Alfonso Cuarón to direct “Fantastic Beasts”?

Even though the screenplay hasn’t been written, yet, there has already been speculation about who will direct and star in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In an interview yesterday during a celebration for his Oscar nominated film Gravity, Vulture tried to convince Alfonso Cuarón, who directed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, to take on the motion picture.

Cuarón certainly didn’t turn down the idea, but says he hasn’t heard from anyone.

Azkaban was fun to make, and when I did it, I was invited to do the next one, but I didn’t want to overstay the welcome because it was such an experience. But now? Why not? I do have stuff that I want to do [next], but a J.K. thing… they haven’t called me yet! They haven’t decided to invite me!

Among Cuarón’s prerequisites for the film, he’d like all of his characters to remain on the ground. That puts brooms and flying Ford Anglia’s out of commission, but with Apparition (not to mention that we’re sure we know where a set of twin Vanishing Cabinets reside!) as a means of travel, we don’t think that will be a problem.

He does have an interesting idea for the main character, however. Try to picture Newt Scamander as… a woman?

“Why not a woman?” says Cuarón.

He’ll have to battle that one out with J.K. Rowling if he ends up getting the gig. Whether he’s a serious contender for the job or this is merely entertaining speculation, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Newt Scamander.

What do you think about Alfonso Cuarón taking the helm on Fantastic Beasts? Hit us up in the comments below!