Producer David Heyman returned with Eddie Redmayne’s Fantastic Beasts Franchise as a way to revive the beloved wizarding world after the satisfying ending of Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter franchise. But surprisingly, Heyman had very different plans for the films than what we ultimately saw on screen.

According to David Heyman, he planned to return to the Harry Potter Universe, he wanted to return with the character Newt Scamander. But here’s the twist: Heyman had originally planned to make a documentary-style film that would take the audience on a journey with the character in his search for his magical beasts.

David Heyman’s original plans for Eddie Redmayne’s Fantastic Beasts Films

The participation in Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter David Heyman was the producer of all eight films released from 2001 to 2011. After the conclusion of Harry’s chapter with Deathly Hallows Part 2Heyman recalled a feeling of emptiness during his interview with SlashFilm. Then he tried to find a way to return to the wizarding world.

David Heyman’s preference for the Harry Potter Universe and so his idea for the Fantastic Beasts Spinoff. A total of five films are planned, starting with Eddie Redmayne’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them The highly anticipated spin-off franchise has seen three films released so far in 2016. But as the franchise’s success resonates around the world, there’s a surprising twist in the film series’ creation.

When Harry Potter ended, I had mixed feelings. It was very sad because we had become something like a family and everyone was going their own way. But it was also exciting, new challenges, new films, new projects. So I went off and made a few films. I made Gravity and a film called Paddington. Then, in the middle of making Paddington, Potter started knocking in my head.

During the interview, David Heyman looked back at his original plans for the spinoff, noting that he originally wanted to do it in documentary style rather than feature film format. Now, while it would have been unique and interesting, we believe that if Warner Bros. had followed through with Heyman’s original plan, the franchise could have become a disaster beyond Johnny Depp’s salvage.

I was with (producer) Lionel Wigram and we were trying to figure out how we could go back to that world. And Lionel had the idea of ​​making a documentary about Newt Scamander, a pseudo-documentary where we follow him on his quest to find his magical beasts.

Fortunately, David Heyman had the idea for her documentary Fantastic Beasts Movies, he suggested it to the Harry Potter Author JK Rowling, who ultimately saved the franchise from disappointment. Considering how Daniel Radcliffe’s original films appealed to audiences and became a nostalgic element for fans with their feature film version, Heyman’s brand new version could have ruined the franchise’s brand image, so Rowling’s intervention seemed obvious.

JK Rowling’s intervention saved the Harry Potter Spinoff of Catastrophe

Surprisingly, JK Rowling initially expressed no problems with Eddie Redmayne’s documentary style Fantastic Beasts Films. The author was initially excited about making another of her internationally acclaimed book series into a film. With boundless enthusiasm, Rowling first informed David Heyman of her plans to write the screenplay for the films. The author was willing to try her hand at new areas and eventually captivated the producer with her first draft.

I pitched this idea to Jo and she said, “You know, it’s funny, I’ve been thinking about Newt Scamander myself and I have this whole story about him, and what do you think?” She told us and we thought, “Mhm.” And she said, “Well, yes, and I’d love to write the script.” And (we had) mixed feelings about it, because she’s a novelist and she’s never written a script before. When the script arrived, she gave it to me. And I read it. And as soon as I opened it, I felt (dramatic sigh) relief.

Although David Heyman was absolutely impressed with JK Rowling’s work on the script, the author was not satisfied. She then began to write the second draft with more tension and seriousness. Rowling delved deeper into one aspect of the plot in her second draft and dropped vivid explanations. This particular change in tone and clarity eventually forced Heyman to change his plans for the documentary project. Therefore, it seems that Rowling’s wordplay on Eddie Redmayne’s Fantastic Beasts from a massive failure.

It was very rough, but it’s a first draft from someone who was writing his first script. The characters were so vivid. The scenes were exciting. It’s a bit whimsical, a bit light, didn’t have the seriousness that you would have wanted, that you associate with Potter. And then the second draft – we brought in David Yates, brought in David Yates, Steve Kloves and myself and Lionel and David. And then Jo did a second draft. And that draft was really dark. Really, really dark.

The explicit nature of JK Rowling’s second draft and how she addressed the abuse of Credence “much stronger, much more openDavid Heyman mentioned that the way the author expressed her ideas led to the change in direction of the film. Since Rowling’s script required a huge feature film, Heyman, David Yates, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram agreed to adapt the iconic Fantastic Beasts film franchise.

Harry Potter Films will be available on Max from February 2024.

Fantastic Beasts Movies will be available on Max from May 2022.