We can fairly assume then, that the executives (both those before and those after the big Discovery merger that has brought so much of a shake-up to DC Films) were likely hoping that ‘The Flash’, which sees Ezra Miller reprising their role as the Scarlet Speedster Barry Allen, would be a cornerstone in proving that everything is – pun entirely intended – running smoothly.
Alas, that is definitely not the case. Despite a safe pair of hands at the helm (‘It’ director Andy Muschietti) and some grand plans for multiverse action and fan-pleasing appearances (including dual Batmen in Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck), ‘The Flash’ is in real danger of running off the road entirely.
A lot of that has to do with Miller’s near-constant appearance in the news for all the wrong reasons, including the most recent incident, where they were charged with felony burglary in Vermont and the authorities seeking to locate a mother and three children who have allegedly been residing at the actor’s farm.
In the wake of ‘Batgirl’s shelving, consideration is now being given to how to handle ‘The Flash’, and according to a new story in The Hollywood Reporter, scrapping the project is not entirely off the table, though is being seen as the unlikely nuclear route.
Instead, various options are apparently being considered, specifically around Miller’s involvement going forward. They were involved in filming additional footage (fairly standard for superhero tentpoles) this summer, which points to Warner Bros. Discovery and DC looking to keep the movie on track.
Ezra Miller is scheduled to appear in ‘The Flash’ on June 23, 2023.
There is talk that Miller could seek professional help for their issues once they return home, and then give a tell-all interview which would then lead to them being the focus of the ‘Flash’ press tour to help adjust the narrative.
Option two focuses on the actor being unwilling to play that PR game, then being largely absent from the press interviews and the studio looking to distance itself from them, with the character re-cast in future movies.
And, as mentioned, the extremely improbable (but still not impossible) option of cancelling the movie’s release entirely.
WBD and DC have a lot of money sunk into the movie already (more than double that of something at ‘Batgirl’s level), so that probably doesn’t make sense.
More likely is the studio as a whole moving away from Miller and handing over their roles in two big franchises – the DC Extended Universe and (assuming those movies go forward) the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Wizarding World – to other actors.
Fans have been suggesting that Grant Gustin, who has played Barry Allen on CW show ‘The Flash’ since 2014, could be brought in to replace Miller thanks to the handy multiverse concept. But we highly doubt that the studio would give into such pressure.
“Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” Miller says in a statement. “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”
It remains to be seen whether this first step will lead to them still being part of the press tour or, indeed, the DCEU going forward.
‘The Flash’ is currently still scheduled for release on June 23rd next year, so let’s see if that sticks.
Ezra Miller at the Los Angeles premiere of 2017’s ‘Justice League.’
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Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dan Fogler about playing Francis Ford Coppola in ‘The Offer.’
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You can read our full interview with Dan Fogler below or click on the video player above to watch out interviews with Fogler, and Giovanni Ribisi about ‘The Offer.’
Moviefone: To begin with, were you aware of all the legendary behind-the-scenes stories of the making of ‘The Godfather’ before you started making this miniseries?
Dan Fogler: Yes, we just had one recently on the series that was a legend that came out, which was the famous dinner scene. I remember talking about that in college when I went to acting school because it was such a great tool. Coppola talks about getting all the actors together for dinner, sharing central activities, drinking together, and partying together because that builds the relationships and it makes excellent chemistry.
So, there was this famous dinner that we recreated in the show, where they brought in the cast. It was the day before shooting and Coppola rented out this room in this restaurant and they brought Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Al Pacino. Everyone was there, even Diane Keaton. Everyone started vying for Brando’s attention and everyone kind of sat where you’d think that they would sit as a family hierarchy.
Then all the things that happened in that scene played out, where there’s an insult and Caan gets upset, and it gets heated. Then Brando says, “Did this man hurt you?” to Talia Shire. Suddenly, it was in that moment that Coppola saw, “Oh my God, this is going to work. Everyone’s falling into place perfectly, the chemistry’s working and they’re already in character.” So, it was one of those magical theatrical moments. So yeah, those are legends. Coming up as a young actor, you hear about all these things and then suddenly you’re on set and you’re recreating them and it’s very surreal.
MF: What was your approach to playing Francis Ford Coppola?
