He Auditioned For The Role Of Tom Riddle
He may be a big star now, but there was once a point when Eddie Redmayne was an up and coming performer looking for a big break. He had a huge opportunity during the 2000s when he landed an audition to play Tom Riddle in the Harry Potter franchise, but this opportunity is one that he would not seize.
I actually auditioned to play Tom Riddle while I was at university. I properly failed and didnt get a callback, the actor revealed to .
Even though years had passed between that failed audition and this quote, it is clear that Redmayne still feels some type of way about what happened. It can be easy to get lost in success, but many performers will hold onto moments like these to stay motivated and grounded, never forgetting that they once struggled like everyone else who hasnt made it quite yet.
Interestingly, Redmayne would reveal that he had Harry Potter aspirations outside of playing Tom Riddle, though some may be surprised to hear what exactly he had in mind for himself.
They actor would say, Over the years, I always hoped I might be cast as a member of the Weasley family Im colour blind, but Ive always been told theres a tinge of red to my hair but unfortunately not.
A lot of my friends, like Domhnall Gleeson and Rob Pattison got their Harry Potter moment, but I never got mine, he said.
Was Newt Scamander At Hogwarts During The Harry Potter Movies
Fans recently uncovered a Newt Scamander Easter egg in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban that hints at his presence in the original trilogy.
The Harry Potter wizarding world is alive and well. The final movie in the actual Harry Potter franchise, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, came out back in 2011, but with the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K. Rowling has brought fans back to that world. The story centers on famed Magizoologist Newt Scamander, but as fans have recently pointed out, he was actually featured in a Harry Potter movie quite some time ago. Kind of.
Warner Bros. has been handling the Harry Potter movie franchise from the very beginning and they have treated it very well in the eyes of most fans. The character of Newt Scamander has been around since 2001 when the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was published a textbook written by the fictional character Newt Scamander documenting magical creatures. So there was always a chance he could show up in the movies at some point, and he did. At least in name.
His Fantastic Beasts Future
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the franchise, namely with J.K. Rowling and Johnny Depp, and it has people wondering if there will be a third film coming to round out a proper trilogy. As it stands now, a third Fantastic Beasts film is in the works and is going to be brought to life.
Redmayne, of course, will be returning to star as Newt Scamander, and Mads Mikkelsen will be joining the cast after replacing Johnny Depp.
I think I know as little as you do in the sense that I hear the rumours about where we might be shooting and what countries its set in. Then, I am sworn to secrecy, but I am looking forward to making the film. I have such an extraordinary time, Redmayne said about the upcoming film.
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To Suggest Using Buckbeak To Save Sirius
Could Newt have been the one who came up with the brilliant plan of helping Sirius to flee on Buckbeak? Sirius and Buckbeak were saved from imminent death by virtue of Hermione’s Time Turner and Dumbledore’s brilliance, but it could have been Newt who actually came up with the plan. Newt’s mother was a breeder of Hippogriffs, which ignited his interest in magical creatures at an early age. That could have been why he suggested using Buckbeak as an escape route for Sirius. Sirius was locked up in Flitwick’s office in the seventh floor waiting for the Dementor’s kiss and there was no other way to flee. Buckbeak was the only plausible option for his escape. So Dumbledore, inspired by Newt’s idea, urged Hermione to use the Time Turner and save two innocent lives at once.
“Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwickâs office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you. You must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law â you know what is at stake… you â must â not â be â seen.”
Buckbeak.
Newt Scamander Was Actually In One Of The Harry Potter Movies
But you probably missed him.
It’s been five years since the last Harry Potter movie was released, but fans are still picking up on clever details that were weaved throughout the series. In a new revelation, it seems that Newt Scamander – the lead character in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – also appeared in the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Sort of.
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll already know that the character of Newt has been around since 2001 when the Hogwarts textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, was released. The book is meant to be authored by the fictional Magizoologist, but he had another small presence in the third movie. Just take a look at this…
Newt Scamander’s name appeared in the Marauder’s Map in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’.#KLIPSmy#DidYouKnow#FantasticBeasts
KLIPS
In the scene where Fred and George teach Harry how to use the Marauder’s Map, it shows that Newt Scamander was walking around the castle at that time. Some theorise that news of Buckbeak’s execution may have reached him, and he went to Hogwarts in an attempt to save the hippogriff.
Others wonder if Newt was visiting Dumbledore, as the headmaster is fond of him and his work, and tried to prevent his expulsion. Whatever the case, we’re hoping this link is explored in the Fantastic Beasts series.
Now – be honest – had you ever noticed Newt’s presence in the Prisoner of Azkaban?
