Fantastic Beasts 3 Ending Explained & Future Setup (In Detail)

The Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore ending set up the franchise’s future, which ended without moving forward to the ultimate Dumbledore vs. Grindelwald wizard battle. Directed by David Yates, the film is the third in what was originally planned as a five-film franchise. While Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them followed magizoologist Newt Scamander on his adventures, The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore veered away from Newt to make room for Dumbledore and Grindelwald.

The Secrets of Dumbledore delves into Dumbledore’s history with Grindelwald and their blood pact while exploring more of the Dumbledore family dynamics and backstory. Fantastic Beasts 3 involves many characters, a plan to stop Grindelwald, and more information about the Wizarding World and how it functions. Crucially, the film also set up the direction of Fantastic Beasts 4, which never happened since Warner Bros. canceled the franchise due to lackluster box office success.

Dumbledore’s Grindelwald Plan Explained

It Was All About Protecting The Qilin

Dumbledore knew he could not duel Grindelwald because of their blood pact, which prevented them from fighting each other, so the best thing he could do was ensure the dark wizard did not gain any more ground in his rise to power. That was easier said than done, however. Dumbledore’s plan was primarily to thwart Grindelwald in any way he could, ensuring the qilin was not in his possession. That proved more difficult, considering Grindelwald’s allies had already captured one of two qilins.

Dumbledore still had the upper hand here because his ex-lover did not immediately know there were two of the creatures. He concocted a scheme that would trick Grindelwald and his acolytes into thinking they had the upper hand. Protecting the second qilin was the most crucial aspect of his plan, so he had Newt carrying the same suitcase. Dumbledore knew what Grindelwald was up to and wanted to ensure the Wizarding World saw he rigged the election by keeping the reveal of the still-alive qilin until the right moment.

The qilin was the final and most important part of it all.

The other parts of Dumbledore’s plan — stopping the assassination of Santos and attempting to sway Anton Vogel to do what was right — were secondary to protecting the qilin until it was needed. Dumbledore knew that the other parts of the plan could go awry, and the qilin was the final and most important part of it all. If Grindelwald killed both of the qilin before the election ceremony, stopping the assassination and convincing Vogel would have been worthless.

Why Anton Vogel Helps Grindelwald Gain Power

Vogel Wanted To Remain On Grindelwald’s Good Side

Anton Vogel ignored Dumbledore’s message about doing what was right and not what was easy. Germany’s Minister of Magic was an intriguing and unexpected foil to Newt and Dumbledore’s crew, primarily because audiences never knew which side he would take. Vogel was already leaving his position as Supreme Head of the International Confederation of Wizards. By encouraging Grindelwald to run in the election, Vogel set himself up for the future. Rigging the election to ensure the qilin would choose Grindelwald meant Vogel would always have an ally on the inside.

He also sided with Grindelwald’s ideology, supporting the dark wizard and wanting nothing more than to see wizards and witches claim their place in the world without being separated from the muggle world. With Grindelwald as the leader of the ICW, Vogel could continue to be influential instead of losing his power. Vogel also knew how powerful Grindelwald was and how frustrated his followers would be if he didn’t secure a place as a candidate in the elections.

Vogel was corrupt and into the same dark magic as Grindelwald.

Ultimately, Vogel was corrupt and into the same dark magic as Grindelwald and had absolutely no shame working with him to achieve their goals. He was certainly never interested in doing what was right if it meant he could rig the system in his and Grindelwald’s favor, especially since Vogel did not see eye-to-eye with Dumbledore.

Why Dumbledore & Grindelwald’s Blood Pact Is Broken

Dumbledore Fought Out Of Love & Grindelwald Out Of Anger

Dumbledore and Grindelwald made a blood pact years prior — and before they became enemies — that would prevent them from dueling each other. The blood pact is essentially why Dumbledore recruited a team to thwart Grindelwald. However, that pact was broken by the end of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore after Grindelwald aimed his wand at Aurelius to kill him.

Dumbledore sought to protect his nephew with a spell. When his and Grindelwald’s spells connected, the blood pact deteriorated because Dumbledore’s defense was out of love while Grindelwald’s was out of anger and hatred. The blood pact being broken is a big deal because it is something so powerful. It was also the only thing keeping the two wizards from battling each other.

Their sacred oath to each other is no longer something that binds them together

It also means their sacred oath to each other is no longer something that binds them together, their relationship now as broken as the blood pact. This forges the way for Dumbledore and Grindelwald to eventually engage in another duel. And while their blood pact may be no more, there is still a strong connection between them because of their pact.

What Does Aurelius Being Obscurial Really Mean?

His Powers Were Repressed As A Child

Like Ariana Dumbledore, Aurelius was also revealed to be an Obscurial, a wizard whose magic was repressed as a child. An Obscurus, in particular, is a dark force of magic that is pushed to the surface because of this repression, which was made worse by the abuse of his adoptive mother. It’s uncontrollable and acts like a parasite to the wizard or witch. For Aurelius, his Obscurus transformation entails a looming darkness that overpowers him in its attack on others.

When provoked, Aurelius’ magic is released, and it is quite terrifying, but he does not have a firm grasp over what it does when unleashed. It takes a group of aurors to stop Aurelius for this very reason. In some ways, it acts like a magical disease, and those who develop an Obscurus don’t live very long. The fact that Aurelius lives into adulthood is indicative of how powerful an Obscurial he is.

The longer he used such power, the more it drained and poisoned him.

Aurelius was nearing his death in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, with the Obscurus consuming a lot more of his energy. The longer he used such power, the more it drained and poisoned him, leaving him physically weaker than before. The ending of Fantastic Beasts 3 suggests that Aurelius is closer to death now more than ever and his reunion with Aberforth will likely mean his final days will be spent in the home he always belonged.

