Oscar Winner Eddie Redmayne to star in Harry Potter prequel

Eddie Redmayne will play Newt Scamander in "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"

Published 2nd Jun 2015

Warner Bros. have announced that Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne will become part of the Harry Potter world in the prequel "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them".

The film will take place 70 years before the Potter series began with Redmayne taking on the role of Newt Scamander, the author of a wizarding textbook referred to in the books and films.

In 2015 Redmayne won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything.” He also starred as Marius in the film adaptation of “Les Misérables,". Greg Silverman, President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production, Warner Bros. Picture said of the casting;

"We are thrilled to welcome him into J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, where we know he will deliver a remarkable performance as Newt Scamander, the central character in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

Warner Bros. Pictures has stated “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be released worldwide in 3D and IMAX on November 18, 2016.