Fantastic Beastsstar Eddie Redmayne shares a disappointing response regarding Newt Scamander’s return to theHarry Potterfranchise. Daniel Radcliffe bid farewell to the role of Harry in 2011 with the release ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, but the Wizarding World returned in 2016 withFantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which introduced Newt as a new protagonist. Newt returned for a poorly-reviewed sequel in 2018 and forFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledorein 2022, which stalled the spinoff franchise after it became the lowest-grossing movie in the largerHarry Potterfranchise.
In a recent interview withComicBook.com, Redmayne is asked about whether Newt will be returning in any futureFantastic BeastsorHarry Potterprojects, and the actor isn’t optimistic.Redmayne shares a candid response, revealing that he believes audiences won’t be seeing Newt again, at least not on the big screen. The star does tease that Newt may appear at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Florida, however. Check out his full response below:
“I think they probably have [seen the last of Newt]. That was a very frank answer, but yeah. And that’s as far as I know. I mean, you’d have to speak to the people at Warner Bros. and J.K Rowling, but as far as I know, that’s it. I think he may come back in a glimpse in the Universal world in Florida that they’re opening up, in which you may catch a glimpse of what he was up to in Paris.”
What Redmayne’s Update Means For The Fantastic Beasts Franchise
The Harry Potter Spinoff’s Future Explained
Made on an estimated budget of $200 million, the thirdFantastic Beastsgrossed only $407 million at the box office, setting an unfortunate franchise record.Reviews forFantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledorewere better than the ones forThe Crimes of Grindelwald, but they were still very mixed overall. The last two films in this sub-franchise, then, failed to make much of a mark, andthe original five-movie plan for Newt seems more or less dead in the water.
Fantastic Beasts 4 Could Have Revisited One Dark Story The Harry Potter Movies Cut
There are many reasons why Fantastic Beasts 4 should have happened, and this unresolved plot point would have been a great addition.
Right now, it’s not clear what’s next for the movie arm of the Wizarding World.The main focus currently seems to be the upcomingHarry PotterTV show, which is expected to release on Max in 2026. Beyond that, there have been rumors of a movieadaptation ofHarry Potter and the Cursed Child, the hit play, but there’s been nothing concrete about this. Plus, such an adaptation would require the participation of some original stars, including Harry himself, but Radcliffe has been fairly clear about wanting to leave the franchise in the past for the time being.
TheHarry PotterTV show is expected to deliver a more accurate and exhaustive adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s book series, with one season for each of the seven novels.
Our Take On Newt Scamander Not Returning To The Harry Potter Franchise
Redmayne’s Character Deserved A Better Ending
Though all theFantastic Beastsmovies, the last two, in particular, failed to live up to the mainHarry Potterfranchise, Redmayne still made for an excellent new protagonist. Newt’s journey got lost somewhat in the last movie as the franchise pivoted to focus more on Dumbledore and nostalgia, and it’s a shame that he now won’t be getting a proper sendoff.
While it’s unfortunate that Newt won’t be returning,the franchise now has an opportunity to move in a new direction, which could be exciting. With theHarry PotterTV showcoming, it’s unlikely that a Harry-focused movie will be moving forward, but it certainly seems like the Wizarding World is still ripe for further exploration. If another movie does arrive, it likely won’t be happening anytime soon.
Fantastic Beasts
TheFantastic Beastsfranchise is a prequel and spin-off of theHarry Potterseries, set in the Wizarding World. It follows the adventures of Newt Scamander, a magizoologist who travels the globe studying magical creatures. The series expands into the political and social conflicts of the magical community, particularly the rise of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald and his confrontation with a younger Albus Dumbledore. The films focus on themes of friendship, loyalty, and the battle between good and evil, against the backdrop of a magical world in the early 20th century.
