Warner Bros. and author J.K. Rowling have announced a Harry Potter film spin-off based on the adventures of Newt Scamander in the Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. “Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” read a statement by Rowling, who will make her screenwriting debut for the film. “The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry’s gets underway.”
“We are incredibly honored that Jo has chosen to partner with Warner Bros. on this exciting new exploration of the world of wizardry which has been tremendously successful across all of our businesses,” said Warner Bros. Entertainment’s CEO Kevin Tsujihara. “She is an extraordinary writer, who ignited a reading revolution around the world, which then became an unprecedented film phenomenon. We know that audiences will be as excited as we are to see what her brilliant and boundless imagination conjures up for us.” As part of the deal, Fantastic Beasts will also be used in various forms of the franchise’s brand, including its merchandising, online community (Pottermore.com) and various theme parks around the world. ~Alfonso Espina