Anticipation will be gathering momentum for the latest JK Rowling offering to make the big screen, after the release this week of a trailer for a Harry Potter prequel. Entitled “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, the new Film marks an intriguing stage in the career of the leading author as she makes her screenwriting debut.
Redmayne tests his wizardry skills
The portents look extremely promising for yet another major success, with not only the obvious talents of the great lady herself to recommend the project but also the notable inclusion of Eddie Redmayne among the cast.
The fresh-faced 33-year-old actor may even challenge the fans’ justifiable long-standing affection for Daniel Radcliffe in the wizardry stakes in due course.
Successful actor
Redmayne seems to have the world at his feet at present. Last year’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything”, has been backed up in 2015 by another stylish yet challenging performance as Lili Elbe in “The Danish Girl”. Further Golden Globe and Oscar success may yet beckon for his role as the Danish transgender woman.
Magical creatures unleashed
In Fantastic Beasts Redmayne stars as Newt Scamander, an authoritative magizoologist who quite by accident becomes responsible for unleashing a case full of magical creatures on to 1920s New York.
For the uninitiated, a magizoologist is a person who studies magical creatures, a form of wizarding naturalist.
The teaser trailer includes all the essential elements for a classic tale of wizards and magic. Fantasy and danger mixed together in a heady brew. Although the plot for the new film is largely unexplained in the short taster, the general eeriness is clear and likely to whet the appetite of Rowling’s devotees.
Harry Potter textbook
The prequel is set some 70 years prior to the timeframe for “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone”. There is however a tie in to the likeable character, as Newt is the author of Fantastic Beasts which is one of Harry’s textbooks on the reading syllabus at Hogwarts.
Rowling’s global success
50-year-old Rowling is of course renowned for the hugely popular Harry Potter book series.
The global success of the fantasy literature has not only brought her into the media eye but also ensured sales estimated at 400 million copies and counting. The film adaptations have similarly gained worldwide appeal as the second highest-grossing film series of all-time.
Eager beavers will have to maintain their decorum and keep their patience though, as the new film is only due to be released in November 2016.
