[dropcap size=small]G[/dropcap]ood news for Muggles everywhere: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is officially set to return to theaters in 2016 with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and author J.K. Rowling has just finished the film’s script. Warner Bros. announced that the film is the first in a trilogy based off of Rowling’s 2001 book of the same name, which was written under the name of the fictional wizard Newt Scamander.
In addition to Rowling confirming that a screenplay was completed, it has also been confirmed that David Yates is on board to direct the film. Yates was at the helm for the last four installments of the Potter series (Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and both parts of Deathly Hallows) and was the logical choice to direct an extension of that same universe.
The book published by Rowling in 2001 serves as an encyclopedia of sorts, so there is no fixed storyline for Rowling’s screenplay (and future screenplays) to follow. Fantastic Beasts will be set 70 years before Harry’s story and will follow Scamander’s search for new magical creatures while he documents his discoveries. Before completing the script, Rowling revealed a line from the script through a series of cryptic tweets that explained that Scamander will begin his journey in New York.
With Rowling penning the script and Yates behind the camera, the film is sure to contribute to a successful year for Warner Bros. alongside Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad.
Are you looking forward to revisiting the Wizarding World? Let us know in the comments!
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them hits theaters on November 18, 2016.
