Dan Fogler teases 'epic battle scenes' in 'Fantastic Beasts 3', but confirms filming delay

Fantastic Beasts star Dan Fogler has teased that “epic battle scenes” are on the way in the third entry in the franchise, but confessed filming is on hold due to the coronavirus emergency.

The actor, who plays Muggle baker Jacob Kowalski, said the script is “very similar to the feel of the first movie”, seemingly distancing Fantastic Beasts 3 from divisive second installment The Crimes of Grindelwald.

In that movie, Jacob was seen parting with girlfriend Queenie (Alison Sudol) after she chose to join forces with Johnny Depp’s villainous dark wizard Grindelwald.

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Fogler told SYFY Wire that the franchise has some big spectacle on the way.

He said: "I can say I read the script and the character development is really lovely and it’s very similar to the feel of the first movie, which I think is great.

“It’s leading toward this massive war with the backdrop of World War Two, so you can just imagine epic battle scenes are coming."

The 43-year-old star also confirmed that the cast and crew of Fantastic Beasts 3 are “just waiting” in limbo after the coronavirus pandemic postponed shooting, which was due to begin in London this month.

He said: “I guess when everybody else starts [back up], when the mechanism starts to move again and everybody starts to get back to work, that’s when we’ll get back to work.

“Hopefully, sooner than later."

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The new Fantastic Beasts movie will be set predominantly in the 1930s and will see long-time Harry Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves return to the franchise.

He has co-written the script with original Potter creator J.K. Rowling, who penned the previous two Fantastic Beasts movies.

The Fantastic Beasts films have proved to be big money-spinners for Warner Bros, grossing almost $1.5bn (£1.2bn) worldwide across the two movies so far.

The Crimes of Grindelwald, however, was less popular with film critics, scoring just 36% on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to the first movie’s 74% approval rating.

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Fantastic Beasts 3 remains slated for release in November 2021.