DF: So, I’ve been kind of studying Coppola for a while. I saw ‘The Godfather’ when I was in high school as a young actor, and then used that as a mothership of the whole ensemble, just like reverse engineering. I was seeing everything from Coppola, including ‘The Godfather,’ then I went to ‘Apocalypse Now,’ and ‘Hearts of Darkness.’
Just seeing Coppola, the ringmaster at the center of that circus and the kind of person that it takes. The fortitude that it takes to create something like that, the passion, and the energy. So, I was very familiar with him. I understood as a young actor, he was 30 when he did ‘The Godfather.’ There was a real “Orson Welles syndrome” going on with him, where he’s the smartest guy in the room, but he still is got to prove himself.
He won an Academy Award for writing ‘Patton,’ which is just military poetry, but he still had to prove himself as a director. They don’t make a lot of people like that anymore. These real artists, he’s like a real visionary. What I understood about seeing him at the center of that, that he has to put himself in the middle of chaos in order to create his best work. He has to be in the middle of a pressure cooker in order to create, to be at his best.
I understood as a young actor, really trying to prove yourself, being put in a situation where you’re pigeonholed and who would ever cast me is Coppola? I would think John Belushi first, and I would think all of these different people first. I knew I would have to prove myself in order to be the room to audition for Coppola.
But there was something that happened after the audition where I saw myself and I kind of saw what they were hoping to see, like the potential there, which is that I look like him. I look like I could be related to him if I put the glasses on. I got a beard, I put my hair to side, and I really do look like him. So, there was a confidence there where I thought, I got a shot here. So, Coppola has been in my life a long time.
Matthew Goode as Robert Evans in ‘The Offer,’ streaming on Paramount+, 2022. Photo: Miller Mobley/Paramount+
MF: At this year’s Oscar ceremony, Coppola for the first time ever publicly recognized Robert Evans contributions to ‘The Godfather.’ Can you talk about their relationship in the series and what it was like for you to work with Matthew Goode?
DF: If Matthew is not nominated (for an Emmy), then there’s something wrong with the world. I had a front row seat. There’s something that happened to me playing Coppola, which was, I’m playing a director. I had such a love of the ensemble of all their performances. I was just sitting there impressed. I just couldn’t help but root them on and be a coach for them. Anytime someone was like, “I feel nervous or whatever.” I was like, no. You are amazing. I was there for them for the support. Especially Matthew, because he’s a Brit. What he’s doing is he’s just sinking into that, disappearing into that, and becoming Bob Evans. I think that he’s amazing.
On the show, I’m playing a great admiration for the Evans because he’s giving us a chance here. He’s just a huge coach for everybody, but in a real life, that contention really spiraled out of control. There’re so many egos and there’s telegrams that I found, between Evans and Coppola when they were starting to do ‘The Godfather Part II.’ They’re just scathing, and a lot of feelings were hurt.
Here’s the thing. Coppola had this vision and he saw only one person as the Don, and he wanted Brando. He thought that was a long shot. Then when he got Brando, it was just like, “Okay, well then I want Pacino, that’s my only choice.” So, he became like, “It’s my vision, let me see my vision to the end. There’s something here.”
He butts heads with Evans at every point on the road. So, I guess they did butt heads a bit about that. That’s in the show, and those scenes are a lot of fun, but I think my favorite stuff to play is when they’re working together, getting along, and Evans walks in and is just like a knight in shining armor. He just saves the day. There’re a couple moments like that. Those are my favorite moments, the celebratory moments where we’re all winning, and the musketeers are working together.
MF: Finally, have you ever had a chance to meet Francis Ford Coppola?
DF: No, but I’ve met people in his family. I worked with Robert Schwartzman. I did ‘The Argument,’ with him. He’s his nephew. I’ve met and spoken to, in my research, people that want to be off the record, who are very close to him. I got to speak to James Caan, which is as close to him but not in the family as you can get. I hope one day to talk to him and I hope that he sees it. That would be the ultimate badge of honor to get his stamp of approval.
You can watch an exclusive scene from the finale of Paramount+’s ‘The Offer,’ featuring the premiere of ‘The Godfather,’ by clicking on the video player above.
