How will the new setting feed the story in Fantastic Beasts 3?
The third installment in the Fantastic Beasts franchise officially has a timeline for production — along with a brand new setting for the story.
It’s been a while since Harry Potter fans heard about the Fantastic Beasts movies, and many were beginning to wonder if we’d ever see the third installment in the series. But Potterheads can officially rest easy: According to Deadline, the next Fantastic Beasts film has gotten approval from Warner Bros. to enter production next spring. Given that the second movie came out almost a year ago now, this will likely put a couple of years between them.
The film will continue the storylines set up in Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald, with all of the main cast members returning. And in addition to the production timeline, Deadline revealed another exciting tidbit about the upcoming film: It will be getting a brand new setting. The first Fantastic Beasts installment explored the Wizarding World of the United States, while the second dove into Europe — more specifically, France. This time, our favorite characters will be heading to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — meaning fans will be getting their first taste of how witches and wizards live in South America.
Shifting locations seems to be a theme of the Fantastic Beasts franchise, and it does make for a fun way to expand upon the Wizarding World. We’re told during the Harry Potter series that other cultures practice magic, but we remain pretty confined to Great Britain when we’re following Harry and his friends. Newt Scamander’s story allows fans to branch out and experience different parts of the Wizarding World. (Whether J.K. Rowling really needs an excuse to make up new lingo is still up for debate though.)
As to what will bring Newt and his friends to Brazil, there are plenty of possibilities — though the most obvious seems to be Grindelwald. Johnny Depp’s villain is still at large at the end of the second installment, and this series seems to be building toward his legendary confrontation with Albus Dumbledore. While we get there, however, it seems like Grindelwald will be causing trouble on the run. And with Wizarding World authorities looking for him in Europe — and probably the U.S. as well — it makes sense that he’d set his eyes on a completely different continent.
This plan might stop the aurors from pursuing him, but we know that Newt and his friends have no problem going on adventures. If Grindelwald does wind up in Brazil, they’re going to follow him there (and probably run into some interesting creatures along the way).
And just like that, Fantastic Beasts 3 puts a fascinating spin on the Wizarding World by thrusting us into a new part of it. What sort of magical creatures will Newt and his friends run into in South America? Really, there possibilities are endless.
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