Why Qilins Are Revered (& Where Are They In Harry Potter?)

These Creatures See Whether Someone Has A Pure Heart

In Fantastic Beasts 3, qilin are magical creatures who can see into a person’s soul to discover whether they have good intentions and a pure heart. Wizards and witches greatly respected the qilin for having such foresight and intuition about them, so they began using the magical creature as a part of the ICW election ceremony. Whichever witch or wizard was the purest-hearted candidate would receive a bow from the qilin, which is the deciding factor for whether they would become the next leader of the ICW.

To that end, the qilins had a lot of power. Grindelwald knew he wasn’t pure of heart, so he tried to rig the election in his favor by resurrecting the qilin he killed. Moreover, the qilin’s blood allowed him to see things he previously could not. In mythology, the legend of the qilin, a unicorn-like creature, originated in China. Qilins were considered a sign of prosperity and were thought to usher in (or hint at the passing of) a wise and notable leader. This mythology is in line with what is presented in Fantastic Beasts 3.

Interestingly, the film is the first time qilins are mentioned at all. Considering they were so crucial to the Wizarding World’s ICW election ceremony, it’s a bit strange that they were not a part of the Harry Potter books or films. It’s possible that by the time Harry Potter takes place, qilins are extinct in the Wizarding World. It’s unclear what happened to the qilin from Fantastic Beasts 3, but it’s a glaring issue when the magical beast, important as it is, is no longer around.

Why Queenie Goldstein Finally Left Grindelwald Behind

Queenie Returns To Jacob’s Side

Queenie Goldstein joined up with Grindelwald at the end of Fantastic Beasts 2 after the dark wizard promised her that she would be able to marry Jacob Kowalski, a muggle, freely if she sided with him. In the years that followed, however, Queenie became jaded by Grindelwald’s intentions and fearful of him as well. She was afraid of returning to Kowalski because she thought it too late to do so, guilty for her actions in the second film and unwilling to face him or what she’d done.

When she realized Kowalski loved her no matter her actions and was willing to join back up with Newt and Dumbledore to find her, Queenie felt comfortable leaving Grindelwald behind despite the fact that he wouldn’t be happy about it.

What Really Happened Between Tina & Newt?

The Two Might Have Dated & Broke Up In Between Films

Tina Goldstein was not in the majority of the Fantastic Beasts 3 because she was promoted to Head Auror for the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA). Her responsibilities seemingly kept her away despite her missing sister and Grindelwald on the loose. However, though Fantastic Beasts 3 does not explain it, there is an awkward tension between Tina and Newt when they reunite at the film’s end.

Even when Newt is questioned about Tina’s absence, he pauses, and there is a sadness about him. During the first two films, Newt and Tina were drawn together romantically. It’s possible that in the years between The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore, Tina and Newt became a couple but broke up at some point before the third film. There is a sense of longing in Newt’s expressions, which suggests there is certainly something more going on between them than a promotion.

How Fantastic Beasts 3 Set Up Fantastic Beasts 4 & 5

The Final Battle Between Dumbledore & Grindelwald Was Set Up Here

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore closes out certain stories while keeping things open-ended. Grindelwald is not defeated, but the breaking of the blood pact sets up their legendary duel in 1945. Grindelwald will likely have to stay in hiding for a while and can no longer use Aurelius against the Dumbledores. At the end of the film, Dumbledore admits he doesn’t know who was responsible for his sister Ariana’s death, which could lead to Grindelwald revealing who is in Fantastic Beasts 4.

Fantastic Beasts 3’s
ending leaves things in a bit of chaos.

The third film was about the tension brewing and showcasing how manipulative Grindelwald was when obtaining his power within the Wizarding World — out in the open, where everyone could see. Fantastic Beasts 3’s ending leaves things in a bit of chaos, with the Wizarding World’s power structure in disarray and in question.

While Grindelwald declares he is not their enemy, Fantastic Beasts 4 could see him declaring open war on the Wizarding World, just as World War II is threatening to erupt as well. Surely Grindelwald will be gaining even more influence and power after this film. Whatever he’s got in store, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore helped to bring him to the next stage in his plans to wreak havoc. Sadly, none of this would happen as Warner Bros. canceled the franchise.

How The Fantastic Beasts 3 Ending Was Received

The Ending Polarized Critics & Fans

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was an interesting movie. The film was a box office flop, but it still received an overwhelmingly positive 83% approval rating from fans, although it had a low 46% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Many audience members who reviewed the film complained that the ending set up more, but it ended up being canceled. One reviewer wrote, “Fantastic story. It was only unfortunate that this series needed to be cut short at three movies and not unfold as it was meant to.“

However, others didn’t care for this movie’s busy storyline or its attempt to do so much at once. Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com wrote, “Significant stakes remain elusive, even in a film that runs well over two hours.” At the same time, the film did have some professional critics who enjoyed and praised the storyline, acting, and look. Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote:

“The pyrotechnics never overwhelm the true joys of this story, i.e., the myriad of set pieces in which wizards and witches and Muggles alike have the room and time to tell their stories, to mend old fences or renew old rivalries, to perhaps reach closure and reconciliation before it’s too late.”

With that in mind, there was a Reddit thread where fans said that they had problems with the movie in all, but loved the ending. The OP Redditor wrote, “I may have some issues with this film, but the ending is certainly not one of them. It’s such a beautiful, but bittersweet, ending.” The first commenter wrote, “I cry every time, Redmayne delivered it with such a nice cadence. The entire FB3 feels like heart-ache to me, the good kind obviously.” Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore ended the franchise, but it still won over some fans.