Once again directed by David Yates, the movie follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and his friends as they aid Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) in stopping his former lover, Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) from taking over both the Wizarding World and the world of Muggles.
The result is an entertaining conclusion to an otherwise pointless spinoff series that never quite recaptures the magic of the ‘Harry Potter’ films but does feature strong performances from Jude Law, Mads Mikkelsen, Dan Fogler, and Alison Sudol.
The movie begins in 1932, where Newt Scamander (Redmayne) is helping a Qilin give birth, which is a magical creature with precognitive abilities. Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller) soon arrives and kidnaps the newborn so the evil Gellert Grindelwald (Mikkelsen) can use it in his plan to take over both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds. Unbeknownst to Grindelwald, the Qilin had twins, and now Newt must keep the sibling’s existence a secret.
Unable to stop Grindelwald himself due to a blood oath the two men took with each other when they were younger, Dumbledore recruits Newt, his brother Theseus (Callum Turner), Eulalie “Lally” Hicks (Jessica Williams), Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam), and Jacob Kowalski (Fogler) to stop Grindelwald’s plan for world domination. Since Grindelwald can now see into the future, thanks to the Qilin, Dumbledore enacts a complicated procedure where his friends only know their roles and not the overall plan.
Grindelwald is soon acquitted of his crimes by the German Ministry of Magic and announces that he is running for the office of Supreme Mugwump. Grindelwald dispatches Barebone to kill Dumbledore and it is soon revealed that he is the lost son of Albus’ brother, Aberforth (Richard Coyle). Now, Dumbledore must hope that his plan works, and that Newt can protect the surviving Qilin long enough to prove Grindelwald is a criminal before he is elected Supreme Mugwump and takes over both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds.
The biggest problem with ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ is that it is the third installment of a series that I have lost interest in after two films. Yes, it’s a spinoff to a franchise that is beloved, but any DNA it shares with the ‘Harry Potter’ films is somewhat surface level at best. So, it was difficult to follow along with the complicated plot because I had forgotten a lot of the characters and subplots from the previous installments.
The ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series really only started to get good with the inclusion of Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore in ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,’ and is at its best when it doubles down on familiar ‘Potter’ characters and locations such as Dumbledore or Hogwarts.
But placing Dumbledore’s relationship with Grindelwald at the center of story was a very wise choice. The film begins with a quiet scene in a restaurant between Law and Mikkelsen’s two characters that is reminiscent of the scene between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in ‘Heat.’ Dumbledore and Grindelwald are clearly at odds with each other, on separate ends of a long Wizarding World conflict, but also have a very strong and loving friendship that is at the heart of the film.
Albus once loved Gellert, and is upset by what he’s become, and what he will ultimately have to do to stop him. The idea that these two enemies cannot fight each other because they once loved each other is a very fascinating aspect to explore, which the film does well and deserves credit for including with such respect.
Jude Law gives an excellent performance, giving all the commanding gravitas you would expect from the character, while also adding a rare vulnerability that we have not seen in past appearances. Richard Harris and Michael Gambon both played Dumbledore as a wise mentor to Harry Potter, but Law’s performance gives a look at him as a younger man, making the difficult choices that would lead him to be the character that guides Harry in the later movies.
Replacing Johnny Depp, who played Grindelwald in the previous film, Mads Mikkelsen doesn’t miss a beat and has wonderful chemistry in his few scenes with Law. Through his performance, you understand what Albus once saw in him, the moments of greatness that have been taken over by his own ambition and rage. While Mikkelsen definitely plays the character as the “villain,” he shows shades of the man Albus fell in love with, which adds to the conflict of the film.
One storyline I do remember from the previous movies that is concluded in ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore,’ is the relationship between Jacob (Dan Fogler) and Queenie (Alison Sudol). If Albus and Gellert’s relationship is central to this film, Jacob and Queenie’s story is central to the overall series. Jacob is the audience’s surrogate, the Muggle who fell in love with a witch that sided with Grindelwald at the conclusion of the last film. Their relationship, watching Jacob fight for her love, and the two actors’ excellent performances are what make Jacob and Queenie two of the best characters in any of the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ movies.
