Wizards Return in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Vanessa Alvarez, Sports Editor|April 19, 2016

Credit: Warner Brothers Junior and Harry Potter lover Grace Neal exclaimed, “I never thought a simple textbook would be turned into an entire movie. I’ve always wanted to learn about the magical creatures though, because they’re so fly!”

Credit: Warner Brothers Junior and Harry Potter lover Grace Neal exclaimed, “I never thought a simple textbook would be turned into an entire movie. I’ve always wanted to learn about the magical creatures though, because they’re so fly!”

November 8, 2016 is a magical date for Harry Potter fanatics. On this date, the next installment of films by J.K. Rowling begins with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  This film invites the audience into the wizard world of the United States.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was originally a book published in 2001 by world renowned author J.K. Rowling. In the Harry Potter books, readers get an insight into the life of ‘the boy who lived’ and all the obstacles he endures, however, in the newest trilogy, Rowling invites the audience to learn about the creatures Potter comes in contact with.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBadd53owQ_/?taken-by=fantasticbeastsmovie

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a textbook, written by main character Newt Scamander, and was originally mentioned in the first book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The textbook describes multiple different magical creatures and their habitats.

Junior and Harry Potter lover Grace Neal exclaimed, “I never thought a simple textbook would be turned into an entire movie. I’ve always wanted to learn about the magical creatures though, because they’re so fly!”
Although the film clearly cannot simply be about a textbook of magical creatures, the story dives into the life of Scamander, the textbook’s author.  

The film takes place around the year 1926 in New York, long before the arrival of the legendary trio Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. In contrast to the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts takes place in the United States.

Freshman and Harry Potter fan Allie Golson thought about the setting change and believes,  “I don’t know if it’ll be different in a way, but i think it’s interesting that they’re changing it up with nationalities.”

Golson’s classmate Sophie Ragano chimes in adding, “I am excited to see how the story all plays out.”

Wizard, Newt Scamander, played by Oscar winning actor Eddie Redmayne, was expelled from Hogwarts after being accused of endangering human life with a beast. Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, argued to protect Scamander which led to the question presented in the trailer, “what makes Albus Dumbledore, so fond of you, Mr. Scamander?”

Scamander enters into the U.S. with a briefcase with what appears to be filled with magical creatures. While at a meeting with the Magical Congress of the United States of America, the dangerous magical creatures escape from the wizard’s briefcase. Officials set off to find Scamander due to the fact that the release of these creatures endangers the relationship of Muggles (humans) and wizards. After causing a whirlpool of problems, Scamander is determined to fix the mess he created.

Warner Bros. announced on September 12, 2013 that the exhilarating new film will be Rowling’s debut project as a screenwriter. Rowling claims the trilogy is not a sequel to the beloved Harry Potter books, however it is a continuation of the wizarding world. In a post on Facebook announcing the film, the esteemed author also revealed how close she feels to each and every character she developed.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be in theaters everywhere beginning November 8, 2016.