Variety reports director David Yates, known for his work on the Harry Potter films, will be in charge of the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them trilogy. The films are a spinoff of the Harry Potter franchise, and take place decades before the young wizard was even alive. The book actually shows up in Harry Potter’s possession in the Philosopher’s Stone.
We already knew the movies were on the way, with the first film expected to hit theaters on Nov. 18, 2016. Neither Warner Bros. or Yates has commented on the rumor, though given his relationship with the franchise, the appointment definitely makes sense. Yates directed several Harry Potter films, including the final Deathly Hallows movie that came out in 2011.
Within the Harry Potter universe, Fantastic Beasts is written by Newt Scamander, who is a magizoologist; Magizoology is the study of magical creatures. The book itself describes 75 magical species found around the world, which Scamander says he observed while traveling.
No casting has been announced just yet, and it’s unclear when filming is expected to get underway. But with Yates reportedly at the helm, things are seemingly shaping up. Since concluding in 2011, the Harry Potter movies have grossed more than $7 billion worldwide—the highest of any film franchise. With three more films on the way, that figure is about to go up even more.
Source: Variety