What a long five years it’s been for us Harry Potter fans. Sure, it’s still cool to rock a Malfoy costume on Halloween or try out wizard pickup lines at the bar, but it just wasn’t enough for our viewing pleasure… until now.
Enter, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, J.K. Rowling’s thrilling account of the adventures of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who must travel to New York circa 1926 for an official meeting at the Magical Congress of the United States. A prequel to the beloved series set more than 50 years before Harry even existed, the film (out in November) follows Scamander around the city as his fantastical beasts escape and wreak havoc all over town.
Wands at the ready! Here’s the latest trailer:
What NYC connections can we see from the two-minute clip? Fine, it was actually filmed in the UK, but the old-timey scenes give us a glimpse of what could be Ellis Island, a view from the Hudson and what seems like a Penn Station lookalike. Dig a bit deeper, though, and find some historically significant themes in our city’s history. The flash to the political rally could be a nod to the radical movements, corruption and scandal that characterized the 1920s. And the conflicting contrasts of golden, opulent architecture and the gloomy, poor industrial buildings reference the extreme wealth divide that plagued the decade.
But I digress. Bottom line – whether you’re a valiant Gryffindor or a tricksy Slytherin, you have a mere seven months to wait until you’re reunited with Rowling’s wonderful world of wizards and magic. Will there be an appearance from Dumbledore, Voldemort? Or a hot, Flapper version of Hermione? Will New York’s Hogwarts be located in Flatbush or Bushwick? No one ever caught the golden snitch by rushing it. Patience, my muggles, patience.
Featured cover image: Telegraph
Video via Youtube/Warner Bros. Pictures