When you look at Eddie Redmayne you might be looking at the face of Newt Scamander. Variety reports that the actor, who is hot off his Best Actor Oscar win for THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING, is the current front-runner for the lead role of FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM. Now an official offer has yet to have been extended to Redmayne, but sources say that the role is his should he want it; however THR has noted that the script is not yet complete and that Redmayne won't commit to the project until he reads it. Imagine that, reading something before you agree to it; how quaint. In addition to Scamander there are four other main roles that the studio is looking to cast, which consist of two American girls and two American boys.
David Yates, who directed the last four Harry Potter films, is expected to make his return to the wizarding world and take the helm of FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM which will follow a “magizoologist” named Newt Scamander as he studies and searches for various magical creatures. This new story takes place in New York 70 years prior to the events of the Harry Potter films, but will have little to do with them beyond being set in the same world. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling will be making her screenwriting debut on the Harry Potter spin-off which is expected to cover at least three films.
If Redmayne doesn't go for it Variety mentions that the studio is also considering Nicholas Hoult. Between the two I think Eddie Redmayne would be the better fit, what do you folks think? The first installment of FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 18, 2016, with its sequels following suit in 2018 and 2020.