TORONTO — British actor Eddie Redmayne has signed on to star in a prequel to the Harry Potter series of books and films.
The 33-year-old, who earned an Oscar and Golden Globe for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in last year’s The Theory of Everything, will play Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Scamander travels the world searching for magical creatures and documenting them in the textbook that Harry Potter and his classmates study at Hogwarts decades later.
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The film, directed by David Yates, is expected to be the first in a trilogy based upon J.K. Rowling‘s 2001 book of the same name.
In announcing Redmayne’s casting, Warner Bros. president of creative development Greg Silverman said the studio is “thrilled to welcome him into J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, where we know he will deliver a remarkable performance.”
Redmayne’s credits include Les Miserables and Jupiter Ascending.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is due for release in November 2016.
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