After delays due to the pandemic, production on the third Fantastic Beasts film, which finally begun in September, faces another delay. The UK shoot was shut down after a member of the team on set tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement, Warner Bros. says, "A team member from Fantastic Beasts 3 has tested positive for COVID-19. The diagnosis was confirmed as a result of required and ongoing testing that all production employees receive, and the team member is currently in isolation. Out of an abundance of caution, Fantastic Beasts 3 paused production and will be back up in accordance with safety guidelines." The identity of the team member was not disclosed.

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Very little is known about the plot of Fantastic Beasts 3. The third film in the spin-off series to the Harry Potter stories brings back much of the cast of the first two movies, including Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, and Katherine Waterston. Due to the delay in shooting, the release date has been pushed from 2021 to July 15, 2022.

The pandemic hasn't been the only hurdle faced in the production of this movie, however. Johnny Depp, who played Gellert Grindelwald in the series, exited the film after losing a libel case with British paper The Sun involving allegations of assault between him and his ex-wife. In November 2020, after he had filmed just one scene for Fantastic Beasts 3, both Depp and Warner Bros. confirmed that he would be leaving the franchise.

The role of Gellert Grindelwald was recast, with actor Mads Mikkelson joining the film. Mikkelson stated in an interview after his casting was announced, "There has to be a bridge between what Johnny did and what I'm going to do. And at the same time, I also have to make it my own. But also we have to find a few links [to the previous version of the character] and some bridges so it doesn't completely detach from what he's already masterfully achieved."

Fantastic Beasts 3 has also been involved in controversy due to statements made by its screenwriter, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. The author has come under fire in the last year due to her continued transphobic statements and support of transphobic people and organizations. Several Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts cast members, including star Eddie Redmayne, have come forward in support of trans people in the wake of her statements. For many fans, J.K. Rowling's statements have tainted their view of the franchise and made them unwilling to support any project she is directly involved in. Production on Fantastic Beasts 3 went forward, however, with her continued involvement.

Fantastic Beasts 3 is set for release July 15 2022.

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Source: The Hollywood Reporter