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5 Actors Who Could Play Newt Scamander In Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

The beauty of this first Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, is that it's based on a textbook. A textbook that nowhere near as many fans have read as the main book series. That means there aren't really any expectations fans should have, at least based on the book. Rowling is free to do what she wants with the film and the execs over at Warner Bros. are free to cast absolutely whomever they see fit. They can get as creative as they want with this, without having to stick to the restrictions of extensive character building that happens in a novel.

Eddie Redmayne

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The least well-known of the actors on this list, Eddie Redmayne first came onto most people’s radar with his stunning work in Les Misérables. With all the outstanding performances in that film, for some reason his stuck in my mind long after viewing. There was something about the strength, vulnerability, and skill he showed throughout that made me wish there were far more films to watch him in. He’s the sort of actor a franchise can, and should, be built around.

Redmayne would be a really good pick for a younger Scamander, as he has an extremely youthful look about him. That would bode well for a multi-film character, especially if they wanted to show Scamander aging. It’s always easier to make an actor look older than it is to make him look younger. In terms of upcoming films, all Redmayne has is a role in Jupiter Ascending and the role of Stephen Hawking opposite Felicity Jones in Theory Of Everything. Both those projects are highly anticipated ones, and Redmayne’s involvement in them shows his range and the faith filmmakers have in him. I see no reason why Warner Bros. shouldn’t share that confidence and get him involved in this spin-off, preferably as the lead.