Latest Movie News (What is this?)
14th October 2016 - Franchise Expanded to 5 Films + IMAX Featurette
.@jk_rowling has just confirmed the magic continues in a total of FIVE MOVIES! We can't wait! #FantasticBeasts
— Fantastic Beasts (@FantasticBeasts) October 13, 2016
11th October 2017 - 9 Character Posters + TV Spots
28th September 2016 - Full Trailer
11th August 2016 - Zoe Kravitz Joins Cast
The Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has conjured up one more notable name for its cast: Zoe Kravitz.
The Warner Bros. film, which stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller and Alison Sudol, is set in New York, 70 years before the events in the Harry Potter books and film series. It follows Newt Scamander (Redmayne), a Magizoologist who ventures into a secret community of witches and wizards as he attempts to document magical creatures. His book is eventually used at Hogwarts where Harry Potter attends school.
Sources say Kravitz, who was added after production began, has a small role in the first film (which is now in post-production) but there's the option for her to return with a meatier part in the sequel. Ahead of the film's release on Nov. 18, Warner Bros. has already dated the sequel for Nov. 16, 2018.
Author J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay for the project. Director David Yates, who helmed the final four Harry Potter films as well as Fantastic Beasts, is directing the follow-up, which is produced by David Heyman, Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram. Neil Blair, Rick Senat and Danny Cohen are executive producing.
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24th July 2016 - Comic Con Trailer
25th June 2016 - A New Hero Featurette
21st June 2016 - Promotional Poster
31st January 2016 - BTS Featurette with new footage
1st Jan 2016 - New Promotional Photo
15th December 2015 - First Look Trailer and Poster
One hour until the #FantasticBeasts trailer. pic.twitter.com/nSgAxvUZmd
— Fantastic Beasts (@FantasticBeasts) December 15, 2015
6th November 2015 - Character Descriptions
Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander
An eccentric globe-hopping English “magizoologist” wizard who’s far more comfortable around beasts and creatures than he is around other people. Comes to New York on a quest with his case full of magical habitats containing rare and endangered species.
Katherine Waterston as Porpentina "Tina" Goldstein
An ambitious worker at the Magical Congress of the United States of America (aka MACUSA, the U.S. version of the Ministry of Magic) who meets Newt. Tina is relegated to an office well below her abilities after she stood up for the wrong person. She longs to fight for what's right.
Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein
Tina's younger sister and roommate, a big-hearted free-spirit "legilimens" who can read minds.
Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski
An optimistic No-Maj (aka Muggle) factory worker/aspiring baker who gets introduced to the wizarding world when he meets Newt. Fun fact: He's the Harry Potter franchise's first Muggle main character.
Colin Farrell as Graves
A powerful auror and the right-hand man of the American wizarding world's president.
Samantha Morton as Mary Lou
The narrow-minded leader of the fanatical Second Salemers, a group looking to expose and destroy wizards and witches.
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6th November 2015 - Plot Revealed
Eccentric magizoologist Newt Scamander (Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne) comes to New York (for a reason we won’t disclose) with his trusty weathered case. This case is one of those way-way-way-bigger-on-the-inside magical devices, and within are expansive habitats for a collection of rare and endangered magical creatures from Newt’s travels around globe. He discovers the American wizarding community is fearfully hiding from Muggles (who are called “No-Maj” in the States, more on that) and the threat of public exposure is an even graver concern than in the UK (remember the Salem witch trials?). Fantastic Beasts is the story of what happens when this uniquely skilled English wizard travels to wiz-phobic America and a variety of his creatures, some quite dangerous … get out of their case.
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4th November 2015 - First Look Photos
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4th November 2015 - Title Card Revealed
Prepare yourself for the beasts are coming….#FantasticBeasts @JK_Rowling #HarryPotter pic.twitter.com/Mkxkw2C6BZ
— Fantastic Beasts (@FantasticBeasts) November 3, 2015
6th October 2015 - Gemma Chan, Carmen Ejogo and Jon Voight Join Cast
Gemma Chan, who stars in AMC's sci-fi thriller Humans, Selma actress Carmen Ejogo and Jon Voight have joined the cast of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Warner Bros.’s fantasy set in the world of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.
The movie is currently shooting in England with Eddie Redmayne starring as Newt Scamander, the wizarding world’s preeminent magizoologist. (The events of Fantastic Beasts take place 70 years before Harry Potter reads Scamander’s book in his wizarding school.)
Among those already cast are Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Dan Fogler and Samantha Morton.
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18th August 2015 - Production Begins, Full Cast Revealed
Now that principle photography is underway, we have an official casting announcement for Fantastic Beasts.
Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) is the headliner as Newt Scamander, the wizarding world’s preeminent magizoologist, who stops in New York following his travels to find and document magical creatures.
Joining Redmayne is Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice), Alison Sudol (Transparent), Dan Fogler (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), The future Flash Ezra Miller (Trainwreck), Samantha Morton (In America), Jenn Murray (Brooklyn) and finally Colin Farrell of True Detective fame.
J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay, her first attempt to write for the big screen. Producers include David Heyman, who produced of all eight Harry Potter films, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves, and Lionel Wigram.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set for worldwide release in 3D and IMAX on November 18, 2016.
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5th August 2015 - Colin Farrell Joins Cast
Colin Farrell is the latest Muggle to join the cast of the upcoming Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, EW has confirmed.
The actor, currently starring in the second season of HBO’s True Detective, will join Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, and Alison Sudol. According to the original report by The Hollywood Reporter, Farrell will play a wizard who encounters Newt Scamander (Redmayne) during his journey to study magical creatures in America.
