It’s finally November, which means we are days away from the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them! For those of us who grew up reading the Harry Potter books and watching the movies when they were first released, we never thought we’d be able to revisit the Wizarding World unless we went to the theme park or the studio tour, reread the books, or watch the movies. But 2016 has given muggles the chance receive new stories by meeting Harry as an adult and father and a brand new story that will enlighten some things that were mentioned in passing in Harry Potter.
Fantastic Beasts focuses on magizoologist, Newt Scamander, who also wrote Harry’s text book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Newt comes to New York City in the 1920’s with a suitcase full of magical creatures. This case contains a magically expanded landscape for the creatures to live in. Newt befriends a No-Maj (American term for muggle), Jacob, although Jacob accidentally misplaces Newt’s case and some of the fantastic beasts escape. Now Newt must rescue the creatures, with help from Jacob and two witches Queenie and Porpentina, before harm comes to the creatures or New York.
Meanwhile, Percival Graves – Auror and Director of Magical Security – is investigating Newt when the creatures, a No-Maj anti-witchcraft group is trying to reveal the witchcraft and wizardry happening in New York, and there are connections in the city to Gellert Grindlewald’s activities in Europe. Remember, Grindlewald was the big villain in the Wizarding World before Voldemort…and Dumbledore’s ex-boyfriend.
I cannot wait for this movie! To be able to see what the Wizarding World was like in the 1920’s and in America is, well, fantastic! And to meet a niffler. He’s my new favorite.
J.K. Rowling said this is the story she always wanted to explore. She also recently revealed there will be 5 movies in this series, which means we’ll be exploring Newt’s adventure for awhile. And I’m fine with that! The Harry Potter books were a salvation for me growing up, and as a writer I worship J.K. and her brilliant characters, the world she built, and her ability to teach us about love, humanity, and death.
It’s wonderful to know that, for those us who grew up during the Harry Potter phenomenon, don’t have to completely grow up. We can still relive our childhood through the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them series.
– Peggy Ann, intern Beaufort Books