Eddie Redmayne officially joins Fantastic Beasts

Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne has been on the radar for a while to play Newt Scamander in the Harry Potter spin-off film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Warner Bros. officially announced yesterday that Redmayne has landed the lead role and will star in the film.

Demand and popularity surrounding Redmayne has increased since his rather surprising Oscar win for portraying Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything. He's previously starred in Les Miserables, My Week with Marilyn, and Jupiter Ascending. 

The film will be directed by David Yates with Potter author JK Rowling making her screenwriting debut. Warner Bros. is still in the casting process with several actresses testing and being considered for the roles of Tina, Jacob, and Queenie. Fantastic Beasts is currently set to hit theaters on November 16, 2016. It will be the first Harry Potter related film since the initial franchise ended with The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 back in 2011.

[Update] Alfonso Cuaron will not direct Harry Potter spin-off

I previously posted (here) about director Alfonso Cuaron potentially returning to the world of Harry Potter as it was reported he was in talks to direct Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Cuaron has now come out and confirmed that he will not be directing.

He stated that directing The Prisoner of Azkaban was a great experience and he loved working with JK Rowling, but at this point in his career projects with a high amount of visual effects are not what he wants to do. He is coming off several projects with high levels of effects and he wants to step away from them.


Good for you, sir.

[Updated] Alfonso Cuaron in talks to direct Harry Potter spin-off

Alfonso Cuaron is coming off a big Oscar win and many were wondering what his next projects were going to be. A decade ago he directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (which some called the best HP film) and now Cuaron is apparently in talks to direct the upcoming spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

If this deal is finalized it will reunite him with producer David Heyman who produced all of the Harry Potter films and Cuaron's Oscar-winner, Gravity. Many are speculating this move proves that Warner Bros. isn't just trying to make a quick buck but are interested in making a quality trilogy.


[Update] Cuaron has come out and stated he will not direct the sequel. Bummer, kids. You can read about it here. 

Harry Potter spin-off set for 2016 release

The announced Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, has received a theatrical debut. The first installment of the planned trilogy is set for theaters on November 18. 2016.

Warner Bros. announced their intent to turn the book into a film trilogy back in March and will follow the main character, Newt Scamander, as an extension of the wizarding world. They will not be prequels or sequels.
There is no cast, director, or producer set for these films just yet bit with a 2016 release date I wouldn't be surprised to see all that announced shortly. The Harry Potter saga grossed a total of $7.7 billion over eight films from 2001 to 2011. Four of the eight films have been released in November so this new film is following suit.

Harry Potter spin-off to be a trilogy

Warner Bros. is planning another big, blockbuster trilogy with the Harry Potter spin-off by J.K. Rowling. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will receive the trilogy treatment by the studio, revealed by WB CEO Kevin Tsujihara. Early in the planning staged Tsujihara wanted it to be a new franchise but was hesitant to give details.

Rowling was persuaded to expand on the 2001 Hogwarts textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, into a film adaptation and credits Tsujihara for the push. She states to this day that it wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for him.
Fantastic Beasts will be set in New York seven decades prior to the Potter series. It follows magizoologist Newt Scamander and is not considered either a prequel or sequel, but an extension of the wizard universe.

Personally, I think WB is hurting financially when it comes to blockbusters and figured trying to revive the HP world was the best way to do it. Rowling has no life outside of HP either, so I guess it makes sense.