Eddie Redmayne’s magizoologist Newt Scamander is teaming up with Albus Dumbledore, to be played by new franchise entrant Jude Law, in the second installment of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, which began shooting on Monday.
The film’s story traces the journey of Dumbledore, much before he became Headmaster at Hogwarts, and Scamander, who hunt down the most dangerous dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).
David Yates is returning to direct the yet-to-be-titled film.
Actor Katherine Waterston will reprise the role of Auror Tina Goldstein, Alison Sudol as her sister Queenie Goldstein and Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski.
Zoe Kravitz will play Leta Lestrange and Callum Turner will portray Scamander’s brother, Theseus Scamander.
Author JK Rowling has penned the screenplay for the film which opens in the year 1927 and expands the wizarding world, moving from New York to London and on to Paris.
David Heyman, Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram are producing the film, with Tim Lewis, Neil Blair, Rick Senat and Danny Cohen serving as executive producers.
The new adventure is being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, which has been the cinematic home of the Wizarding World since the first Harry Potter film.
Slated for release on November 16, 2018, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros.