Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

Джоан Кэтлин Роулинг

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Inspired by the original Hogwart’s textbook by Newt Scamander, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original screenplay marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. A feat of imagination and featuring a cast of remarkable characters and magical creatures, this is epic adventure-packed storytelling at its very best. Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition for any film lover or reader’s bookshelf.

The film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will have its theatrical release on 18th November 2016.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

To the memory of Gordon Murray, real-life creature-healer and hero

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

SCENE 1

EXT. SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE—1926—NIGHT

A large, isolated, derelict chateau emerges from the darkness. We focus on a cobbled square outside the building shrouded in mist, eerie, silent.

Five Aurors stand, wands aloft, tentative as they edge towards the chateau. A sudden explosion of pure white light sends them flying.

We whip round to find their bodies scattered, lying motionless at the entrance to a large parkland. A figure (GRINDELWALD) enters the frame, his back to the camera; ignoring the bodies, he stares out into the night sky, as we pan up towards the moon.

MONTAGE: we see various magical newspaper headlines from 1926 relating to GRINDELWALD’S attacks all over the world – �GRINDELWALD STRIKES AGAIN IN EUROPE’, �HOGWARTS SCHOOL INCREASES SECURITY’, �WHERE IS GRINDELWALD?’. He’s a serious threat to the magical community and he’s vanished. Moving photos detail destroyed buildings, fires, screaming victims. The articles come thick and fast – the worldwide hunt for GRINDELWALD continues. We push in on a final article displaying the Statue of Liberty.

TRANSITION TO:

SCENE 2

EXT. SHIP GLIDING INTO NEW YORK – NEXT MORNING

A bright, clear New York day. Seagulls swoop overhead.

A large passenger ship glides past the Statue of Liberty. Passengers lean over the rails, looking excitedly towards the oncoming land.

PUSH IN towards a figure sitting on a bench with his back to us — NEWT SCAMANDER, weatherbeaten, wiry, wearing an old blue overcoat. Beside him rests a battered brown leather case. A catch on the case flicks open of its own accord. NEWT swiftly bends down to close it.

Placing the case on his lap, NEWT leans in, whispering.

NEWT

Dougal – you settle down now, please. It won’t be long.

SCENE 3

EXT. NEW YORK – DAY

AERIAL SHOT of New York.

SCENE 4

EXT. SHIP/INT. CUSTOMS – SHORTLY AFTERWARDS – DAY

Among bustling crowds, NEWT walks down the gangplank of the ship, as we push in towards his case.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL (O.S.)

Next.

NEWT stands at the Customs – a long row of desks by the shipyard, manned by serious-looking American officials. A CUSTOMS OFFICIAL examines NEWT’S very tattered British passport.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

British, huh?

NEWT

Yes.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

First trip to New York?

NEWT

Yes.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

(gesturing to NEWT’S case)

Anything edible in there?

NEWT

(placing a hand over his breast pocket)

No.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

Livestock?

The catch on NEWT’S case flicks open again. NEWT looks down and hastily closes it.

NEWT

Must get that fixed – ah, no.

CUSTOMS OFFICIAL

(suspicious)

Let me take a look.

NEWT places the case on the desk between them and discreetly flicks a brass dial to �Muggleworthy’.

The CUSTOMS OFFICIAL spins the case towards him and pops the catches, lifting the lid to reveal pyjamas, various maps, a journal, an alarm clock, a magnifying glass and a Hufflepuff