Warner Bros. has revealed the U.S. theatrical release date for screenwriter J.K. Rowling's
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first spin-off of the
Harry Potter films based on Rowling's own 2001 companion book and in-universe Hogwarts textbook. Set in the wizarding world, the story will feature magical creatures and characters (including fictional author Newt Scamander), some of which will be familiar to devoted
Potter fans.
The first picture in a planned trilogy,
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set to open in U.S. theaters on November 18, 2016.
"Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years,
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the
Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world," said Rowling. "The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt's story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry's gets underway."
"We are incredibly honored that Jo has chosen to partner with Warner Bros. on this exciting new exploration of the world of wizardry which has been tremendously successful across all of our businesses," said Tsujihara. "She is an extraordinary writer, who ignited a reading revolution around the world, which then became an unprecedented film phenomenon. We know that audiences will be as excited as we are to see what her brilliant and boundless imagination conjures up for us."