Eddie Redmayne is the British star bestowed the wand for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a whole new(t) adventure — launching this week — in JK Rowling’s magic universe.
Within the fantasy Wizarding World of British author JK Rowling, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was a textbook written by Scamander that is required reading at Potter’s Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It has since taken on a life of its own. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them arrives in cinemas this week as the first of five films in a spin-off series prequel to the Harry Potter franchise: a second installment has been announced for 2018. Rowling is a producer and makes her screenwriting debut under director David Yates from the previous four Harry Potter blockbusters. And starring as Scamander is Eddie Redmayne in the British actor’s continuing career high after his 2015 Academy Award for The Theory of Everything and Oscar nomination this year for The Danish Girl.
In his inaugural adventure, Scamander arrives in 1926 New York City, nearing the end of a global excursion to research and rescue magical creatures. Disaster strikes when some of the beasts escape from his leather suitcase, thus threatening to expose the wizarding community to a fanatical faction of No-Majs (American for Muggles) intent on eradicating them.
There will be political machinations. Spells will fly. Redmayne has Katherine Waterston and Dan Fogler for his costars, and, at home in London, a wife of two years, British publicist Hannah Bagshawe, and a daughter born in June. The Cambridge University grad, 34, discusses magic, war wounds and Harry Potter.
What was your reaction when director David Yates approached you about taking on the central role of Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?
This story is from the November 17, 2016 edition of 8 Days.
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This story is from the November 17, 2016 edition of 8 Days.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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