Eddie Redmayne is in Talks to Join Harry Potter Spinoff

The British actor will play the character of Newt Scamander in the upcoming film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”

Actor Eddie Redmayne is all set to become a part of Harry Potter’s spinoff.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. is in serious negotiations with Eddie Redmayne to join “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” and has offered him the role of Newton Scamander in upcoming project.

The 33-year old Eddie Redmayne, who was the frontrunner to play the lead role of Magizoologist Newton Sacamender, was also excited about his potential role in the film but wanted to see a complete script before making a final decision. Now the script has been handed over to him and the actor is reportedly quite satisfied how the character has shaped up.

The spinoff is based on J. K. Rowling’s 2001 novel of the same name, which also served as a textbook in the Harry Potter series, read by Harry, Ronald, Hermione and the rest of the class to get knowledge about magical creatures of the wizarding world. Although J. K. Rowling is the author of the book but it has been credited under the fictitious name of Newt Scamander which is exactly what Eddie Redmayne is going to play in the film.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is set in New York several years before the story of Harry Potter starts. Back in September 2013, Warner Bros. and J. K. Rowling mutually decided to expand their long-term partnership and announced to put up a film inspired by this book. J. K. Rowling is also the writer of the script, making her screenwriting debut with the film.

“Although It will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for 17 years, ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series but an extension of the wizarding world.” Rowling explained.

Apart from Scamander, the film has four more main characters – two boys and two girls for which the casting has not done yet.