The weak links for me in this film were surprisingly two of the biggest names in the movie, Ezra Miller and Eddie Redmayne, who are both usually very good actors. Miller scowls his way through the film playing Credence Barebone, a character we should have sympathy for but instead is just played like your average villain. Even when his true parentage is revealed, you feel no real connection to the character or his actions.
Redmayne, meanwhile, does his best in the role, but is often overshadowed by Law, Mikkelsen, Fogler and other members of the cast. I appreciate the actor’s take on the character, playing him as a nervous oddball, but the performance can be distracting at times, taking us away from the main points of the plot.
Ultimately, the character of Newt Scamander was just not interesting enough to lead his own series, as he is no Harry Potter! That’s probably why the series quickly pivoted from focusing on Newt to becoming more of an Albus Dumbledore origin story. “Dumbledore Begins,” if you will.
In the end, ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ delivers a satisfying ending to an otherwise rocky series that may appease some ‘Harry Potter’ fans but fails to recapture the magic of the original franchise.
‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ received 3 out of 5 stars.
Like its protagonists, the third outing for the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ franchise has a bit of a battle on its hands. With diminishing box office returns from the second entry, ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald’, and a more specific feeling that this latest trip to the Wizarding World has yet to quite capture the magic of the ‘Harry Potter’ movies, the pressure is on to deliver.
That’s something that the new trailer for the latest movie, ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’ is looking to ease, promising an epic clash between good and evil – albeit with shades of gray in between. As the title suggests, the focus here has shifted towards Jude Law’s Albus Dumbledore, who has been unwilling to join the fight in a real way so far.
He 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?
Yet while it could be easy to assume this is the franchise pivoting completely away from Newt and the rest, the latest look at the movie puts to rest that idea – the Magizoologist is certainly part of the fight here, even if he’s not in the promo as much as, say, Dan Fogelman’s Jacob Kowalski, the aforementioned muggle baker. Just when he thought he was out, the Wizarding World is drawing him back in, and this time he has a wand to use. Which of course could lead to trouble.
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Making the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ movies feel more like the Potter saga is probably a wise move at this point, and ‘The Secrets of Dumbledore’ is aiming to blend the high stakes battle that fans have been craving with the usual assortments of magical creatures that is Newt’s more normal focus.
David Yates is once more directing, but the real news behind the scenes here is the presence of Potter veteran Steve Kloves, who wrote all of the seven original films. While J.K. Rowling crafted the screenplay for the first two ‘Beasts’, they weren’t exactly praised for their sparkling dialogue or pacey feel, while the plotting was judged to be convoluted.
Mikkelsen, brought in to replace Johnny Depp, knows how to play layered villains, and the idea of him going head-to-head with Law, especially given what we know about their characters, is certainly something to anticipate.
Were it not an extension of one of the most popular movie franchises of all time, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” may well have been a franchise killer. This prequel fails to conjure the magic of the other films. Sure, the titular beats are a hoot, as is Eddie Redmayne‘s soft-spoken protagonist. But the story is a real slog, making the prospect of four sequels a hard pill to swallow.
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‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ (2018)
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” came into the franchise on slightly shaky feet. Not only was the first’s reception mixed-to-lukewarm, there was also a swirl of controversy around the casting (and continued employment) of Johnny Depp as the titular dark wizard. (When J.K. Rowling has to issue a statement on Twitter, you know it’s a big deal.)
So it’s a relief to say that the sequel is a total blast, an ornate, appropriately epic follow-up that feels like an honest-to-goodness part of the franchise (and not some weird side quest, like the first one did). Eddie Redmayne, as the twitchy Newt Scamander, endears more than annoys this time around, and Jude Law as Sexy Young Dumbledore is a welcome addition. (Also, critics be damned, Depp is terrific.) Darker, stranger, and more pointedly political, even if you weren’t a fan of the first, this should cast its spell on you.
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‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ (2022)
Once again directed by David Yates, the movie follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and his friends as they aid Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) in stopping his former lover, Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) from taking over both the Wizarding World and the world of Muggles.
The result is an entertaining conclusion to an otherwise pointless spinoff series that never quite recaptures the magic of the ‘Harry Potter’ films but does feature strong performances from Jude Law, Mads Mikkelsen, Dan Fogler, and Alison Sudol.