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Newt Had Already Retired By That Time
Though Newt is still alive during the Harry Potter series, he never meets Harry because his life doesnt really intersect with Harrys. At the time Harry was introduced to the wizarding world, Newt wouldve presumably already retired. Its mentioned in the about the author section of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is one of the assigned books in Harrys first year, that Newts now retired.
Newt Scamander was awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class, in 1979 in recognition of his services to the study of magical beasts, Magizoology. Now retired, he lives in Dorset with his wife Porpentina and their pet Kneazles: Hoppy, Milly, and Mauler. – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
As a retired man living in Dorset, Newt wouldnt have had much chance or reason to interact with Harry.
To Pay Dumbledore A Visit
Amidst all these speculations, the most obvious one would be that Newt had been just paying Dumbledore a visit for old times’ sake. Dumbledore had been Newt’s Transfiguration teacher when he attended Hogwarts, and he even stood up against Newt’s expulsion when he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit. That still couldn’t stop his expulsion and Newt had to leave Hogwarts. So, it could have been out of respect for Dumbledore that Newt paid him a visit in his frail, old state. Also, we know that the foreword to Newt’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book was actually written by Dumbledore. So Newt could have very well approached Dumbledore regarding the foreword to his book.
Albus Dumbledore.
Newt’s appearance in the Marauder’s Map could have triggered a whole lot of events in the Harry Potter universe, and his involvement with Dumbledore could have further increased his importance in the Fantastic Beasts series. Ultimately, the reasons for his mysterious appearance are still unknown. For fans out there who think that the reasons would be unveiled in the sequels to the Fantastic Beasts series, I would say that it is highly improbable. The time gap between these two events is quite big and there is no way the producers are going to divert from the main plot to explain the reason for his brief appearance, but it’s still fun to speculate.
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This Fact About Harry Potter And Newt Scamander Will Blow The Minds Of Fans
Like any great fantasy or sci-fi series, Harry Potter is full of Easter eggs, the subtle references that turn us all into giggling nerds.
The Easter egg we are referring too relates to the lead character of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander.
Long before the release of the film in 2016, Scamander had already appeared in the Potter cinematic universe in a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment.
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , Scamander, an author of textbooks in the mythology is shown on the magical Marauders Map, given to Harry by the Weasley twins.
Sadly it’s not Eddie Redmayne, but just a name tag that is shown wondering the halls of Hogwarts at that time on the map.
Fantastic Beasts
Given that a Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book was only published in 2001 and Prison of Azakaban, the film, was released in 2004 it’s possible that this was only a fun little nod to fans.
However, it hasn’t stopped people compiling their own theories as to why Newt was in the hallowed halls of Hogwarts on that day.
The first theory involves the possible friendship between Newt and Dumbledore.
The headmaster of Hogwarts taught Newt as a student and had also wrote the fictional forward for his textbook so it’s possible he was just visiting a friend.
Another suggestions points us in the direction of Buckbeak, the hippogriff, formerly owned by Hagrid.
Or something like that.
Fantastic Beasts & Beyond
The first edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was published in 1927. The book was wildly popular, soon becoming a staple textbook of wizarding education the version that Harry later uses while attending Hogwarts is its 52nd edition! Newt continued to work at the Ministry of Magic until he retired in the early 1990s, though even then, he never stopped studying magical creatures and regularly contributed to the new editions of his book. In 1947, Newt created the first Werewolf Registry and later, in 1965, helped enact the Ban on Experimental Breeding. He was awarded the Order of Merlin, Second Class in 1979 for his contributions to magizoology and was even featured on his own Chocolate Frog Card. After his retirement, Newt visited Hogwarts during Harry’s third year for reasons that aren’t exactly known, but his visit can be verified by the appearance of his name on the Marauder’s Map .
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Release date: Nov 18, 2016
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald/Fantastic Beasts 2 Release date: Nov 16, 2018
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Original For Muggles Version
Fantastic Beasts purports to be a reproduction of a textbook owned by Harry Potter and written by magizoologistNewt Scamander, a character in the fictional Harry Potter series. In the series, magizoology is the study of magical creatures.
Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, provides the foreword and explains the purpose of the special edition of this book ” rel=”nofollow”> Comic Relief charity). At the end, he assures muggle readers, “The amusing creatures described hereafter are fictional and cannot hurt you.” He repeats the Hogwarts motto: “Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus”, Latin for “Never tickle a sleeping dragon”.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them contains the history of magizoology and describes 85 magical species found around the world. Scamander says that he collected most of the information found in the book through observations made over years of travel across five continents. He notes that the first edition was commissioned in 1918 by Augustus Worme of Obscurus Books. However, it was not published until 1927. It is now in its fifty-second edition.
