Move over, Harry, Hermione, and Ron. There’s a new batch of wizards and witches. In “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” J.K. Rowling’s magic is jumping the pond.
Long before we knew about Harry Potter, there was a wizard named Newt Scamander.
In “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Newt, who’s played by Eddie Redmayne, has a thing for magical creatures.
Eddie Redmayne: “He was thrown out of Hogwarts for endangering human life with a beast, and he’s a bit of a loner. I think he’s been damaged in the past.”
While traveling and writing about magical animals, Newt stops in New York.
But when some of his creatures escape, a witch named Tina, played by Katherine Waterston, steps in to save the day.
Katherine Waterston: “They have some wonderful similarities. They are both outsiders, they’re both really passionate about what they do, they are both stunted developmentally in some ways.”
Alison Sudol is Tina’s younger sister, Queenie, and she uses her magical ability to help Tina and Newt.
Alison Sudol: “She is a beautiful, fun-loving, feminine, empathetic woman who also is a magical empath. So she can read people immediately.”
The world of magic is nearly exposed when a No-Maj, or non-magical person, named Jacob, played by Dan Fogler, realizes there are fantastic beasts roaming the Big Apple.
Dan Fogler: “He just wants to settle down and relax, and he gets swept up in this adventure with all of these wizards and witches. And it’s love at first sight for him when he sees this glowing, beautiful being.”
Love may be in the air, but in the U.S. witches and wizards aren’t allowed to get involved with No-Majs. That’s when Percival Graves, played by Colin Farrell, comes in.
Colin Farrell: “He’s the head investigator and the upholder of the law, and particularly with regard to the maintenance of the segregation between wizards and non-wizards.”
Between the beasts roaming around, and a brewing romance, Newt’s trip to New York is one no one will forget.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opens in theaters Friday, Nov. 18.
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