After a lot of rumors and much speculation, Warner Bros. Pictures confirmed this morning that Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne has been cast as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the upcoming film set in the world of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.
Fantastic Beasts, in fact, is a name Harry Potter fans are familiar with. It's the name of one of Hogwarts' most well-known textbooks. The film will follow Scamander, a "magizoologist," as he travels the world documenting magical creatures.
"Eddie Redmayne has emerged as one of today's most extraordinarily talented and acclaimed actors," Warner Bros. President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production Greg Silverman said in a press release. "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."
The film will be directed by Harry Potter veteran David Yates, with a screenplay written by J.K. Rowling herself. It is scheduled to hit theaters on November 18, 2016.
