While the Harry Potter spin-off franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, started out strong when the first installment landed in theaters, it hasn't gone so well for the sequels. 2018's Crimes of Grindelwald was the lowest-grossing film in the entirety of the Wizarding World and the currently sequel in theaters, Secrets of Dumbledore, has gotten even worse reviews along with a weak start at the box office. It's gotten so bad that Warner Bros. is reported to be waiting on the performance of Secrets of Dumbledore before deciding whether or not to move forward with the remaining two installments that were proposed in the five-film series for Fantastic Beasts. However, exhibitor relations analyst Jeff Bock proposed a different approach is needed to save the franchise, essentially by doing the long-anticipated (and let's be honest, inevitable) adaptation of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a theater production that serves as a sequel to the original Harry Potter films. Bock had this to say:
“There’s still a lot of directions that Warner could take Wizarding World in the long-term, but right now they need to get back to what people like most about it, and that’s Harry. Whether it’s a Cursed Child adaptation or something else, the next project should be something closer to the books that builds an appetite for a spinoff that can really branch out the way the first Fantastic Beasts did.”
Premiering on London's West End in 2016 the play has since seen massive success, with productions in Japan, Australia and on Broadway. It has since gone on to break the record for the all-time highest weekly ticket sales of any play. It's also been heavily pushed by fans to be adapted though original star Daniel Radcliffe doesn't want to return to the role that made him famous (at least for now) as he has worked in the last decade to separate himself from the brand that he's been associated with most of his career. This despite the fact that director Chris Columbus, who directed the first two films in the Harry Potter series, has talked about wanting to direct it.
As of now, Secrets of Dumbledore is set to be the first Wizarding World film not to cross $500 million at the box office, which doesn't spell good news. It's a strong possibility that Warner Bros. would gladly through whatever amount of money or deals that Radcliffe and the rest of the original cast might want to restore what once was one of their most successful franchises. For now, it's a possibility the new installment will be called The Death of the Wizard World Franchise. Stay tuned!