The movie begins in 1932, where Newt Scamander (Redmayne) is helping a Qilin give birth, which is a magical creature with precognitive abilities. Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller) soon arrives and kidnaps the newborn so the evil Gellert Grindelwald (Mikkelsen) can use it in his plan to take over both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds. Unbeknownst to Grindelwald, the Qilin had twins, and now Newt must keep the sibling’s existence a secret.
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‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
Warner Bros.
The original Harry Potter was great fun for its time, but it doesn’t exactly hold up to what came later. The franchise was still at its most innocent and family-friendly here. It’s a solid adaptation of the book, but there’s definitely a spark that’s missing.
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‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ (2002)
Warner Bros.
The second entry in the series is a definite improvement over the first. It’s got a more compelling mystery, some memorable new characters (like Kenneth Branagh‘s self-absorbed Gilderoy Lockhart) and delves more deeply into the history of Lord Voldemort. Despite all this, there’s a certain spark in the later movies that isn’t present under director Chris Columbus.
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‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
Warner Bros.
As much as the series seemed to get better and better with each new installment, in the end no “Harry Potter” movie managed to outdo “Prisoner of Azkaban.” The third in the series, “Azkaban” was also the first to show moviegoers what was really possible with this universe. It’s a much darker, funnier and more visually stunning take on the source material than what we got with the slavishly faithful first two films. That’s the benefit of bringing a director as talented as Alfonso Cuaron aboard. He elevated every facet of the series during his brief time at Hogwarts.
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‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005)
Warner Bros.
“Goblet of Fire” is one of the longest (and most beloved) books in the series, and more than with any of the other adaptations, you can really feel this one straining to cram in all the important beats. It’s hard not to feel frustrated at seeing so many big moments (like the Quidditch World Cup) glossed over here. Even so, there’s plenty of enjoyable material left, from hormonal teen wizards to a rousing dragon battle to the debut of Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort.
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‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007)
Warner Bros.
Despite being based on the longest book in the series, “Order of the Phoenix” does a much better job than “Goblet of Fire” when it comes to streamlining the source material. It was also the darkest chapter in the series to date, with many of the franchise regulars rising to the challenge. This sequel also introduces some of the best characters in the series, from the spacey Luna Lovegood to villains so evil you love to hate them like Bellatrix Lestrange and Dolores Umbridge.
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‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009)
Warner Bros.
The “Harry Potter” series is one of those rare cases where the quality generally improves over time, and that definitely held true for the sixth entry. “The Half-Blood Prince” is the last movie to explore Harry, Ron and Hermione’s time at Hogwarts before everything goes south. More than most, it manages to balance a grim tone with a sly sense of humor and moments of whimsy. The movie also goes a long way towards humanizing supporting characters like Dumbledore and Draco Malfoy.
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‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1’ (2010)
Warner Bros.
The penultimate chapter in the main “Harry Potter” saga, “Deathly Hallows – Part 1” pushes the story in an even darker and more dramatic direction. This sequel puts Harry, Ron and Hermione on the run, with the tone and visual style becoming grittier and more frenetic as a result. It doesn’t end particularly well given the choice to split the novel into two parts, but it still offers a very satisfying ride.
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‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2’ (2011)
Warner Bros.
The “Harry Potter” movies reached their dramatic climax with this epic and emotionally satisfying final chapter. As with its predecessor, “Part 2” suffers a bit from having one story broken into two halves. Even so, it features so of the best moments in the series as well as some engrossing, emotionally charged acting from the franchise regulars. This is a movie designed to have you nonstop ugly crying for about the last hour.
The “Fantastic Beasts” of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be back in 2021.
Warner Bros. announced a release date for “Fantastic Beasts 3,” the third installment in the “Harry Potter” spinoff series. It will hit theaters November 12, 2021.
Production on the movie, which stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, will begin in spring 2020. Potter-verse creator J.K. Rowling will write the screenplay. David Yates, who helmed the first two installments, is attached to direct again.
Its predecessor in the franchise, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” introduced Jude Law as a younger Professor Albus Dumbledore and Johnny Depp as the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. It opened last November and earned $653 million worldwide, despite receiving mixed reviews.
