This comes from @wdwpro1:

https://twitter.com/wdwpro1/status/1606424616607547392

It’s worth noting that we should take this news with a grain of salt. The source did promise an update the following day, but as of now, we still have nothing.

If anything, the piece of news is sort of believable. It has been said that Zaslav was looking to bring back the character of Harry Potter, and a reboot could very much be their solution. With the last movie coming out back in 2011, I’m sure enough time has passed for fans to want to come back to the character after all these years.

On the other hand, we have been getting our Wizarding World fix with the Fantastic Beasts films (regardless of how you like them), and with the original Potter films being considered as universally beloved, rebooting the franchise could risk losing existing fans over the promise of gaining new ones.

Personally, I was fine with the spinoff route with movies just set in the world without the need for focusing on Harry and friends. The Fantastic Beasts franchise just took a major misstep when it decided to focus on legacy characters like Dumbledore and dug itself in a hole where the protagonist Newt ended up being a side character in his own films.

We don’t know what WB has in store for Harry Potter, but hopefully they find a route soon.

During a WB investor’s call (via THR), WB head David Zaslav has expressed his interest in more Harry Potter movies. Zaslav said, “We’re going to focus on franchises… We haven’t had a Superman movie in 13 years. We haven’t done a Harry Potter in 15 years. The DC movies and the Harry Potter movies provided a lot of the profits for Warner Bros. … over the past 25 years.” Zaslav also mentions author J.K. Rowling, “If we can do something with J.K. on Harry Potter going forward.”

Though I was a huge Potter fan, I think the initial idea to just make spinoff films based in the Wizarding World was the smart idea—the train just started going off the rails when they decided they should focus on the clash between Grindelwald and Dumbledore—something that was Rowling’s idea.

I think continuing Harry’s story could risk ruining it. Basically, a lot of people already don’t consider Cursed Child canon; I guess there just isn’t enough buzz since that property is a play and isn’t consumed en masse. Besides, listening to actors like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson talk about their time on the films—it looks like they’re not interested in going back to that movie franchise world.

For now, we don’t know how WB plans to move the Wizarding World forward, but after Secrets of Dumbledore, the franchise needs a major rework.

Just in, Warner Bros Entertainment has revealed what they call the Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand, and it allows you to ‘cast spells’ in your home. Watch this:

Connect your world, unlock the ultimate wand experience, and bring the magic of Harry Potter to your everyday life with the Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand.

The device essentially lets you plug into your home system and have you control various things around your house with the wave of the wand. The wand actually comes with a variety of spells for you to learn, and you have to take note of the wand movement as well as the incantation to properly activate the commands.

Not only do you get to mess with the lights, but you can also play games with the wand, and go duelling with your friends who also have their own magic casters. I’ll admit, it looks like something that could be fun for a week, but I’m sure there are some Potterheads who would just love to have this smart wand and turn on lights with a flick of their wrist. Besides, who knows what other kinds of games could be on this device?

To find out more about the Magic Caster Wand, you can check the official site here.

Watch the featurette down here: 

While we don’t expect Mikkelsen to talk about the real drama of taking over a role that was originally Johnny Depp’s, he does have some insight on the character. While we know that Grindelwald is the villain of the movie, I’m hoping that we get a more well-rounded take on his character with this film.

Though I would have preferred that Depp kept the role, a lot of fans agree that Mikkelsen was perfectly cast. Not only does he have the acting chops to pull off a cold and calculating villain, but his part in Hannibal subconsciously injects the sexual tension between him and Jude Law to audiences—perfect for alleged former lovers Dumbledore and Grindelwald.

Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

Catch Mikkelsen when Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore comes to theaters on April 15.

Watch this extensive look at Howarts Legacy down here:

Become the student you’ve always wanted to be as you experience life at Hogwarts and embark on a journey through the wizarding world. Discover magical beasts, craft potions, and master spell casting as you uncover the mystery of Ancient Magic.

Next, the magical minds at Avalanche Software take you through a behind-the-scenes look at how their vision of Hogwarts was brought to life in an open-world video game.

While fans had a general idea of what to expect from the game, this new State of Play update really gives us a look at just how massive the world is. Besides the many secret rooms and dungeons of Hogwarts, you also get to explore outside the castle, from the town of Hogsmeade to other locations in the Dark Forest.

The game even has locations that are specific to the books like the Hogwarts kitchen filled with House-elves; they even go so far as to allow you to enter the prefects’ bathroom.

If anything, I could say I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with the options, but I’m sure there are some fans who would love a detailed look at the Wizarding World. We don’t know when we’re going to get the next look, but at least we know that the game is coming this year.

No specific release date has been set for Hogwarts Legacy, but the game is expected to launch sometime around the holiday season for PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Check out the Fantastic Beasts trailer down here: 

Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

With Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) feeling like a side character in his own franchise, the trend seems to be continuing with this sequel. None of the marketing has even revealed Newt’s love interest from the first movie, Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston).

Though author J.K. Rowling wrote a series of mega hit books with Harry Potter, Crimes of Grindelwald has made it clear that writing for a book doesn’t translate to writing a screenplay. Hopefully Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves can show her a thing or two as he’s now attached to Secrets of Dumbledore.

Catch Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore when it hits theaters on April 15.

Check these out:

This is actually just a handful of the posters that were released, but you can visit the official Wizarding World website to check out all of the new characters (plus character details for new faces). Here’s just some of the new players coming to the film:

On the side of Newt are his muggle friend Jacob and Dumbledore, plus we also have his brother Theseus Scamander. We also get new posters for the new Grindelwald Mads Mikkelsen as well as Credence (or Aurelius Dumbledore) and Queenie (who switched sides in the last film).

