Rowling’s Potter spinoff to be 3 films

LOS ANGELES — When J.K. Rowling revealed plans for a Harry Potter spinoff film adapted from her Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, fans rejoiced at the idea of returning to the wizarding world the author rendered in such detail in her worldwide bestsellers about the Boy Who Lived.

Turns out, there will be more than just one movie. Warner Bros. has announced its intention to release a trilogy of films based on Fantastic Beasts, with all three screenplays written by Rowling.

Originally published in 2001, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them arrived as a 42-page textbook of sorts, chronicling the adventures of its fictional author and Hufflepuff hero Newt Scamander — Newt is a magizoologist (one who studies magical creatures, of course).

In a statement issued last year when the first film project was originally announced, Rowling specified that the new movies are neither prequels nor sequels to the Harry Potter series, but rather “an extension of the wizarding world.” Newt’s adventures, she said, begin in New York 70 years prior to the events in the first Potter novel.

Of her decision to script the film herself, she said in the statement, “The idea of seeing Newt Scamander … realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it.”

No casting has been announced for the film series, nor has a start date for production been revealed.