The “Fantastic Beasts” franchise is intended to run for five films.
Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando are premiere entertainment destinations that allow you to be transported into your favorite films (and sometimes get to watch them being filmed). But during the holidays, they become even more magical, festooned with decorations and special lighting packages, and enough Christmas cheer that you’d have to be a Grinch to not have a good time (and, yes, he’s around too). We took a trip to both domestic Universal resorts to take in all of the festive offerings, and are happy to report back on all the yuletide-specific adventures they have to offer.
First, let’s start at the east coast resort, Universal Studios Florida. The resort now consists of three theme parks – Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and the recently-opened “theme water park” Volcano Bay (sadly, there wasn’t anything Christmas-y going on there). At the main park, we were treated to a wide array of holiday-specific food offerings (including a Grinch-shaped donut that I am happy to report was utterly delicious) and, riding a definite sugar high, got to sample some of the other things that you can do during the holidays. One of the most jaw-dropping is Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s, a full-on, Thanksgiving Day-worthy parade that features 30 balloons and floats of your favorite characters and movies, along with hundreds of performers and even an appearance by the big guy himself, Santa Claus. This is one of the greatest theme park parades currently in existence, and the sheer scope and scale of it will leave you dazzled.
Also, in terms of live entertainment, there’s the Mannheim Steamroller, who perform on select dates at Universal Studios at the Music Plaza Stage (the one over by the looping rollercoaster). Because, honestly, what is Christmas without Mannheim Steamroller?
Over at the adjacent Islands of Adventure, there’s even more to enjoy. The big draw at this park is, of course, Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. While this incorporates elements at both parks (since, as we all know, the Wizarding World has “lands” in each), nothing packs them in like the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle, an incredibly nifty projection-and-fireworks show that happens nightly at the iconic castle. Using state-of-the-art effects and animation (and backed by John Williams’ unforgettable music), the castle totally transforms, whisking you away to a land of enchantment and majesty. (Make sure you have your hot butterbeer handy.) Elsewhere in the Wizarding World, decorations have been lovingly placed (as if by magic) and the live performances also take on a festive edge, with the Frog Choir and Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees each engaging in holiday favorites. It helps that Hogsmeade, with its snow-topped roofs, already feels very wintery but with these new decorations and experiences, it takes things to a whole different level of immersion. There are also, it should be noted, a lot of really cute, holiday-specific merchandise that you can find, including custom-made Christmas ornaments created specifically for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Universal
Also at Islands of Adventure, a familiar green fiend will be making himself known as part of the annual Grinchmas at Universal’s Islands of Adventure celebration. This wonderful event takes place every year in the Seuss Landing section of the park and its centerpiece is the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular, a live retelling of Dr. Seuss’ classic story, which this year features new sets and new special effects. (But the same moldy old Grinch!) If you just happen to be walking around Seuss Landing, you could also just run into the Grinch or some of the amiable Whos from Who-ville. If you want to up your odds of interacting with these fantastical characters, you might want to book a special, ticketed breakfast that happens on select dates at the Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous. Yes, that’s what it’s called. Deal with it.
Now, we shuttle back to the west coast (as quick as Santa in his sleigh) to check out Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal Studios Hollywood has been in the midst of a transformation, with bigger experiences and bolder improvements to both its attractions (look for a Jurassic World re-theme of the classic Jurassic Park ride next year) and its general infrastructure (like the new shops along the main thoroughfare as you enter the park). And so if you haven’t visited recently, the holidays are a great time. Not only are the decorations out-of-control (like the 60-tall whimsical “Grinchmas” tree (where performers sing on select days and the Minions-supervised mayhem over in Super Silly Fun Land), but Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is also showcased on this coast, complete with the projection show. Here’s a tip, too: get there early for the nighttime spectacular, since there isn’t quite as much room as down in Florida, a queue forms outside the land on most nights.
The Flash isn’t racing into theaters anytime soon.
Warner Bros. is delaying the start of production on the still untitled standalone movie centered on the speedster character, played by Ezra Miller in “Justice League.”
According to Variety, even though the film never received a formal greenlight, it was due to begin filming in March. Now, filming is more likely to commence in late 2019, for a 2021 release.
