J.K. Rowling has a new project ~ turning Harry's schoolbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them into a movie script starring monster-hunter Newt Scamander.
This is definitely a good way for WB to sell lots of dragon toys! And I do like the name - it sounds like "Newts Commander." :)
Interestingly, this story starts in New York instead of Britain. That will probably tick off some British fans for sure. And I guess that means she may have to break her all-British casting rule also!
From Rolling Stone"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," Rowling said. "Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hardcore 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."
Rowling went on to call the movie "an extension of the wizarding world," adding it will be filled with laws and customs of a hidden magical society that will be familiar to fans of the books and movies. The only plot detail available Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was that Newt's story will start in New York, 70 years before Harry Potter's saga begins.
"I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it," said Rowling.