‘Harry Potter’ fans will be delighted to discover author J.
ADVERTISEMENT‘Harry Potter’ fans will be delighted to discover author J.K. Rowling’s latest work, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ – the first of five new films penned exclusively for the big screen.
Preceding the Potter stories by around seven decades, the film is set in 1926. It tells the adventures of Newt Scamander, an eccentric, introverted wizard, played by Eddie Redmayne, who arrives in New York City with a case full of magical creatures that soon escape.
The Oscar-winning actor thoroughly enjoyed working with the famous author, who also co-produced the movie.
“The amazing thing about J.K. Rowling is that she’s written characters and all their back stories and lives are so thorough in her imagination. But for actors she gives us the complete freedom to come up with your own ideas. And to try things and fail and try again. So she was super collaborative,” says Redmayne.
His co-star, Katerine Waterston, who plays down-to-earth witch Tina, agrees: “And she’s so enthusiastic about it, too. I mean she just seemed so excited that she’s seeing everything that she already saw in her mind out in front of her. I was so touched just to see that when we all met her.”
Irish actor Colin Farrell plays the Chief Security Officer for the Protection of Wizards at the American Ministry of Magic. He says the movie should appeal to audiences of all ages: “As a forty-year-old man I could go and just get soaked in the expression of the imaginastic world that she’s created. So I would imagine that kids and parents and adults can all enjoy it, I hope.”
Described as action-packed and splendid-looking, the film is a CGI feast according to critics, who say magic is as potent as ever, and welcome Katherine Waterston, who introduces something that had been missing in the Rowling universe: a really strong young female lead.
‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is on global release from November 16.
