Late last year, Potterheads rejoiced when it was announced that J.K. Rowling would be penning a new trilogy set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter based on the Hogwarts textbook ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.’ However, the Boy Who Lived would not be starring in the new films. Instead, they will follow author Newt Scamander in his journeys throughout the world in search of magical beings over 70 years before anyone knew about the young boy’s battles with He Who Shall Not Be Named. So far, not many details have emerged about this project other than how long it took the author/first-time screenwriter to complete a rough draft and that Scamander’s tale will offer a different side of witchcraft and wizardry by starting in New York. Now, however, we know when we should expect to see it all unfold on the big screen.
ERC first broke the news earlier this week that Warner Bros. has scheduled a release date for ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’. According to the report, the first film in the new magical franchise will drop on November 18, 2016. Currently, no other film is set to premiere on that date and I don’t see that changing any time soon as the power of Harry Potter might deter other studios from even trying to stake claim to that day.
Now that a draft has been completed and a date has been chosen, the next step is to name a director. Chances are that this announcement should be coming soon seeing as these fantastic beasts will need some time to come alive in post. Despite this universe being well defined in the books and movies, whoever lands the job is likely to take as many chances as possible to seize the new opportunities to expand the world and wow audiences with this new blank slate of a franchise that is more open to interpretation than the previous films.
Are you excited to see ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them’ in 2016? Do you have any ideas as to who should direct the first film in this new trilogy? Let us know in the comments below.
