Wizard’s Council: What do we think of Paris for the Fantastic Beasts Sequel?

Welcome to the Wizard’s Council. Back in olden days, before the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy in 1692, the Wizarding world was governed by the Wizard’s Council. This was the longest serving ruling body over the Wizarding World in history, and though it was disbanded in 1707 with the founding of the Ministry of Magic, it was still considered one of the wisest and august bodies to ever rule the UK and Irish Wizarding Worlds. (Sadly, the same cannot be said for the Ministry, which seems to only be as good as its current Minister.) Here at Wizards and Whatnot, we come together once again as this august body to think deeply on the issues of our time.

Philosophical Question of the Hour: What did you think of Paris being revealed as the location of the second Fantastic Beasts series movie?

Image via Warner Brothers

DAN: Setting the second Fantastic Beasts movie in Paris is a great idea. How do you complain about that? Newt Scamander can chase beasts down through the Arc de Triomphe, under the Eiffel Tower, through the Lourve…why not? Bring it on.

What’s most interesting to me is that the movies will take place in different cities at all. When all this started, I assumed that the whole series would be set in New York City, or at least in the United States. Why else would Rowling go to the trouble of creating this new American wizarding mythology? Does this mean that we’re going to get detailed histories of wizarding life in France? Do they call Muggles Magie le Pas over there?

I’m curious to find out, and suspect that Rowling will be more at home worldbuilding on the continent than in North America. Obviously, the fact that she’s already done a bit of it will help, what with Beauxbatons waiting in the wings.

And why are these characters traveling abroad, anyway? How deep into this worldwide wizarding conspiracy are we going to get? If Warner Bros thinks the story is rich enough to justify five movies, I suppose we’re going pretty deep. This whole shebang definitely has potential.

Finally, my hopes for the locations where the three remaining movies will be set, based on nothing in particular: Rio de Janeiro, Antarctica, and the Moon.

Image via EW

KELLY: When I first heard this information, my thoughts immediately jumped to Beauxbatons and Nicholas Flamel. I remembered reading Pottermore’s feature on Beauxbatons and it mentioning how Flamel met his wife there and that he even funded the castle ground and fountains. I know Beauxbatons is probably in the Alps somewhere and not in Paris, but hey, why can’t they travel around the region a bit!?

I must admit I was slightly disappointed to hear the future films would not be set in New York again, but that’s only because I am from New York. However after reading David Yates comments about how ambitious the script was in regards to production, I was on board with any and all changes they want to make. With five films set in different cities, I am expecting big things people! To follow on Dan’s lead, my hopes for the locations of the last three films are: Africa (Uagadou wizarding school), Japan, and Scotland (I would love the story to tie up back in the UK).

I also hope we are introduced to a young Grindelwald. It doesn’t say anywhere that Newt and the other characters won’t grow any older either, so perhaps we could even eventually see Dumbledore’s legendary duel with Grindelwald in 1945.

On a side note, I am very curious at what Johnny Depp’s role will be in the sequel.  Could he be Grindelwald? Or even Dumbledore? Judging on his past films and many eccentric roles, I would be shocked if he wasn’t playing a major character with a significant storyline.

AYESHA: I’m curious to see how this next movie will play out in France. Funnily enough, the first character in Harry Potter to have a French name, Voldemort, was born in 1926, the year that Fantastic Beasts is set. It’ll be interesting to see how Rowling sets up French wizarding society, since it’s bound to be different from Britain. For America, she was able to draw on using Hogwarts as a model, but we don’t have quite as much information about Beauxbatons, so we may note some cultural differences in French wizards.

I suspect from what we’ve seen so far that a lot of the magical words in French will just be two French words mixed together, a la Beauxbatons. I look forward to the confusion should a Parisian wizard say, “Mon baguette,” and the English or American wizard think that they’re talking about bread instead of their wands.

I also expect that French wizarding society will be more accepting than either its American or British counterparts, because Beauxbatons is the only known school to have a half-giantess as its headmistress. Also, Fleur Delacour seemed well-liked and she had Veela blood. It seems they will have an unique openness to part-humans. Whether or not that same acceptance will apply to Muggles remains to be seen.

Next: Did The Fantastic Beasts Cast Just Drop The Biggest Spoiler Yet?

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