The Wizarding World franchise, which consists of both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, has seen several filmmakers take on directorial duties since it began including Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron and Mike Newell. However, director David Yates later took over the entire franchise by helming the final four Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts prequel series, and it seems like the filmmaker isn’t moving on any time soon.
In an interview with Collider, Fantastic Beasts star Katherine Waterston, who plays Porpentina Goldstein, claimed that Yates is still committed to directing all five films in the prequel series.
“I think he is meant to direct them all. I think it’s very interesting. He’s worked very closely with J.K. Rowling for a long time and very few people have access to her because she’s quite insulated and so I can’t really imagine how it could work any other way frankly,” Waterston said.
The third Fantastic Beasts film has been hit with numerous problems including several filming delays as well as Warner Bros. recently announced that production has halted following a positive COVID-19 test on-set. However, the biggest set-back the film has faced is Mads Mikkelsen replacing Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald following the verdict of Depp’s legal battle. Here’s what Waterston had to say about Mikkelsen in the same interview:
“You know, I hung out with Mads in Venice. We were there at the same time this summer and I’d never met him before and I had a great time with him. He’s totally lovely. But that was before he was cast – I think that’s right – I think it was just before he was cast and we don’t have anything together in the film so I don’t know what it’s like to work with him unfortunately, but maybe someday we will.”
Fantastic Beasts 3 is being directed by David Yates from a screenplay by franchise creator J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves. Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston, and Jessica Williams are all set to return to the cast as Newt Scamander, Albus Dumbledore, Credence/Aurelius Dumbledore, Queenie Goldstein, Jacob Kowalski, Tina Goldstein, and Professor Eulalie Hicks respectively. Mads Mikkelsen will now portray the villain Grindelwald following the departure of Johnny Depp. The film is currently scheduled to debut on July 15th 2022.
