Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald unveiled a very human Nagini, Voldemort’s snake companion, and a Horcrux, but continuing Nagini’s origin in the prequels cheapens the overall storyline. With Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore on the horizon, viewers are abuzz about what will happen next for the primary cast of characters. The series as a whole has been plagued with issues such as breaking canon, Johnny Depp leaving the project, and the original intended focus on Newt Scamander versus what it has turned out to be. The third installment has faced several scheduling setbacks due to the pandemic and Warner Bros. has currently set the release date for Easter weekend in April 2022.
Audiences got to know Nagini (Claudia Kim) in her snake form when she was revealed to be one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. While Nagini first appeared in The Goblet of Fire, Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) diligent sidekick did most of the Dark Lord’s bidding in the final two films. Obviously, it was an incredible shock to fans and viewers alike when Nagini appeared as a woman with a blood curse that would eventually turn her into a snake for good. After the revalation, author J.K. Rowling revealed via Twitter that she had actually been sitting on Nagini’s origin storyline for “Only about 20 years“.
However, despite the added interest, the truth is that if Fantastic Beasts was to continue with Nagini’s origin story it would cheapen the plot, as J.K. Rowling has already changed so much of the canon. The prequels are riddled with a wealth of new information and while Nagini’s presence does connect two major storylines in the Harry Potter universe, any further exploration of her character may be too much to handle. Nagini had limited screen time in The Crimes of Grindelwald, mostly alongside Credence while assisting him in his genealogical quest. This was probably the smartest move for her character. Focus has already been pulled from Newt (Eddie Redmayne) and his magical creatures and put onto characters from the original films. Though Claudia Kim is a talented actress, Nagini being an overwhelming presence in the film would deeply overcomplicate the already winding plot.
The maledictus most likely changed into a full snake long after the events of Fantastic Beasts. Voldemort met his later Horcrux while hiding out in the forest of Albania after his defeat by The Boy who Lived. Nagini was critical in Voldemort’s return, nursing him back to health and letting him possess her body. This makes her an incredibly compelling character, especially given her actions during the Fantastic Beasts sequel. Although further revelations about her origin would certainly risk over-complicating an already dense narrative, it is interesting to see the former villain on the protagonist’s side for the prequels.
While the Harry Potter universe is rich with backstory, it doesn’t mean all of it should be included in the films. Plenty of other storylines are left out, such as McGonagall’s tragic past and Peeves the Poltergeist, and their exclusion doesn’t necessarily detract from the narrative. Already, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has proved controversial with the addition of McGonagall’s character. Furthermore, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is already facing backlash based on the title alone. With the Fantastic Beasts series already rife with controversy, it may be better to keep Nagini’s storyline out of the next installments.
