Harry Potter has been around for what seems like forever. The Wizarding World started in 1997 in J.K. Rowling’s book The Philosopher’s Stone. It then got its own movie series in 2001 starring Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger.
The Harry Potter universe has grown immensely since 2001. There are toys, games, books, clothes and Halloween costumes out there for fans. Basically, you name it, they have it. As of late, Harry Potter doesn’t revolve around the most famous wizard who defeated Voldemort as a child. An employee from Aksarben Cinema, Trey, said that the new “Fantastic Beasts” movies are prequels to the original Harry Potter series.
“It is bringing together stories that are touched upon involving Dumbledore’s past and sort of adding more life to the universe. Rather than just keeping it within the realm of the UK where the Harry Potter film is focused on,” Trey said.
The “Fantastic Beasts” trilogy just released its second movie, The Crimes of Grindelwald, on Thursday November 15th. This trilogy is just the latest addition keeping the Wizarding World alive.
Harry Potter fan, Elizabeth Gaddie, said Harry Potter has become her addiction, and the new movies are just feeding that addiction.
“And I can’t stop, and I don’t want to stop,” Gaddie said.
With all things that are widely popular, controversies will arise. The Wizarding World took a little bit of a hit with one of the big controversies surrounding the new movie. Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald, and some fans were upset because there were allegations brought forward by his ex-wife, Amber Heard, last year that he was abusive.
(Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
Elizabeth Gaddie did not care about these allegations because they were just that—allegations.
“I think it’s crap that they were trying to get him kicked off the cast just because of some allegations his ex-wife made. I think J.K. Rowling even came out and said the same thing. I don’t mind him playing Grindelwald, and I think he did a great job,” Gaddie said.
Even though the controversy did take a hit to the Wizarding World, it is still standing strong with millions of fans. The next Fantastic Beasts movie is set to come out November 20, 2020. After the last installment in the Fantastic Beasts series, where will the Wizarding World take its fans next? Both Trey and Gaddie know where they want it to take them.
“I’m particularly a fan of the Peverell Brothers. I love the history of the Wizarding World, and I am really interested in seeing what they could do with the stories behind the stone, wand and cloak,” Trey said.
“I really want to see the Marauders. They need to start it when they all meet and become friends. Then they can all go get yelled at by McGonagall because you know they did. Then it would be really cool to see how they became Animagus, and I just really want a Marauders movie,” Gaddie said.
