Oh-em-gee! It’s finally official!
Fans can celebrate at full force now because Warner Bros. Pictures has officially confirmed that Eddie Redmayne is involved in the “Harry Potter” spin-off film, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them“. He will be playing Newt Scamander, the main protagonist of the film.
The announcement was made by Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production of Warner. Bros Pictures, on late Monday (1st June).
He stated:
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”.
Director David Yates also spoke for Rowling and himself as he expressed support for the decision:
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.
It was previously reported that Nicholas Hoult was also eyed to star in the spin-off as the leading man, but Redmayne emerged as the studio’s top favourite instead. In the latest development, Warner Bros. stated that they chose Redmayne as he is one of the most celebrated actors in recent times.
Scamander is a fictional magizoologist, who travels around the globe in a mission to document the natural behaviour and habitat of all magical creatures. In the “Harry Potter” universe, he is credited as the author of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, a textbook used by 1st years of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Rowling, writer and creator of the “Harry Potter” series and its spin-offs, will be penning the script of the movie, which will also serve as her screenwriting debut. This project will also see her as producer. Nothing much has been revealed of the script, but Warner Bros. did claim that the movie centred on Scamander will “further explore the unique wizarding world she has crafted in print and bring it to life on screen”.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will see a few familiar faces returning in the production side. David Heyman, Steve Kloves, and Rowling will be producing, with Lionel Wigram executive producing. Heyman was the producer for all of the films in the series while Kloves penned all of the “Harry Potter” films, except for “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”. Yates and Wigram worked together in the final 4 instalments of the movie franchise, with the former directing and the latter executive producing.
Redmayne is an award-winning actor who has played a myriad of characters throughout his career. His 2014 outing as Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” won him the approval of several acting associations, including the Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. He is also an experienced theatre performer, having made his debut in “Oliver!” when he was 11 years old.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is slated for worldwide release on 18th November 2016. It will be available in 3D and IMAX.
Source: Business Wire
