Given that the Harry Potter franchise is the second biggest franchise of all time, and spans nine movies, now, it’s hard to believe the franchise has never been awarded an Oscar in any category, until now. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, while not strictly a Harry Potter movie, is still very much a part of the franchise and beloved by Potterheads the world over. It’s also the movie that finally broke the curse and picked up an Oscar for Best Costume Design, awarded to Colleen Atwood.

Set in 1920s New York, but also encapsulating the Wizarding World of J.K. Rowling’s creation, Fantastic Beasts costumes were highly stylized and really stood out on screen. Selected pieces worn by the four main characters are currently on display at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in the U.K., and they make for a detailed, interesting and stunning display, especially seeing the detail of Queenie’s gowns up close. It’s undoubtedly a very well deserved award, but it’s nevertheless surprising that it’s the first win for any of Rowling’s work, especially considering it’s the 13th time any of the Harry Potter universe movies has been nominated. Unlucky for some, but not for Atwood or Fantastic Beasts, it seems.

When Variety mentioned to Atwood that she was the first Harry Potter related winner, she was surprised to learn of the fact:

If fan passion was deserving of an award, then certainly the Harry Potter fandom would be in fierce contention. Fantastic Beasts took fans back in time and told a story that will only be loosely connected to Harry Potter in subsequent movies, but fans still took it to heart, thanks in part by genuine, honest performances from Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone, Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein, Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, and Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstien.

“That’s shocking. There’s so much incredible artistry in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies. I think maybe the fact that this movie, J.K. Rowling’s creation, is set in the 1920s, which keyed off a different visual sense, is the obvious thing.”

All will reprise their roles in subsequent movies, though to what extent is not known, given that there are four more Fantastic Beasts movies to come, which will focus on the rise of the Dark Wizard, Grindelwald. The time setting is two years after the publication of Newt’s Fantastic Beasts book, when Newt is back in Britain. The sequel will also hop across the channel, to Paris. The possibilities for more excellent costumes are boundless, so we might just see Fantastic Beasts triumph at the Academy Awards again in the future.

Next: Fantastic Beasts Video Breaks Down Magical Visual Effects

Source: Variety

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