back much of the cast of the first two movies, including Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, and Katherine Waterston. Due to the delay in shooting,the release date has been pushedfrom 2021 to Jun 29, 2025.
The pandemic hasn’t been the only hurdle faced in the production of this movie, however. Johnny Depp, who played Gellert Grindelwald in the series,exited the film after losing a libel casewith British paper The Sun involving allegations of assault between him and his ex-wife. In November 2020, after he had filmed just one scene forFantastic Beasts 3, both Depp and Warner Bros. confirmed that he would be leaving the franchise.
The role of Gellert Grindelwald was recast, with actor Mads Mikkelson joining the film.Mikkelson stated in an interviewafter his casting was announced, “There has to be a bridge between what Johnny did and what I’m going to do. And at the same time, I also have to make it my own. But also we have to find a few links [to the previous version of the character] and some bridges so it doesn’t completely detach from what he’s already masterfully achieved.”
Fantastic Beasts 3has also been involved in controversy due to statements made by its screenwriter,Harry Potterauthor J.K. Rowling. The author has come under fire in the last yeardue to her continued transphobic statementsand support of transphobic people and organizations. SeveralHarry PotterandFantastic Beastscast members, including star Eddie Redmayne, have come forward in support of trans people in the wake of her statements. For many fans, J.K. Rowling’s statements have tainted their view of the franchise and made them unwilling to support any project she is directly involved in. Production onFantastic Beasts 3went forward, however, with her continued involvement.
