It has been months since we are waiting for JKR’s next, “Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them”. After 5 long years, J.K. Rowling with director David Yates finally came up with a delight for all the Wizards and the Muggles when they confirmed the release date of the movie, that is, November 18 of this year. Here’s everything you need to know about “Fantastic Beasts” before you go catch it up.
What is the movie about?
Based on a textbook rather than a novel, the movie is the J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting debut, and the source material is minimal for studying before you see it. It serves as a prequel to the Potter’s magical world in the form of a trilogy. The movie takes place in the course of two days.
The movie is set in 1926 New York, a world away from the Harry Potter series which is set in London, 70 years later. It features the typical Rowling hero, the shy and out-of-the-box Newt Scamander, a Magizoologist. He arrives at NYC in December 1926 with his expandable suitcase full of magical beasts, which he studies in his career as a magizooogist.
In the midst of a situation where unsolved magical incidents are taking the city over by storm, he encounters a ‘No-Maj’ Jacob Kowalski, while searching for an escaped niffler, who is accidentally introduced to some of these creatures who live inhabit the suitcase. Jacob agrees to help Newt find the other escaped creatures.
Follow what happens next in the movie, when these dangerous magical creatures or ‘Fantastic Beasts’ interact with a non-magical world in the United States and they threaten the already messed up situation further.
What are the new words that you should add to your vocabulary?
No-Maj: If you’re religiously following Rowling’s updates about ‘Fantastic Beasts’, chances are you would already know what it is. It is the American word for ‘muggles’, pronounced as ‘no-madge’.
Obscurial: It looks like a smoke monster which is actually a dark force or creature created when a child wizard suppresses their magic.
Occamy: Those of you who haven’t read the text, it would be a bit difficult to get Eddie Redmayne’s accent as a result of which you might not perfectly understand the names of the major beasts. The Occamy is the peacock-like bird which can adjust its body size according to its surroundings.
Erumpent: The glowing rhinoceros-like beast in ‘Fantastic Beasts’ which leaves a mess as Central Park.
MACUSA: Pronounced as “mah-coo-sah”, it is the acronym for “Magical Congress of the United States of America”. This is similar to the British “Ministry of Magic”. The MACUSA does not allow a wizard talk to a no-maj. A new aspect of ‘Fantastic Beasts’ for sure.
What’s with the buzz about Grindelwald?
J.K. Rowling has already introduced us to Grindelwald in Deathly Hallows. He is killed by Voldemort during his quest for the Elder Wand.
He was born in 1883 and educated at the Durmstrang. Too attracted to the darker side of magic, he performed experiments which were allegedly so unnatural that Grindelwald was expelled from the school.
The idea that the possessor of all the Hallows would be the Master of Death attracted him a lot and he set out for a quest to find them all. He arrives at Godric’s Hollow and meets Dumbledore there. The both later become best friends, until Grindelwald goes power-mad and ends up in the wizard prison.
The role is to be played by Johnny Depp, according to a report by Deadline, in the sequels of this trilogy. He also has a cameo in “Fantastic Beasts And Where To find Them”.
With so much going on and the amazing reviews, we are too excited to watch it. For more information, go to Pottermore and Fantastic Beasts Wiki.