Eddie Redmayne In ‘Fantastic Beasts’: Oscar Winner Lands Lead In ‘Harry Potter’ Spinoff

Eddie Redmayne has been tapped to play the lead role in the much-anticipated Harry Potter spinoff film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Eddie Redmayne In Fantastic Beasts

Redmayne, 33, will take on the part of the wizarding world’s foremost magizoologist, Newt Scamander, in Fantastic Beasts, reported The Hollywood Reporter. In the film, set primarily in 1930s New York City, Scamander will be in search of the world’s most fascinating magical creatures to complete what will become Hogwarts students greatest resource on the subject – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

“Eddie is a fearless actor, brimming with invention, wit and humanity,” director David Yates said in a news release. “I couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of working with him as we start this new adventure in J.K. Rowling’s wonderful world, and I know she feels the same way.”

Author J.K. Rowling penned Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them as a companion book to her 7-book Harry Potter series. She is making her debut as a screenwriter on the film, re-teaming with Yates, who directed the last four Harry Potter films – Order Of The Phoenix, Half Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows parts one and two.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is slated to hit theaters Nov. 18, 2016.