It's official — following months of rumors, British actor Eddie Redmayne has been cast in the role of Newt Scamander in the Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The new movie follows "magizoologist" Scamander in New York around 70 years before Harry's story commences.
An announcement was made by Warner Bros' president of creative development Greg Silverman, who added that he was "thrilled" the Oscar winner would be joining the project. "Eddie Redmayne has emerged as one of today's most extraordinarily talented and acclaimed actors," Silverman said in a statement accompanying the casting news. "We know he will deliver a remarkable performance."
The film will be directed by David Yates, who also directed the last four Harry Potter films, and produced by long-time Harry Potter producer David Heyman. Yates also released a statement welcoming Redmayne to the world of Harry Potter, saying, "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 JK Rowling's wonderful world, and I know she feels the same way."
Rowling, who will be making her screenwriting debut, finished writing the script for the film late last year, while Heyman later suggested that filming was likely to commence in the "late summer."
