Eddie Redmayne Frontrunner to Lead 'Harry Potter' Spinoff 'Fantastic Beasts'
Eddie Redmayne, who won the best actor gong at this years Oscars for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, is the frontrunner to lead J.K. Rowling' Harry Potter spinoff.
Variety reports that Redmayne is the favourite to play Newt Scamander in Warner Bros.’ hotly anticipated Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Redmayne recently wrapped Tom Hooper’s The Danish Girl and has yet to receive an official offer for the role. But, director David Yates is said to be considering a few other actors for the part but Redmayne, according to sources, is the frontrunner. Warner Bros. declined to comment on this possible casting.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set in New York roughly seven decades before Harry Potter’s saga starts, and is based on the Hogwarts textbook of the same name and follows the adventures of its author, Newt Scamander. Fantastic Beasts marks Rowling's screenwriting debut on the upcoming trilogy, with the first movie expected in theatres on the 18th November 2016.
