While the Harry Potter spin-off series may not be as iconic as the mainline franchise, Fantastic Beasts did spawn three massive films and deepen the lore of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World for fans of The Boy Who Lived.
Uniquely, the franchise was turned into a mock Natural History exhibition last year in London and it appears its success has given organisers the confidence to take the concept around the world. Next stop: Australia.
The Fantastic Beasts exhibition will be making its down under debut at Melbourne Museum in Carlton this year, running from Friday, May 19 through Sunday, October 8 with a rather clever collection of custom-made Wizard World models, props from the films and original artworks from Bloomsbury Publishing (who publish Harry Potter in Australia). There will also be specimens and historic objects both from the natural world and the mythical world, juxtaposing the real and the fake to better contextualise the Fantastic Beasts series.
For example, at the Fantastic Beasts exhibition in London, visitors were able to compare the camouflage tactics of a real-life jaguar versus those of the fictional Demiguise. We assume the Melbourne Museum iteration will mirror much of what made the London exhibition so popular so expect some clever contrasts like this, as well as displays like a giant oarfish nearby an Erumpent horn and the dragon skull from Professor Lupin’s classroom.
Given the first film in the spin-off series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was so rich and creative when it came to fleshing out these mythical creatures, this exhibition should be an easy lure for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in more Harry Potter-related content. Not that you’d have to look far for any new Wizarding World drops with the recently released Hogwarts Legacy video game and the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.
‘Fantastic Beasts’ Exhibition
Where: Melbourne Museum; 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053
When: Friday, May 19 – Sunday, October 8
Tickets: $32 (adult), $18 (child)
