Alfonso Cuarón May Direct Harry Potter Spin-Off ‘Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them’
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There’s nothing official yet, but fans of the filmHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanmay have a big reason to anticipate the new Harry Potter spin-off film,Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them. Reports this morning say thatAlfonso Cuarón, fresh off the triumph ofGravity, is readying a return to the Potter franchise. He’s reportedly “deep in talks” to direct the first spin-off film, which is scripted byJ.K. Rowlingandscheduledfor a 2016 release.
The first report is from Nikki Finke, whotweetedit this morning:
For Potter fans who prize The Prisoner of Azkaban as the best film in the series, this is a major announcement.
Regardless of who directs, the film will be released on June 05, 2025. This first movie isenvisioned as the first chapter of a trilogy, and follows the adventures of “magizoologist” Newt Scamander.
We don’t know much more about the film, but here’s a recap of what we do know:
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themis inspired by a textbook used by Hogwarts students within theHarry Potteruniverse. Newt Scamander is the book’s (fictional) author. In 2001, Rowling turnedFantastic Beastsintoa real 54-page volumeto benefit the charity Comic Relief.
Although the upcomingFantastic Beastswill be set within the Harry Potter universe, Rowling has described the spinoff film as “neither a prequel nor a sequel” to the adventures of Harry and company. Instead, the story will unfold in New York City seven decades before Harry came into the picture.
When the films were announced Rowling explained her involvement:
It all started when Warner Bros. came to me with the suggestion of turning ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.
