Earlier this Wednesday, August 3, the Hollywood studio Warner Bros announced that the sequel of the new “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” franchise will hit the big screen in November 2018.
The announcement comes nearly three months before the release of the first film of the spin-off trilogy, which will premiere on November 18 later this year. J.K. Rowling, author of the original book series, has taken her first shot at screenwriting with the first “Fantastic Beasts” film, which he wrote and produced.
David Yates, director of the last four films of the “Harry Potter” saga, was the director for the latest adventure set in the magical world of the British wizard. Both Rowling and Yates will return to write and direct the second film of the new series.
From Textbook to Full-Fledged Story
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” was first published as a book back in 2001. In the universe of “Harry Potter”, the book is mandatory reading for first-year students and it was first published in 1927. Newt Scamander, the author of the book, will also be the protagonist of the upcoming film adaptation and he will be portrayed by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne.
While the title of the book is pretty self-explanatory of its contents, the big screen adventure will be way more dynamic. Whereas the print version is a literal compilation of magical creatures which inhabit the wizarding world and their descriptions, the film adaptation will bring Newt Scamander to New York City in the 1920s.
After a number of creatures held on a magical briefcase escape from their enclosure, Newt seeks to amend the situation amidst a socially disturbed society by an extremist anti-wizard organization, the New Salem Philanthropic Society. Further plot details are unknown, but audiences won’t have to wait long to find out.
The Muggle World is back under the spell of the “Harry Potter” Universe
Following the premiere of “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2” back in 2011, audiences were heartbroken as the big screen adventure had finally ended after ten years. However, they did not have to wait long for the franchise to return.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” was first announced to be in the works back in 2013, merely two years later since the last “Harry Potter” film was released. Audiences who grew up alongside the thunder-scarred wizard will get to delve back into the magical world this November.
Furthermore, the recently premiered play “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child” was released in paperback just three days ago, and since then the sales for the J.K. Rowling-penned title have surpassed 2 million copies.
The film adaptation stars Eddie Redmayne in the lead role as Newt Scamander and among his co-stars are Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller, Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol. Most of the cast is expected to return for the 2018 untitled sequel of the “Fantastic Beasts” trilogy.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter