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Eddie Redmayne reportedly in talks for Harry Potter spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"

Eddie Redmayne could soon be wrangling magical creatures in the wizarding world.

The Oscar-winning "The Theory of Everything" actor is in talks to star as Newt Scamander in the "Harry Potter" spinoff film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," Variety reported Tuesday.

Eddie Redmayne on breakout role in "The Theory of Everything" 05:55

The project, the first film in a planned trilogy, marks "Potter" author J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut, with David Yates directing.

"Fantastic Beasts," based on the Hogwarts textbook of the same name, follows Scamander, a "magizoologist" (and Hufflepuff, per Rowling!) whose story begins in New York City 70 years before the events of the Harry Potter books/films.

"Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world," Rowling explained when the project was announced.

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