With the release of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, Eddie Redmayne and Daniel Radcliffe help Radio 1’s film critic Ali Plumb discover why the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has become one of the biggest and most beloved franchises ever. Watch the half hour documentary below:
Get ready for your new favorite mobile game! Today, Warner Bros. Interactive has released a brand new app – Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World! In this new hidden object game you’ll investigate magical cases as a new recruit with the Ministry of Magic. Search for clues at familiar locations like Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron and Hogsmeade and report to the scene of mysterious incidents with a magical creature at the center of every case.
We were able to preview the game and can tell you that it is really immersive. The game starts out by walking you through your first few steps to help you get the feel of the game. Fans who love playing first person games will enjoy the experience of searching scenes and talking to Ministry officials and witnesses.
You’ll search for identifiers, which help you discover the creature you’re hunting, as well as other clues, and move your way through different scenes looking for hidden objects. Each loading page includes a beautiful notice poster to enjoy while waiting for your next mission.
Fantastic Beasts: Cases of the Wizarding World is available on iOS and Android so everyone can try their hand at some wizarding investigation!
Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, Fantastic Beasts: Cases From the Wizarding World enlists fans to join the Ministry of Magic and investigate unexplained happenings that could only be caused by magical creatures. In this hidden object game, players will rise from recruit to top Magizoologist as they unravel mysteries, discover hidden clues, interview witnesses, analyze evidence and cast spells while upholding the International Statue of Secrecy. Atmospheric music, beautifully illustrated enchanted environments and intriguing mysteries draw players into the wizarding world in a new way.
GAME FEATURES:
An Experience Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World – Join the Ministry of Magic, cast familiar spells, encounter fantastic creatures and journey to beloved settings such as the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley; Fantastic Beasts: Cases From the Wizarding World offers fans new adventures in the enchanting world of J.K. Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter.
Solve All-New Magical Mysteries – Players take on the role of a new recruit investigating mysterious happenings, and, by finding objects hiding in plain sight, analyzing clues, brewing potions and interviewing wizards, witches and Muggles, protect the creatures of the wizarding world.
Meet a New Cast of Wizards and Witches – From an Auror in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to an expert in the history of magical objects, original characters help players solve cases and learn more about the magical creatures they seek.
Protect the Fantastic Beasts – As a witch or wizard in the Ministry of Magic in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Beast Division, players will encounter some of the most fascinating mystical beasts – from Nifflers to unicorns, centaurs to dragons – and work to protect them
Become Part of a Magical Community – Connecting to Facebook, players can make magic with their friends and unravel the secrets of the wizarding world together. Compare progress against fellow recruits, and even lend a helping hand as they make their way through cases.
This past weekend we were lucky enough to be in attendance at the Lumos screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them along with 3000 other excited fans. The anticipation in the room was palpable and the moment the Warner Bros. logo came on screen we were transported back into J.K. Rowling’s world. While still in the magical world, Fantastic Beasts delivers on a new level.
Since we don’t have previous source material to look back on the experience of watching this film is more suspenseful. While we’re familiar with wizards and magic, Fantastic Beasts is completely new. Learning about the way American’s view magic and no-majs (muggles for us used to British terms) is an adventure. Fans will get to discover a whole new world with it’s own dangers. Wizards are on the brink of being discovered by muggles and the community is on high alert. Newt’s appearance, along with the escape of his creatures, couldn’t have come at a worse time.
The cast of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them are all perfectly suited to their characters. Eddie Redmayne’s charismatic performance perfectly captures the awkwardness of Newt Scamander, who spends more of his time with creatures than humans. He pairs up with no-maj and native New Yorker Jacob Kowalski, played by Dan Fogler, whose comedic timing adds fun to the film’s darker moments. Alison Sudol and Katherine Waterston add depth to sister duo Queenie and Porpentina (Tina) Goldstein who are more than just pretty faces. These four combine into a ragtag team of so called “outsiders” to uncover a great mystery.
The cast is rounded out by Carmen Ejogo as President of MACUSA Seraphina Picquery, Colin Farell as auror Percival Graves, Samantha Morton as the Second Salemer’s head Mary Lou Barebone and Ezra Miller who masterfully portrays her oppressed adoptive son Credence. There are also wonderful performances by Ron Perlman as Gnarlack and Faith Wood-Blagrove as Modesty. We can’t forget two of our favorite creatures – Pickett the bowtruckle and Newt’s niffler – who are sure to be fan favorites. We have a few other favorites but will leave their reveals for the film. One moment in particular made this reviewer, who is normally silent while at the theater, laugh out loud.
