Casting continues on Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and things are getting interesting. Eddie Redmayne was the first to sign on in the lead role of Newt Scamander, a magizoologist who stops in New York City on his travels to find and document magical creatures. Then last week we learned that Inherent Vice star Katherine Waterson landed another lead role as Tina, a young American witch. Now, one of the most exciting young actors working today is looking likely to be added to the mix.
Per Variety, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and We Need to Talk About Kevin actor Ezra Miller is in early talks to take on the role of Kredan, a person with magical powers who encounters Scamander in NYC. David Yates—who helmed the final four Harry Potter films—is directing the picture from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling, who adapted her own book. The film is the first in a planned trilogy, and while it’s set in the same universe as Harry Potter, it takes place decades before the events of The Sorcerer’s Stone.
Miller broke out in a huge way opposite Tilda Swinton in the incredible We Need to Talk About Kevin, and he continued to do stellar work as Patrick in the underrated teen drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He already has a relationship with Warner Bros. having been cast as The Flash in the upcoming Batman v Superman, Justice League, and eventually The Flash movie, but it appears that he may also take on a pivotal role in this other sure-to-be-huge franchise.
With filming on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them slated to begin later this year, casting is well underway. Variety adds that Josh Gad and Michael Cera are meeting next week for the role of Scamander’s rival Jacob, and Yates is said to be keen on Alison Sudol (Dig) for the other female lead role of Queenie. However, the report cautions that Warner Bros. may still be considering a more established actress for Queenie, so deliberations are still ongoing.
Miller, meanwhile, has roles in the Sundance drama The Stanford Prison Experiment and the Judd Apatow comedy Trainwreck later this year. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in theaters on November 18, 2016.
