Thread by @Variety

“Through a combination of bad luck, casting choices gone wrong, creative shortfalls and diminishing box office returns, #FantasticBeasts has become a headache for Warner Bros.,” writes @rebeccaarubin. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

“Rather than expanding the franchise’s relevance beyond Potter and his pals, #FantasticBeasts hasn’t managed to justify its existence without everyone’s favorite boy wizard.” tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

A day prior to the glitzy world premiere of “#FantasticBeasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” Ezra Miller, who has a key role in the upcoming “Harry Potter” spinoff sequel, was arrested for disorderly conduct and harassment. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

As the third movie faced delays, Johnny Depp was forced to exit the franchise after losing a libel case against the British tabloid The Sun, which published an article calling the actor a “wife beater.” tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

During the same period, “Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling went from beloved author to deeply polarizing figure due to her controversial views on sex and gender identity. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

Rowling’s repeated comments against transgender women have put Warner Bros. in a precarious situation: Condemn the literary doyenne and jeopardize a billion-dollar relationship; defend her and risk alienating fans who were already on the fence. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

While Rowling made a rare appearance at the London premiere of “The Secrets of Dumbledore,” she has avoided press and been near-silent on social media regarding the film’s release. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

In case those entanglements weren’t taxing enough, audiences don’t really seem to like the series, causing Warner Bros. to try to retool the story and recapture the charm of the original saga. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

Warner Bros.’ efforts to save the series included hiring screenwriter Steve Kloves for the third movie and relegating once-prominent characters, like Katherine Waterson’s Tina Goldstein, to the fringes in favor of spotlighting Dumbledore and Grindelwald. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

Dumbledore is openly gay in the newest movie, which could damage the box office in some places, including China — where references to homosexuality were censored. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

Warner Bros. made a concerted effort to rein in the budget for “Secrets of Dumbledore,” but pricey COVID protocols brought the film to a $200 million budget, not including expensive marketing costs. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

At the moment, there’s no screenplay for a fourth installment, sources have confirmed. Executives at Warner Bros. are waiting to see how “The Secrets of Dumbledore” is received before giving films four and five the green light. tinyurl.com/yc5hwz2m

Read @rebeccaarubin’s full report here: variety.com/2022/film/news…