Yesterday it was announced that Warner Bros. has commissioned J.K. Rowling to write a screenplay that will kick off a new series in the world of Harry Potter. The new movie will be based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, one of the textbooks referenced in the original Harry Potter novels. The new film will take place 70 years before Harry’s story and focus on the author of Fantastic Beasts, Newt Scamander.
If this new movie is even remotely good I cannot imagine it being nothing but a tremendous success. Hollywood is always looking for the next big thing and, very often, the next big thing is based upon the last big thing. Hollywood produces so many sequels because sequels have a greater chance of financial success. People like what they know; they are comfortable with characters they’ve already met before.
I love a lot of sequels. I loved Star Trek Into Darkness, I can’t wait for Thor: The Dark World and, even after the prequels, I’m still so excited for Episode VII.
I also love original movies. District 9 is a great sci-fi movie, Gravity looks completely stunning and, even though it’s based on a comic, Guardians of the Galaxy looks like one of the most original comic book movies ever.
In our movies we like to look to something old and we also like to look to something new. Our relationships with God are the same way.
When entering the Promised Land Moses commanded the people to remember what God had done. They had seen him work powerfully in Egypt and in the wilderness and, to remain faithful, they would need to remember that.
God also tells his people in Isaiah that he is doing something new. We’re told in 2 Corinthians that God is making us into new creations. We shouldn’t expect God to do what he’s always done because he wants to do something new.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them seems like it’s the best of both worlds. It is based on an existing universe that people know yet will still blaze new trails.
Hopefully our lives with God can be the same way: looking back on all the ways he has been faithful to us in the past and looking forward to all the new and exciting ways he wants to work in and through us.
What helps you look back? What helps you look forward?
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