Fantastic Beasts (film series)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Film information
Director(s)	David Yates
Producer(s)	David Heyman J. K. Rowling Steve Kloves Lionel Wigram
Writer(s)	J. K. Rowling
Star(s)	Eddie Redmayne Katherine Waterston Alison Sudol Dan Fogler Colin Farrell
Music by	James Newton Howard
Distributor(s)	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	November 18, 2016 (first film) November 16, 2018 (second film) November 20, 2020 (third film)

The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film series is a series of films based on the book of the same name. 

It was originally believed that there would only be three films in the series. On 14 October 2016, J.K. Rowling announced that there will actually be five films in the series.

Titles

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - set to be released on November 18, 2016 with the screenplay to be released the following day
• Film two - set to be released November 16, 2018, title yet to be revealed
• Film three - set to be released November 20, 2020, title yet to be revealed
• Film four - release date and title yet to be revealed
• Film five - release date and title yet to be revealed

Synopsis

The plot of the first film revolves around Newton Scamander, a Magizoologist who arrives in New York in 1926, to stay for a brief time following a journey around the world to research creatures for his book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Newt owns a magically-expanded suitcase containing many creatures which No-Maj Jacob Kowalski inadvertently opens. When the creatures escape, the situation threatens the secrecy of the Wizarding world and the relationship between the magical and non magical societies in America which is already in danger due to the New Salem Philanthropic Society. Newt battles to find the creatures with the help of Jacob and Porpentina "Tina" Goldstein before it's too late, with Percival Graves searching for him. The film will take place in two days.

The plot of the second film will take place in another capital city. It will begin to center around Gellert Grindelwald who will be mentioned several times in the first film and was considered the darkest Wizard of his time. It will also feature the return of Albus Dumbledore.

Production

On 12 September, 2013, Warner Bros announced that they would be creating a film based upon the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They also stated that J. K. Rowling would be making her screenwriting debut. Rowling was approached by Warner Bros with the idea to be the screenwriter and she later stated that she could not give up the idea and allow another writer to "realise Newt Scamander".

On 18 October, 2013, David Heyman confirmed that he would be returning as a producer, stating that it was "incredibly exciting".

On 24 March, 2014, The New York Times reported the adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be a trilogy.

On 13 May, 2014, it was announced the first film will be released on 18 November, 2016.

On 6 October, 2014, J. K. Rowling posted on Twitter the cryptic message "Cry, foe! Run amok! Fa awry! My wand won’t tolerate this nonsense." She confirmed the following day that this message was a riddle, and the solution, while not part of the script, was the first sentence of a synopsis of Newt Scamander's story. The anagram was solved later that day, with Rowling confirming the solution of "Newt Scamander only meant to stay in New York for a few hours."

On 15 October, 2014, it was announced by Warner Bros that David Yates would be directing the films and that Steve Kloves would also be producing them. Yates later confirmed that Rowling had also written the screenplay for the second film and had gotten ideas for the third. Heyman went on to confirm that Yates and Kloves had both worked with Rowling on the screenplay.

On 4 June, 2015, Warner Bros confirmed that Eddie Redmayne would be portraying Newt Scamander in the series. The rest of the cast were announced over the next few months, including Katherine Waterston as Porpentina "Tina" Goldstein and Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein. Dan Fogler was announced to portray Jacob Kowalski , Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone and Colin Farrell as Percival Graves.

Principal photography began at Warner Bros Studios, Leavesden on 17 August, 2015.

On 4 November 2015, Entertainment weekly released the first official publicity shots of the film. They included pictures of the production and filming at several sets with characters Newt, Tina, and Queenie.

On 15 December 2015, the announcement trailer and teaser poster were revealed for the first film.

A featurette showing interviews with various cast and crew members were released on 1 February 2016.

On 7 April 2016, it was officially announced that James Newton Howard had composed the score.

On 10 April 2016, a teaser trailer was released for the first film.

On 19 April 2016, it was announced a batch of new characters had been created for the film. Rowling had also creatively given input on each character and creature. On 26 April 2016, it was announced that the script of the first film would be released in book form on 19 November 2016, one day after the film is released.

On 26 April 2016, Pottermore announced that the screenplay of the first film will be published in book form.

In preparation for the film series, Rowling began placing new original writings on Pottermore detailing the History of Magic in North America. Beginning in the 1600s with the Salem Witch Trials, she delved into the next few decades, ending in 1920s America which is when the films are set. She also later revealed the American Wizarding school, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry followed by a new Sorting quiz for the school.

On 3 August 2016, it was announced that the second film will be released on 16 November 2018 followed by the third film on 20 November 2020.

On 28 September 2016, the final trailer for the first film was released. On 7 October 2016, they also debuted the first track for the first film along with the titles of the rest of the soundtrack.

On 14 October 2016, J.K. Rowling announced at a special fan screening of the first film in London that there will actually be five films in the series. Rowling stated she always knew there was going to be more than one film and that they "said a trilogy as a kind of placeholder". However, when she plotted out the story she had created, she realised they would need five films to tell it in. David Yates also stated that the second film will be very different from the first film.

Cast

• Eddie Redmayne as Newton Scamander
• Katherine Waterston as Porpentina "Tina" Goldstein
• Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein
• Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski
• Samantha Morton as Mary Lou Barebone
• Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone
• Colin Farrell as Percival Graves
• Faith Wood-Blagrove as Modesty
• Carmen Ejogo as Seraphina Picquery
• Jon Voight as Henry Shaw Senior
• Josh Cowdery as Henry Shaw Junior
• Ron Perlman as Gnarlack
• Fanny Carbonnel as Mrs Goldstein
• Jenn Murray as Chastity
• Matthew Roberts as Lt. M. Young
• Peter Breitmayer as Gilbert Bingley
• Gemma Chan
• Ronan Raftery as Laurence
• Jason Newell as a Sasquatch
• Edd Osmond as a Demiguise
• Lucie Pohl as a Secretary 
• Laura Matassa as a Sex Trade Worker 
• Zoë Kravitz

External links

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them official website