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10th July 2015 - Dan Fogler Cast As Jacob
Warner Bros has set Dan Fogler to join the cast of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, the David Yates-directed adventure set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Fogler joins Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller and Alison Sudol in the cast. He’ll play the role of Jacob, a non-magical person whom Newt (Redmayne) befriends while on his adventure in New York. Rowling wrote the script and the Harry Potter gang of David Heyman, Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram are producing. Warners’ Courtenay Valenti is shepherding.
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9th July 2015 - Alison Sudol Joins Eddie Redmayne in ‘Harry Potter’ Spinoff
Alison Sudol will make her feature film debut in the “Harry Potter” spinoff “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”
Sudol will play Queenie, the younger sister of Tina, who runs into Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) when he stops in New York City on his travels to find and document magical creatures.
Sudol, who’s repped by Don Buchwald & Associates and Atlas Artists, is known for her musical career as a singer-songwriter with the band A Fine Frenzy. She has devoted more time to her acting career over the past year, most recently appearing in the USA drama series “Dig” and Amazon show “Transparent.”
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24th June 2015 - Ezra Miller in Talks to Join Movie
Ezra Miller is the relative unknown who is due to play DC speedster the Flash in Warner Bros.’s Justice League movies as well as his own solo movie in 2018.
But Warners isn't relying solely on the DC cache and is making sure the actor's profile is raised by then, now offering Miller a key role in something as equally high-profile as a DC movie: the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
The actor is in early negotiations for the role of Jacob, the secondary male lead opposite Eddie Redmayne.
Redmayne is playing magizoologist Newt Scamander who is in New York City on his travels to find and document magical creatures.
Due to the secrecy surrounding the project, character information is murky. The character of Jacob may be a villain in the movie, although he could be just a rival to Scamander.
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15th June 2015 - Katherine Waterston Cast as Female Lead
Katherine Waterston (“Inherent Vice”) will star opposite Eddie Redmayne in Warner Bros. Pictures’ much-anticipated adventure “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Waterston will play the pivotal role of Tina, short for Porpentina, a witch who—unlike the beloved characters from Rowling’s Harry Potter books—works her magic in the U.S. She meets magizoologist Newt Scamander (Redmayne) when he stops in New York City on his travels to find and document magical creatures.
In making the announcement, Silverman said, “Katherine Waterston is a rising star, who was a revelation in our film ‘Inherent Vice,’ earning the praise of both critics and audiences. We are thrilled to have her back in the Warner Bros. family, especially in one of our most anticipated titles for 2016, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.’”
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2nd June 2015 - Eddie Redmayne Officially Cast as Newt Scamander
BURBANK, Calif.----Academy Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne has been cast as Newt Scamander in Warner Bros. Pictures’ much-anticipated wizarding world adventure “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” The announcement was made today by Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Redmayne will play J.K. Rowling’s creation Newt Scamander, the Wizarding World’s preeminent magizoologist, who in his travels has encountered and documented a myriad of magical creatures, ultimately leading to his penning the Hogwarts School textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
In making the announcement, Silverman said, “Eddie Redmayne has emerged as one of today’s most extraordinarily talented and acclaimed actors. We are thrilled to welcome him into J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, where we know he will deliver a remarkable performance as Newt Scamander, the central character in ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.’”
“Eddie is a fearless actor, brimming with invention, wit and humanity. I couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of working with him as we start this new adventure in J.K. Rowling’s wonderful world, and I know she feels the same way.”
Making her screenwriting debut on the film, J.K. Rowling has developed the character of Scamander and his primer—taken from her globally beloved Harry Potter series—to further explore the unique wizarding world she has crafted in print and bring it to life on screen.
David Yates, who directed the last four “Harry Potter” films and will direct “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” stated, “Eddie is a fearless actor, brimming with invention, wit and humanity. I couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of working with him as we start this new adventure in J.K. Rowling’s wonderful world, and I know she feels the same way.”
The film is being produced by David Heyman, producer of all eight of the blockbuster “Harry Potter” features; J.K. Rowling; Steve Kloves, who scripted all but one of the “Harry Potter” films; and Lionel Wigram, who served as an executive producer on the last four installments of the franchise.
Eddie Redmayne won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 2014 biopic “The Theory of Everything.” His stunning portrayal of Stephen Hawking in that film also brought him Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA and Golden Globe Awards. In 2012, Redmayne starred as Marius in Tom Hooper’s screen adaptation of the hit musical “Les Misérables,” with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried. In 2010, Redmayne won a Tony Award for his performance in “Red,” which marked his Broadway debut. On screen, he next stars in Hooper’s true-life drama “The Danish Girl,” due out this November.
Warner Bros. Pictures has slated “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” for worldwide release in 3D and IMAX on November 18, 2016.
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12th September 2013 - Film Announced
Warner Bros. have announced a new film series that will be set in the same world as Harry Potter: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Potter fans will recognize the title, as it was used for a Potter spinoff book, presented as a Hogwarts textbook read by Harry, Ron and Hermione. The film will be an original story centered on the supposed author of that book, Newt Scamander. JK Rowling will write the first film herself, making her screenwriting debut.
Fantastic Beasts is a spinoff of the Potter series, set in the same universe, though Rowling cautions that it’s not intended to directly connect to Harry’s story. “Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” said Rowling. “The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.”
The Harry Potter series has, of course, been a juggernaut, with the eight Potter films among the most successful ever and it’s hardly surprising that Warner Bros. would want to find a way for the franchise to continue. The only question was how this could occur, given Harry’s story was pretty complete.
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