Eddie Redmayne Frontrunner For Harry Potter Spinoff

Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) is considered the frontrunner for the Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, according to Variety.

Redmayne would play the lead role of Newton Artemis Fido "Newt" Scamander, who is Magizoologist and author of the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. If you're in need of knowing where a magical creature is or what they can do, Newt is the leading expert in the field.

The film will take place 70 years BEFORE the original Harry Potter franchise. The screenplay is being written by first-time screenwriter J.K. Rowling, and will be directed by David Yates, who directed the final four films in the Harry Potter franchise.

This time we'll get a bit of an American flavor with this Harry Potter spinoff as the film is set in New York. Variety adds, "Besides Scamander, there are four other main roles — two American girls and two American boys — that the studio is currently looking to cast."

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is scheduled to arrive Nov. 18, 2016.