520: The Most Shocking Moments in Fandom History, Part 2: Encyclopedia Flip Flop, More Wizarding Schools, Fantastic Beasts

We continue our discussion on the most shocking moments in Harry Potter fandom history, with some stories you'll remember -- and others you probably forgot! In 2012, Micah discovered that JKR had announced she was actively working on a Harry Potter Encyclopedia, but it was quickly retracted once the story got out. In 2013, Rowling was outed as male author Robert Galbraith by a lawyer's... wife's... friend... and a British newspaper. Later that same year, only a week after MuggleCast "ended," the Fantastic Beasts film series was announced! Years later, can we all agree Fantastic Beasts IS a prequel? Dumbledore's appearance in Crimes of Grindelwald and the casting of Jude Law was a delightful surprise. In 2016, more Wizarding World schools were announced, and controversy may have prevented us from getting more that were promised. The same year, the stage show Cursed Child is announced, and debuts in 2 parts! We revisit the original description of the show, which is very different than the final product. Honorable mentions submitted by our listeners include Ron/Hermione regrets, Rowling on Twitter, and the Wizards Unite game. We also reflect on the actors we've lost over the years. To wrap up our discussion, each of the hosts speculates on which crazy "impossible" idea will be the next shocking news story in fandom. Quizzitch: Who portrayed the character of Barry Fairbrother on the BBC series adaptation of the Casual Vacancy? Visit MuggleCast.com/Quizzitch to submit your answer! This week’s episode is sponsored by Support us on Patreon and receive magical benefits, like access to our recording studio, Bonus MuggleCast, a personalized thank you video from one of the hosts and more! On this month's Bonus MuggleCast, we share our thoughts on a Harry Potter cast reunion! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices