: To authentically play a magizoologist, Redmayne trained with real zookeepers and animal trackers. He even "stole" Newt's distinct, wide-V walk from a professional tracker he met.
: A scene showing a shirtless Newt covered in scars from years of wrangling beasts was filmed to show his dedication, but it was ultimately cut. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them
: Actors including Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston were given the opportunity to help design their characters' wands. : To authentically play a magizoologist, Redmayne trained
: Before landing Newt, Redmayne auditioned for the role of Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens , but by his own admission, he "bombed" it while trying to imitate Darth Vader's breathing. : Actors including Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston
: Despite being set in 1926 New York City, none of the film was actually shot there. The "NYC" streets were constructed at Warner Bros. Studios in Watford, England. Key Themes and Analysis
The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film (2016) serves as a significant expansion of the Wizarding World, set 65 years before the original Harry Potter series. Unlike its predecessors, the film is not based on a novel but on a fictional textbook J.K. Rowling originally wrote for charity in 2001.
: Producer Lionel Wigram initially suggested the movie be a mockumentary-style documentary following Newt Scamander.