CONFIRMED: “Fantastic Beasts” Starts Filming Today

We previously reported on the rumors that principal photography would begin for the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them spinoff film series today, and Warner Bros. stated “[they] could [neither] confirm nor deny” these rumors.

Today, those rumors are now confirmed; filming has definitely begun at Leavesden Studios in Watford, England.

Academy Award-winner Eddie Redmayne takes on the lead role of Newt Scamander, the wizarding world’s preeminent magizoologist, who stops in New York following his travels to find and document magical creatures. The film also stars Katherine Waterston as Porpentina (Tina) and Alison Sudol as Tina’s sister, Queenie (the two of whom we just revealed are a distant relation to Ravenclaw Anthony Goldstein); Tony Award-winner Dan Fogler as Jacob; Ezra Miller as Credence; two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton as Mary Lou; Jenn Murray as Chastity; young newcomer Faith Wood-Blagrove as Modesty; and Colin Farrell as Graves.

Are you excited for the news of filming? Let us know whom you are most excited to see in this new film series set in the magical world.

Fantastic Beasts will be released on November 18, 2016, in theaters worldwide in both IMAX and 3D.

Press Release

FILMING GETS UNDERWAY ON

“FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM”

Much-anticipated new film, written by wizarding world creator J.K. Rowling
and being directed by David Yates, starts production in England

BURBANK, CA – August 17, 2015 – Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated feature “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”  The all new adventure is set in the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling in her best-selling Harry Potterbooks, which were adapted into the highest-grossing film franchise of all time.

Filming started today, August 17, at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” feature films.

Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”) stars as Newt Scamander, the wizarding world’s preeminent magizoologist, who stops in New York following his travels to find and document magical creatures.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” also stars Katherine Waterston (“Inherent Vice”) as Tina; Alison Sudol (“Dig,” “Transparent”) as Tina’s sister, Queenie; Tony Award winner Dan Fogler (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”) as Jacob; Ezra Miller (“Trainwreck”) as Credence; two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (“In America,” “Sweet and Lowdown”) as Mary Lou; Jenn Murray (“Brooklyn”) as Chastity; young newcomer Faith Wood-Blagrove as Modesty; and Colin Farrell (“True Detective”) as Graves.

Marking the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, the script was inspired by her character Newt Scamander’s Hogwarts textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The film is being produced by David Heyman, producer of all eight of the blockbuster “Harry Potter” features; J.K. Rowling; Steve Kloves; and Lionel Wigram.

Collaborating with Yates behind the scenes are: Oscar-winning director of photography Philippe Rousselot (“A River Runs Through It,” the “Sherlock Holmes” movies), three-time Oscar-winning production designer Stuart Craig (“The English Patient,” “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Gandhi,” the “Harry Potter” films), three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Alice in Wonderland”), Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Tim Burke (“Gladiator,” the “Harry Potter” films), Oscar-nominated visual effects supervisor Christian Manz (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1”), and Yates’ longtime editor Mark Day (the last four “Harry Potter” films).

Warner Bros. Pictures has slated “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” for worldwide release in 3D and IMAX on November 18, 2016.

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  1. MrSleepyHead says:

    Exciting news! Perhaps we’ll see a bit more of the ‘old guard’ of fans migrating back as filming information becomes more available. Can anyone tell me how the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is managed alongside ongoing filming? I haven’t had the chance to visit, but I presume it’s separated from all other operations at Leavesden – or will visiting guests be able to sneak some glimpses of sets?

    • Jack Bailey says:

      A friend visited the studio tours last week and saw the sets being put together for Fantastic Beasts.