But what happens when your Tiffany brand starts to rust? “This is supposed to be a crown jewel, and it’s not behaving like one.”įor Warner Bros., “Harry Potter” is one of the two flagship franchises (DC Comics is the other) intended to prop up the studio’s film strategy in an era where streaming services have fashioned themselves as major rivals to traditional players. You expect more,” says Exhibitor Relations analyst Jeff Bock, in reference to Disney’s premier franchise set in a galaxy far, far away. Rather than expanding the franchise’s relevance beyond Potter and his pals, “Fantastic Beasts” hasn’t managed to justify its existence without everyone’s favorite boy wizard. But through a combination of bad luck, casting choices gone wrong, creative shortfalls and diminishing box office returns, the prequel story - which is set decades prior to the adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione - has become a headache for Warner Bros. It’s the latest in a long list of controversies plaguing “Fantastic Beasts.” The fantastical series was intended to wring newfound riches from author J.K Rowling’s sprawling Wizarding World after 2011’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” capped off a decade of generation-defining blockbusters that turned Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson into household names. Complicating matters is the fact that Miller also headlines next year’s DC Comics adaptation “The Flash” for Warners. to downplay Miller’s involvement in the film franchise.

Instead, that incident and other eyebrow-raising events forced Warner Bros. In another timeline, Miller, known for striking red carpet outfits and zany interviews, would have been front and center to promote “The Secrets of Dumbledore,” which opens in North American theaters on April 15. A day prior to the glitzy world premiere of “ Fantastic Beasts: 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.

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