In the Harry Potter universe, the book is a required textbook for first-year Hogwarts students, having been an approved textbook since its first publication. In his foreword to the book, Albus Dumbledore notes that it serves as an excellent reference for wizarding households in addition to its use at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore And Grindelwalds Impending Duel
Notably, at the end of Crimes of Grindelwald, Newt and Dumbledore discuss how Dumbledore and Grindelwald swore not to fight one another.
Instead of making an Unbreakable Vow, the two made a Blood Oatha new concept for Harry Potter fans. Considering that Dumbledore and Grindelwald do eventually fight, a Blood Oath is presumably breakable, unlike an Unbreakable Vow.
The Crimes of Grindelwald
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Independent To A Fault
Along those same lines, both Harry and Newt operate independently. Or at least they would if they were given the choice to. Harry tries so many times to go at it alone and, eventually, he gets that wish when he faces Voldemort on his own, but still, Ron and Hermione are always there with him, even when he doesn’t want it.
Newt is the same way, though he is independent for different reasonshe just prefers the company of his beasts to that of people. Thus he often isolates to achieve those ends.
To Study The Dead Basilisk
A complete enthusiast of magical creatures, Newt probably couldn’t stop himself from giving in to the temptation of seeing a dead Basilisk. A basilisk is a very dangerous and extremely rare creature as mentioned in the Most Macabre Monstrosities book:
“Of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly than the Basilisk, known also as the King of Serpents. This snake, which may reach gigantic size, and live many hundreds of years, is born from a chicken’s egg, hatched beneath a toad. Its methods of killing are most wondrous, for aside from its deadly and venomous fangs, the Basilisk has a murderous stare, and all who are fixed with the beam of its eye shall suffer instant death. Spiders flee before the Basilisk, for it is their mortal enemy, and the Basilisk flees only from the crowing of the rooster, which is fatal to it.”
There probably had been only one in the whole wizarding world and Newt couldn’t miss this opportunity to see a Basilisk with his own eyes . Hence, he might have been off to Hogwarts to seek Dumbledore’s permission to see the beast. Dumbledore, who had once fought for Newt against his expulsion, wouldn’t have denied his request. So, it’s quite a plausible possibility.
The Basilisk. ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’
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It Had Something To Do With Buckbeak’s Trial
After Draco Malfoy whined like the little whiner face he was, Buckbeak’s trial became a pivotal event in the series, particularly as it pertained to Hermione’s use of the Time Turner and the escape of Sirius Black. Maybe Newt was either there to serve as an expert on the trial, or just came unannounced to see if he could do anything to resolve the matter?
He Eventually Lands Newt Scamander
While Eddie Redmayne never got the chance to play Tom Riddle or a member of the Weasley clan, he did get the chance to establish himself as a leading performer in the franchise when he was cast as Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films, which are an extension of the main Harry Potter lore.
Even though Newt Scamander was not a major player in the original story, the studio and J.K. Rowling felt that there was a compelling story to tell, and so they went ahead with bringing these creatures and a young Newt Scamander to life.
When talking about the character in 2019, Redmayne told the press, What I love about Newt is he has his own magic. How hes not necessarily the greatest, most powerful wizard in the world, but he has his unique approach to magic.
So far, there have been two Fantastic Beasts films that have been released, and each of them has found success at the box office. While these stories may have caused a divide in the fandom, there is no denying that they draw people to theaters and have put the spotlight on Redmayne.
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He Came To Visit Dumbledore After Hearing About The Giant Basilisk That Was Chilling In The School
Or maybe he just visited to say hello! While we don’t know why Newt got yanked out of Hogwarts, we do know that Dumbledore favored him. Maybe the two of them were bros in their old age. Or maybe Newt wanted to study Fawkes, the only phoenix we meet in the series. There are plenty of totally normal reasons why Newt might have dropped by, even if it is a bit of a shock to the rest of the fandom.
Role In The Harry Potter Series
The book’s fictional author, Newt Scamander, does not appear in the main Harry Potter book series though his name is seen on the Marauder’s Map in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. He is the central character of the Fantastic Beasts film series, in which he is played by Eddie Redmayne.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a British-American fantasy film inspired by the book of the same name by J. K. Rowling. An extension of the wizarding world from the Harry Potter film series and directed by David Yates, the film stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo, Faith Wood-Blagrove, Jenn Murray, Jon Voight and Ron Perlman. The first movie is set to be followed by four more. Principal photography commenced on 17 August 2015, at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released in the United Kingdom and the United States on 18 November 2016.
A sequel was released on 16 November 2018. The third movie is scheduled to be released in July 2022.
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