Even as a fan of all things Harry Potter, I couldn't mount a solid defense of 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Sure, David Yates and J.K. Rowling's return to the magical franchise maintained the darkly whimsical spirit of the iconic wizarding saga, assisted by a healthy dose of wand duels and quirky creatures. But it was a muddled mess of a film, stuck somewhere between the family-friendly goofiness of the early Potter movies and the intense, adult social commentary of the later installments. Without a clear tone, the results were disappointingly mediocre. Fantastic Beasts ended with the promise of more adventures with Eddie Redmayne's Newt Scamander and the controversial Johnny Depp's newly-introduced Gellert Grindelwald, but what's really left for Yates and Rowling to accomplish in this prequel series? We'll find out if the Potter brain trust can turn things around in just a few short months, when Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald hits theaters in November. Moments ago, Warner Bros. released the first full trailer for the film at San Diego Comic-Con. Watch it below!
I think I have to come to terms with the fact that I'll never be breathlessly anticipating these Fantastic Beasts movies, which is the exact opposite of my excitement prior to each new Harry Potter installment. That series meant a lot to me, and it's a tall order to ask Rowling to replicate its success. But even if I'm not unbelievably thrilled for the continuing adventures of Newt Scamander, this is a very strong trailer, one that appears to iron out many of the tonal issues I had with the previous chapter. The Crimes of Grindelwald looks seriously grim and intense, which is probably appropriate for a film that features a villain in its title. It seems like Newt and company have moved beyond trying to capture scary creatures, instead focusing on another magical war that could change the Wizarding World forever. That's a smart move, and it'll help keep audiences invested in the long run.
I must admit, it is a tad strange to see so much Johnny Depp in this trailer, especially after what happened with James Gunn yesterday (even weirder that Depp was brought on stage at the convention). I know Warner Bros. couldn't have re-cut the trailer overnight, and I know Depp's character is the focal point of this sequel, but his presence feels like a major miscalculation.
Outside of that odd decision by Rowling and the filmmakers, The Crimes of Grindelwald looks bigger and significantly more thrilling, which is what a good sequel should do. I love the idea of returning to Hogwarts, and I'm definitely a fan of setting up a conflict that keeps things interesting years down the road. This still isn't one of my most anticipated of the fall, but frankly, it was never going to be. It looks like a fun blockbuster, and at this point in the Wizarding World, I'll take it.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will arrive in theaters on November 16.
Image: Warner Bros.
I think I have to come to terms with the fact that I'll never be breathlessly anticipating these Fantastic Beasts movies, which is the exact opposite of my excitement prior to each new Harry Potter installment. That series meant a lot to me, and it's a tall order to ask Rowling to replicate its success. But even if I'm not unbelievably thrilled for the continuing adventures of Newt Scamander, this is a very strong trailer, one that appears to iron out many of the tonal issues I had with the previous chapter. The Crimes of Grindelwald looks seriously grim and intense, which is probably appropriate for a film that features a villain in its title. It seems like Newt and company have moved beyond trying to capture scary creatures, instead focusing on another magical war that could change the Wizarding World forever. That's a smart move, and it'll help keep audiences invested in the long run.
I must admit, it is a tad strange to see so much Johnny Depp in this trailer, especially after what happened with James Gunn yesterday (even weirder that Depp was brought on stage at the convention). I know Warner Bros. couldn't have re-cut the trailer overnight, and I know Depp's character is the focal point of this sequel, but his presence feels like a major miscalculation.
Outside of that odd decision by Rowling and the filmmakers, The Crimes of Grindelwald looks bigger and significantly more thrilling, which is what a good sequel should do. I love the idea of returning to Hogwarts, and I'm definitely a fan of setting up a conflict that keeps things interesting years down the road. This still isn't one of my most anticipated of the fall, but frankly, it was never going to be. It looks like a fun blockbuster, and at this point in the Wizarding World, I'll take it.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald will arrive in theaters on November 16.
Image: Warner Bros.
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