Oddly enough, one character who didn’t get a poster is Katherine Waterston’s Tina Goldstein. Some suspect that her role was reduced after she called out J.K. Rowling for her anti-trans sentiments, but it has been confirmed that Waterston is in the movie. The official website also writes:

… What about Tina? As mentioned in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Tina was reinstated as an Auror at MACUSA, so perhaps she’s off attending to official business? But, seeing as she will one day marry Newt Scamander, we’re pretty sure it won’t be long before she reappears!

Admittedly the Fantastic Beasts franchise has come out sort of a mess, and Crimes of Grindelwald has shown that writing some great books automatically doesn’t make you good at screenplays. With Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves onboard, hopefully Rowling will be able to better relay what kind of story she wants to tell onscreen this time around.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is set to hit theaters on April 15.

Watch his post:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ezra Miller (@ezra._x_.aradia)

While Miller doesn’t say exactly what happened, but does specifically call out “the Beulaville chapter of the North Carolina Ku Klux Klan,” and he threatens that if they don’t kill themselves, ‘we’ll do it for you.’

Even the caption on the post wants his followers to share the video and to ‘take this seriously.’

Like I said, it’s unclear what happened that would lead Miller to post a threat online, and fans are just posting about their confusion online, waiting for what will happen next:

Ezra Miller vs. The KKK wasn't on my 2022 bingo card, but I'll take it.

— meg. (@wondermeg_) January 27, 2022

Ezra Miller telling the KKK to kill themselves is quite possibly the funniest and most gangster shit I've seen in a minute https://t.co/g7BKs0F7qT

— Film Director Eef. (@wakkowolf22) January 27, 2022

While there are plenty of reasons to be angry at the Klan, I’m guessing that this comes from a personal place for Miller seeing as he identifies as Jewish. I’m just hoping that this doesn’t lead to any kind of violent riot, but like I said, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.

For now, Miller is set to appear in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore which hits theaters on April 15. The Flash comes out on Nov. 4.

Check out the Harry Potter poster down here: 

A moment 20 years in the making. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: #ReturnToHogwarts is streaming on @HBOMax New Year’s Day. pic.twitter.com/xfp95HPZqR

— Wizarding World (@wizardingworld) December 15, 2021

Besides the main trio and some longtime cast members like Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), and Gary Oldman (Sirius Black) coming back, the special is also going to feature the filmmakers behind the Potter films Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell, and David Yates.

With the Fantastic Beasts films at an all-time low after the release of Crimes of Grindelwald, the Potter films continue to be a solid franchise that still manages to captivate new generations of audience members. We don’t know how long the Wizarding World will manage to hold interest throughout the years, but if Star Wars can manage to be as relevant today as it was 50 years ago, then I’m sure some adults in 2050 will still be talking about getting their letters to Hogwarts and buying their wands in Diagon Alley.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson join other esteemed cast members across all eight Harry Potter films as they travel back to Hogwarts for the first time to celebrate the anniversary of the franchise’s first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which premiered 20 years ago this year. The retrospective special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.

Catch Harry Potter 20^th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts when it streams on HBO on Jan. 01, 2022.

Posts like this started coming out:

https://twitter.com/tellmeyourworst/status/1469843594898931712

johnny depp will always be our grindelwald #JusticeForJohnnyDepp pic.twitter.com/0J5GRP7SDQ

— solange ४ waitin for tlat -204 (@nasoliscio) December 13, 2021

https://twitter.com/No_Reason_Jenz/status/1470174606803804162

Johnny Depp is trending because people will not be silent in the face of Warner Brothers injustice for firing a survivor of abuse, while still employing his abuser Amber Heard. It's time for Warner Brothers to be held accountable for their egregious choice. https://t.co/stE7NSjJSX

— The Right Side of the Roaring Rapids (@roaringrapids22) December 13, 2021

Though Depp has been said to have been having behind-the-scenes trouble since the last Pirates of the Caribbean film, some evidence has come out online to reveal that Heard was equally (if not even more) abusive than Depp in their marriage, at one point even causing Depp to almost lose a finger.

Despite the support for Depp though, he still lost his libel case against Heard, and a lot of fans have been outraged that he would be replaced in Fantastic Beasts with Heard still keeping her job in Aquaman 2.

Personally, I don’t think that Depp was doing really well with his Grindelwald character either, and even if it was a case of shoddy writing on Rowling’s part, there just doesn’t seem to be that electric enthusiasm or charisma that Depp used to bring to the screen. He doesn’t need to be Jack Sparrow, but the delivery and character work just isn’t there when it came to Crimes of Grindelwald.

At least Depp still got paid, and Mads Mikkelsen seems to be a great choice to take over the role.

Catch Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore when it comes out on April 15, 2022.

As per Variety, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is now set to hit theaters on April 15, 2022. Here’s the official description:

“Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.  But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?”

Here’s the official announcement:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Fantastic Beasts (@fantasticbeastsmovie)

Though Depp played the main villain in the second film, he’s now been replaced with Mads Mikkelsen, and he will be the one going up against Jude Law’s Dumbledore. Interestingly enough, Grindelwald will now have another powerful wizard on his side in the form of Ezra Miller’s “Aurelius Dumbledore”.

Admittedly, there are some Potter fans who are already seeing the films as a huge mess (especially after Crimes), but they are hopeful that they will get a course-correction when it comes to this third movie.

Though Newt is the alleged “main character”, these films now seem to be focused on the clash between Dumbledore and Grindelwald. Hopefully Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves finds a way to bring Rowling’s original plans to screen. Though she can write a mean book, Rowling has proven that it certainly isn’t the same as writing a screenplay.

Catch Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore when it comes out on April 15, 2022.