WB's 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' original script by J.K. Rowling

[mclay18]

The casting of Dan, Emma, and Rupert was all Columbus and Heyman. Not Rowling. In fact Rowling has more involvement in this trilogy due to her being the scriptwriter.

I think Columbus and Heyman ran their casting decisions by JKR before announcing it. I'm not sure, but she had a list of conditions when WB bought the film rights to her books, and casting UK actors as the leads were high on that list.

Baffling? Really?

It's just... I haven't read any of JKR's spinoff books like Fantastic Beasts. And I expected different actors, like virtual unknowns. Not folks like Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell or Dan Fogler.

I'll likely see Fantastic Beasts because JKR wrote the screenplay. She has this wonderful knack for droll humor and her storytelling is quite good. But the actors are... eh.

 

[Marvolo]

I think Columbus and Heyman ran their casting decisions by JKR before announcing it. I'm not sure, but she had a list of conditions when WB bought the film rights to her books, and casting UK actors as the leads were high on that list.



It's just... I haven't read any of JKR's spinoff books like Fantastic Beasts. And I expected different actors, like virtual unknowns. Not folks like Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell or Dan Fogler.

I'll likely see Fantastic Beasts because JKR wrote the screenplay. She has this wonderful knack for droll humor and her storytelling is quite good. But the actors are... eh.

Fantastic Beasts, the book, is a school book type thing. It was written as one of Harry's school books and its profits from sales went to charity. Quiditch Through the Ages is the same way. The only character in the Fantastic Beasts book is Newt and he is only listed as the author. There is no actual plot or stoy in the book. The story and characters in the film is a whole new creation by JK Rowling and not an adaption.

And the cast of the Harry Potter films were not unknowns except for the trio. The only reason Dan and Rupert and Emma were unknown was becausw they were so young. The rest of the cast was well known british actors. And its the same with this film, but since its set in America they dont have to cast only brits.

As for Rowling's conditions, the actors who played the characters had to be british unless the character was of another nationality (Fleur and Krum for instance) . That was really her only condition as far as the cast went. And that was to preserve the british flavor of the series. But that doesnt apply with this trilogy. Its set in America.

Daniel Radcliffe was actually discovered when Heyman or Columbus went to a play. Cant remember which one it was, but he was at a play with his parents watching the play and Chris or Heyman spotted him and thought he looked perfect and after the play he asked the parents to let him audition for formalities sake. Dan auditioned and Chris and Heyman picked him. Then they showed him to Rowling, but she trusted their judgments and she wasnt a part of the actual auditions.

 

[Pickleweasel]

I think Columbus and Heyman ran their casting decisions by JKR before announcing it. I'm not sure, but she had a list of conditions when WB bought the film rights to her books, and casting UK actors as the leads were high on that list.



It's just... I haven't read any of JKR's spinoff books like Fantastic Beasts. And I expected different actors, like virtual unknowns. Not folks like Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell or Dan Fogler.

I'll likely see Fantastic Beasts because JKR wrote the screenplay. She has this wonderful knack for droll humor and her storytelling is quite good. But the actors are... eh.

What are you talking about?

 

[Airwings]

Very cool that Farrell is in.

I also don't see a need to tie his character to Seamus though.

Have Liam Aiken play his son then, instead

 

[Marvolo]

What are you talking about?

These:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic_Beasts

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quidditch_Through_the_Ages#/search

 

[Octoberist]

The casting for this is both awesome and bonkers.

 

[mclay18]

What are you talking about?

Okay, 'spinoff' was definitely the wrong word I used. The production news about "Fantastic Beasts" hasn't been as fun as it was for the HP series.

 

[Octoberist]

I think it's driven by fear when we get 'spin-offs' and prequels'..

 

[Loki882]

I think Columbus and Heyman ran their casting decisions by JKR before announcing it. I'm not sure, but she had a list of conditions when WB bought the film rights to her books, and casting UK actors as the leads were high on that list.



It's just... I haven't read any of JKR's spinoff books like Fantastic Beasts. And I expected different actors, like virtual unknowns. Not folks like Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell or Dan Fogler.

I'll likely see Fantastic Beasts because JKR wrote the screenplay. She has this wonderful knack for droll humor and her storytelling is quite good. But the actors are... eh.

Only the child actors in HP were "unknowns?" Otherwise, pretty much every British actor/actresses who's ever won/been nominated for any kind of acting award (and was still alive at the time) was in those films. It's like the greatest assemblage of British acting talent ever put to film.

 

[Marvolo]

I think it's driven by fear when we get 'spin-offs' and prequels'..

Whats there to be afraid of? JK Rowling is writing the script. This is no more scary than her writing another book. The only difference is the story is being delivered on film instead of on the page.

 

[Octoberist]

But people are ignorant? I don't know.

 

[hobo123]

Whats there to be afraid of? JK Rowling is writing the script. This is no more scary than her writing another book. The only difference is the story is being delivered on film instead of on the page.

It's still a scary thought though, to go back to something that had such a good beginning and an end. I am being optimistic about this but considering my limited knowledge of TV shows and movies, doing a spin-off, or going back to something after a while, doesn't usually work (SW prequels). So a part of me has some suspicion about this. Or I can be completely wrong, this can be like it Better Call Saul, which I also had suspicions about but thankfully turned out to be wrong.

