FANTASTIC Beasts and Where to Find Them was originally a book written by Harry Potter author JK Rowling in 2001.
It’s since inspired two films starring Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne – here’s everything you need to know about the franchise…
What is the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the name of a textbook which is mentioned in passing in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
JK Rowling released the book in 2001 for Comic Relief but credited it to fictional author and ‘magizoologist’ Newt Scamander, a portrait of whom hangs in Dumbledore’s study.
The book, authored by Scamander in 1927, describes 85 magical species found around the wizarding world as documented over his years of globe-trotting.
During Scamander’s time at the Ministry of Magic’s Beast Division, he introduced several key pieces of magical legislation including the 1947 Werewolf Registry and the 1965 ban on experimental breeding of magical creatures.
Sales of the book and its companion, Quidditch Through the Ages have raised more than £17m to date.
What was the first Fantastic Beasts film about?
The first film adaptation of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released in 2016.
Starring Eddie Redmayne, as Newt Scamander it followed the story of how the magizoologist came to discover so many “fantastic beasts.”
He travels to New York where he accidentally releases some magical creatures from his case which terrorise Manhattan.
The muggle Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) then joins him on an adventure into America’s wizarding world.
When is Fantastic Beasts 2 released in the UK?
When the first Fantastic Beasts film came out JK Rowling announced that there would be a total of five films in the franchise.
The second film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindlewald will be released in the UK on November 16, 2018.
This movie is set two years after the first and will see a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) meet the wizard Gellert Grindlewald (Johnny Depp).
Eddie Redmayne will also reprise his role as Newt Scamander in the sequel.