EXCLUSIVE: “Fantastic Beasts” 3 Set to Wrap Filming Next Week
Making a movie during a pandemic isn’t easy. After delays, halts to production, and cast member changes, it seems that the end may be in sight for the principal filming of the third installment of the Fantastic Beasts series. Sources from inside production have told MuggleNet that filming is set to wrap up next week, although this is, of course, subject to any COVID-19-related delays.
After initial delays that saw filming dates pushed from summer 2019 to fall 2019, production on Fantastic Beasts 3 was finally set to begin in spring 2020. However, in a turn of events that even the most gifted Seer could not have predicted, production was halted on March 15, 2020, the day filming was due to begin at Leavesden Studios, Watford. The suspension was due to a lockdown in the United Kingdom as a result of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Filming for #FantasticBeasts3 has been put on hold and performances of @CursedChildLDN are temporarily suspended in response to the continuing spread of COVID-19 – https://t.co/vbm7EvKdC7 pic.twitter.com/UY6AuxKGX8
— MuggleNet: #1 Wizarding World Resource Since 1999 (@MuggleNet) March 17, 2020
The production faced further delays throughout the summer, with filming finally starting up again in September and fans learning that the movie will take place at least partially in Berlin, Germany. While everything has been running smoothly since November, despite current lockdowns, production still had to contend with the challenges of making a movie during a pandemic. Last week, we learned that production designer Stuart Craig has been working remotely in order to protect his health. Craig has been overseeing set design via video call since November. We applaud Warner Bros. and Leavesden for coming together to make this decision to ensure his health and well-being!
EXCLUSIVE: Stuart Craig is working remotely on “Fantastic Beasts”, hasn’t set foot on Leavesden lot since November. https://t.co/ZqiTNSnfOn pic.twitter.com/wqz7UqkJ6r
— MuggleNet: #1 Wizarding World Resource Since 1999 (@MuggleNet) January 17, 2021
And let’s not forget, November also saw a change of cast members, with Johnny Depp’s departure from the series and Mads Mikkelsen taking on the role of Gellert Grindelwald. The release date was also pushed back from November 12, 2021, to July 15, 2022.
EXCLUSIVE: Crew members inside production confirm that Mads Mikkelsen will replace Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in the #FantasticBeasts series https://t.co/7vxymo04Ks pic.twitter.com/kNvv2S4vRj
— MuggleNet: #1 Wizarding World Resource Since 1999 (@MuggleNet) November 12, 2020
Considering all the challenges of 2020, the fact that filming is set to wrap so soon is a testament to the dedication of everyone at Leavesden Studios. Eddie Redmayne, Dan Fogler, and Mads Mikkelsen have all recently spoken about the as-yet-untitled third Fantastic Beasts movie. In classic Wizarding World fashion, they were unable to say much at all, but adding this to the news that principal filming (not including reshoots) is set to finish next week, we can’t help but get excited for Newt Scamander’s return to the big screen!