Top six storylines we want to see in “Fantastic Beasts”

It has been just over one week since we learned that J.K. Rowling was writing a screenplay set in the wizarding world and revolving around Newt Scamander, the “supposed author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Speculation has been nonstop since then, and we here at MuggleNet, of course, have not been immune! Last week we brought you the top ten creatures we want to see in this film, as well as our picks for the role of Newt. Today, we bring you some potential storylines and events we would like to see!

We have very little information about Newt and his life, besides a few hints in his biography and foreword included in Fantastic Beasts. Based on what little information we do have, however, we present our top speculation for what could happen in this film:

1. Newt’s childhood: One of the few things we do know about Mr. Scamander is that he became fascinated with magical creatures at a young age. Fantastic Beasts mentions that he used to dismantle Horklumps and that his mother raised fancy hippogriffs. Why would anyone dismantle Horklumps? Did young Newt gain some of his love for magical creatures from helping his mother? And what does one do with a “fancy hippogriff”? There could be a wealth of new story in this (or maybe we just want to see exactly what a “fancy hippogriff” is).

2. House-elf relocation: Yes, it’s described as “tedious” in the book, but perhaps we could see a little more of Rowling’s political undertones in a storyline featuring Newt’s time at the Office for House-Elf Relocation. We can assume that he grew up in a wizarding household, which would suggest he has a similar view on house-elves as Ron Weasley. Would this view be changed or reinforced by working in this office at the Ministry?

3. Dragons, dragons, dragons!: We read in the biography included in the book, “Mr. Scamander’s work with the Dragon Research and Restraint Bureau led to many research trips abroad, during which he collected info for his world-wide best seller“. This seems to make it almost certain that we will have some sort of adventure with dragons. Will there be an incident with a rogue dragon in New York? There may be a dragon reserve on the East Coast that would bring Newt over the Atlantic and begin his adventures in the US.

4. The Ilfracombe Incident of 1932: One of the events mentioned in the book that has a date close to when we know Newt’s story will take place, the Ilfracombe Incident involved a sighting of a dragon by many Muggles. Perhaps we will find that Newt is somehow involved. This one may belong in one of the scripts further along in the series, but it is still a very likely possibility!

5. Historical connections: Rowling has always been able to cleverly (and believably) tie her world to historical events in our world. It has already been announced that at least the first film will take place around the 1920s in New York; the historical tie-ins could be endless! Wizard gangsters (was Al Capone really a wizard?), speakeasies (with house-elf waiters, perhaps?), and fantastic parties (think Gatsby with magic!), and perhaps even a magical connection to the stock market crash.

6. The Werewolf Registry: If Remus Lupin’s story is anything to go off of, the wizarding world’s view on werewolves is very conflicted. Wizards who know those unfortunate enough to be bitten are more likely to be sympathetic, but a large majority of wizards are frightened of and socially ostracize werewolves. If Newt was responsible for the creation of the Werewolf Registry, but does not count this as one of his greatest achievements, how does he really feel about those who transform at the full moon? Could he have been prejudiced until he met a real werewolf and had a change of heart? This looks like it could lead to a very interesting story!

Bonus!

7. The traveling kettle: We really want to see Newt have the need to beat off creatures with his traveling kettle. This could be a very funny scene, filled with Rowling’s classic humor.

Whatever the plot of this film, we know that it will bring us the same kind of magic, wonderful characters, emotion, and laughter that only J.K. Rowling bring us.

What events or storylines do you want to see in this film? Let us know in the comments!