 

[Marvolo]

It's still a scary thought though, to go back to something that had such a good beginning and an end. I am being optimistic about this but considering my limited knowledge of TV shows and movies, doing a spin-off, or going back to something after a while, doesn't usually work (SW prequels). So a part of me has some suspicion about this. Or I can be completely wrong, this can be like it Better Call Saul, which I also had suspicions about but thankfully turned out to be wrong.

This story is set 70 years before Harry was even born and its set in New York. Rowling and WB have said that this story wont connect to Harry in any way so there isn't any reason to worry about this stepping on the toes of the Harry Potter story. I don't even think Voldemort was even born during the time of this story. Rowling has also said that magic in America and the school in America was born from and influenced by Native Americans and shamanism so the magic in this film could have a very different flare to it. Ever since Ron mentioned the ancient Egyptian's curses in POA its had me wondering what sort of magic other cultures do and what sort of magic wizards did before Latin even existed. So the fact that these new films will explore that has me really excited.

And its only been 4 years since the last Harry Potter film and its being done by the same studio, producer, director and I assume a lot of the same crew will be back.

Also, keep in mind how large the Harry Potter universe is. Its an entire world full of differing cultures. There are schools in many countries. Every country has its own Ministry of Magic. Its own prisons and bad wizards. Witches, wizards, warlocks, creatures, and magic spans the globe. Each country has its own history. And each country has its own potential for stories and adventures. Voldemort wasn't the only wizard in the wizarding world who was evil and he wasn't the first nor is their reason to think another one couldn't arise. Grindelwald for instance wreaked havoc on Eastern Europe.

I don't want to many spin-offs, but the universe Rowling created is a lot bigger than just Harry and his story. I want more books set in that universe, but I'm fine with more movies too.

 

[hobo123]

This story is set 70 years before Harry was even born and its set in New York. Rowling and WB have said that this story wont connect to Harry in any way so there isn't any reason to worry about this stepping on the toes of the Harry Potter story. I don't even think Voldemort was even born during the time of this story. Rowling has also said that magic in America and the school in America was born from and influenced by Native Americans and shamanism so the magic in this film could have a very different flare to it. Ever since Ron mentioned the ancient Egyptian's curses in POA its had me wondering what sort of magic other cultures do and what sort of magic wizards did before Latin even existed. So the fact that these new films will explore that has me really excited.

And its only been 4 years since the last Harry Potter film and its being done by the same studio, producer, director and I assume a lot of the same crew will be back.

Also, keep in mind how large the Harry Potter universe is. Its an entire world full of differing cultures. There are schools in many countries. Every country has its own Ministry of Magic. Its own prisons and bad wizards. Witches, wizards, warlocks, creatures, and magic spans the globe. Each country has its own history. And each country has its own potential for stories and adventures. Voldemort wasn't the only wizard in the wizarding world who was evil and he wasn't the first nor is their reason to think another one couldn't arise. Grindelwald for instance wreaked havoc on Eastern Europe.

I don't want to many spin-offs, but the universe Rowling created is a lot bigger than just Harry and his story. I want more books set in that universe, but I'm fine with more movies too.

I understand that it will basically have nothing to do with the original series. But for me at least, the HP world has left such a great legacy that I do have doubts about this. I am not entirely negative about this, but I am not entirely optimistic either. Even just considering the movies, every single movie has been overwhelmingly positively received, I don't think any other series has that kind of record. So just that record alone makes me nervous that there has to be a bad one in the series.

As for the stories, I agree this world is filled with stories. I actually wouldn't mind prequel with Dumblerdore and Grindelwald such as X-Men: First Class. Hell, I wouldn't even mind the seeing the origin of Hogwarts.

 

[Drizzle]

Dan Fogler is in this? I thought Josh Gad usurped his title as Hollywood's go-to annoying chubby sidekick.

 

[mclay18]

Filming is now underway.

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/472973-fantastic-beasts-and-where-to-find-them-starts-filming

Some familiar BTS crew are back, like the production designer Stuart Craig and visual effects supervisor. As previously mentioned a few pages back, newcomers to the series are Philippe Rousselot as cinematographer and Colleen Atwood as costume designer.

 

[Marvolo]

Philippe Rousselot was the cinematographer on Big Fish. This could be a good looking film as long as Yates doesnt want to make everything drab and dreary.

 

[Sawyer]

Colleen Atwood?

 

[Marvolo]

She also worked on Big Fish and Edward Scissorhands.

Hmmm this could be interesting.

 

[mclay18]

She also worked on Big Fish and Edward Scissorhands.

Hmmm this could be interesting.

She can do opulent and heroic too. She did Snow White and the Huntsman, which had stellar costumes, and designed the costumes for "Arrow", "The Flash" and "Supergirl."

 

[Sawyer]

Can't wait to get some production pics.

 

[Sawyer]

Jon Voight, Gemma Chan and Carmen Ejogo Cast

Jon Voight?

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Love Gemma Chan on Humans. Happy to see her score a role in a big film.

 

[Marvolo]

John Voight...Gemma Chan...

Yes, please!

 

[terry78]

This cast is bananas.