The delay is reportedly all Harry Potter’s fault, or we should the Harry Potter universe. Miller has a key role in the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, and the third film is set to begin filming in July. That would’ve caused major scheduling headaches had The Flash movie started this spring.
Earlier this year, Warner Bros. replaced director Rick Famuyiwa (“Dope”), who had left the project due to creative differences, with “Spider-Man: Homecoming” writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.
The DC Extended Universe has plenty going on, even with The Flash’s delay. “Aquaman” and “Shazam” are coming soon, and everyone is excitedly waiting for “Wonder Woman 1984” in November 2019.
Depp just had a Q&A with Entertainment Weekly about the upcoming “Fantastic Beasts” sequel. He discussed Grindelwald’s sexuality, his “intense” relationship with Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), his jealousy of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), and his defense of Grindelwald as “an oddly likable character.” (As opposed to Donald Trump — Depp doesn’t agree with comparisions between Grindelwald and Trump.)
He also explained his process of finding the character, and said giving Grindelwald two very different eyes was his idea:
EW: “He now has, as one of your costars referred to, a “Scary Eye,” one eye rather different from the other. Does that have a backstory, is that just creepy?”
Johnny Depp: “It’s a character choice. I saw Grindelwald as more than one, if you know what I mean. I almost felt like he’s maybe two people. He’s twins in one body. So a gamey eye is more like the other side of him. Sort of like a brain for each eye, an albino twin, and he’s somewhere in the middle.”
Warner Bros.
And of course there’s the controversy over casting Johnny Depp at all. Some “Fantastic Beast” fans were thrilled to see Depp. Others were disappointed, after having Colin Farrell in the first film. And still more were upset at J.K. Rowling for casting Depp after allegations that he abused his now ex-wife Amber Heard. Rowling issued a statement supporting Depp.
EW asked Depp if there was anything he’d say to fans on the fence about seeing the film:
“I’ll be honest with you, I felt bad for J.K. having to field all these various feelings from people out there. I felt bad that she had to take that. But ultimately, there is real controversy. The fact remains I was falsely accused, which is why I’m suing the Sun newspaper for defamation for repeating false accusations. [Depp’s attorney said his “evidence” will be presented in court in the defamation case against The Sun.] J.K. has seen the evidence and therefore knows I was falsely accused, and that’s why she has publicly supported me. She doesn’t take things lightly. She would not stand up if she didn’t know the truth. So that’s really it.”
Not that Rowling was part of Depp’s marriage. None of us were there. Depp also shared a message to the many loyal “Harry Potter” fans:
“I feel like the main thing as an actor is your loyalty. It’s my job to enforce the author’s vision and also be true to the director’s vision. And then there’s being true to my vision. It’s a major responsibility, being handed the keys to this car. My intense loyalty is to not just J.K. and David Yates but to the people who go and see the films as well, the people who have invested their lives into this magnificent, incredible world J.K. has created. I went full tilt and headfirst into the character knowing the responsibility that I had. It’s good to take the audience on a ride they’re not necessarily expecting, yet with great respect to the world they’ve come to understand and know. The Potter fans are like scholars of this stuff which I find incredibly impressive. They know that world inside and out. I hope to give them something they haven’t seen before.”
It’ll take seeing this movie (and maybe the next one, and the next one?) to really judge Depp’s performance as the infamous dark wizard. Fans and non-fans have already taken sides on Depp’s relationship with Heard, and that may continue through the next films as well.
The “Fantastic Beasts” series is meant to include five films, all written by “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling herself. “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” is the second movie in the series and it opens in theaters November 16.
But the final poster for “Crimes of Grindelwald” puts Depp’s Grindelwald front and center. We don’t see his face, but we see the Eiffel Tower — placing the sequel in Paris — and see Grindelwald holding his wand as he moves toward the other main characters:
Should we read into who is on which side of Grindelwald?
You may recall reading that Johnny Depp surprised the San Diego Comic-Con audience when he showed up in character to make a wizard power speech. That followed the debut of a trailer featuring Grindelwald making a similar speech.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is the second of five planned films in J.K. Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts” series. It opens in theaters on November 16th.