Speaking of creatures, watching Newt interact with his creatures is one of the many highlights of the film. While there are many funny moments with them, we also see how much he deeply cares for every creature, even the misunderstood ones. The love and care he shows for these beings that most wizards would destroy is one of his best qualities. It is this characteristic that reminds us a bit of Hagrid, who also had an affinity for dangerous creatures.
The fact that Fantastic Beasts is completely new material and not adapted from a book is what makes it such a great experience. We were able to fully immerse ourselves in the world without any prior biases from imagining the characters in our own minds. It really allows fans to appreciate the characters and story that much more.
Fantastic Beasts is also completely separate from Harry Potter. So if you have family or friends that haven’t read the books or seen the films, they can safety watch Fantastic Beasts without any prior knowledge. Of course Jo Rowling has put a few nods to the Potter films that fans will appreciate. We won’t spoil them for you here, but do keep an eye out for at least a few Easter eggs, and we’re not just talking about name-dropping Dumbledore.
In short – we laughed and we cried, we cried laughing, we gasped, and we have a renewed love of the wizarding world. If you see one film this holiday season, make it Fantastic Beasts!
Don’t forget to get your tickets to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ahead of it’s release on November 18th!
On December 9, 2016, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood will open a reimagined exhibit offering an up-close look at authentic props and costumes from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and the beloved Harry Potter films. Highlights of the Fantastic Beasts experience include costumes worn by Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander), Katherine Waterston (Tina Goldstein), Alison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein), Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski) and Colin Farrell (Percival Graves), as well as Newt’s case of creatures. Tour guests will now be able to explore how J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World has been brought to life on the silver screen over the past 15 years.
“We are excited to let the world peer behind the lens to see how filmmakers develop the entertainment we love,” said Danny Kahn, Executive Director, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. “This expansion will transport guests from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts adventures back to 1926 New York, where Newt Scamander’s misplaced magical case has found its home.”
The expansion will take guests on a journey from concept art to final designs used on set. Tour guests will be able to see the detailed costumes of Lord Voldemort, from a young Tom Riddle to his rise as the Dark Lord. Guests will also have the opportunity to be sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses by the magical Sorting Hat. This interactive experience will take place in front of a life like image of the Great Hall which will include costumes of iconic Hogwarts professors. As a finale to the exhibit, guests will be able to explore the newest film from the Wizarding World, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
This past Saturday we were in attendance at a special screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. J.K. Rowling and Eddie Redmayne spoke at the screening to support her charity, Lumos. They shed a light on the very important issue of children being institutionalized at orphanages. Their message of the evening was that if you want to help children donate to community based organizations rather than orphanages.
The special advance screening, of the new Warner Bros. feature film, with box office ticket sales and proceeds from an online sweepstakes going directly to support Lumos’ work, is part of We Are Lumos Worldwide, a global campaign to raise awareness and urge people to get involved with the non-profit organization’s work to bring the 8 million hidden children in orphanages around the world to light, and get them home to families.
Lumos have sent over a short clip from their conversation.
Update: The full video is now available:
Sitting across from each other on the stage of perhaps the most celebrated concert hall in America, before an enthralled sold-out audience, the acclaimed writer and actor talked at length about the work of Lumos in helping children around the world to leave orphanages and institutions and return them to their families.
“We know that children who are raised in institutions suffer developmental delays, that they tend to be physically stunted, they normally have psychological trauma – it is just not what nature intended for children to be herded together and not given individual love and care,” said J.K. Rowling. “This is an entirely solvable issue. Lumos’ ambition – and we believe it’s achievable – is that by 2050, we will have ended institutionalization globally.”
She concluded: “The last thing I would say, particularly to young people in the audience today – I would reiterate that we need to change minds… do a little bit of research, and make sure you are supporting families to stay together.”
The two artists went on to talk about the new film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and were joined on stage by director David Yates and cast members Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol, before introducing the film to the nearly 3,000 guests at Carnegie Hall.
Merchoid, the official movie merchandise retailer, has revealed their collection of official replica magic wands belonging to the major characters in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The wands are available for pre-order through Merchoid.
The new collection, manufactured by The Noble Collection, features wands from Seraphina Picquery, Percival Grave, Queenie Goldstein, Porpentina Goldstein and Newt Scamander. The wands are movie-accurate, 35cm replicas of the ones in the film, presented in a plush Ollivander box (Ollivander being the wand shop in Harry Potter). Each of the wands is available to preorder now at Merchoid.com for £32.99/€41,99/$39.99 and ships towards the end of November.
— 
