Saoirse Ronan And Dakota Fanning Vie For Fantastic Beasts

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter spin-off hunts a cast

With Eddie Redmayne looking like a lock as lead, J.K. Rowling and David Yates’ Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them is pitching its casting net again to fill some of its other major roles. According to The Wrap’s sources, Warner Bros. is now running the rule over a shortlist of actresses for the parts of Tina and her older sister, Queenie.

Being lined up to see who can do the best magic – we’re pretty sure that’s how it works – are Saoirse Ronan, Dakota Fanning, True Detective’s Lili Simmons and Transparent’s Alison Sudol for the role of Tina, and Kate Upton, Katherine Waterston and The Great Gatsby’s Elizabeth Debicki for Queenie.

It’s a strong shortlist with a blend of newish faces, like Inherent Vice standout Katherine Waterston, and more established names like Fanning and Ronan. Warner Bros. remain tightlipped on the news but expect some movement with the film’s release date already set for November 18 next year.  

The first Fantastic Beasts film, adapted by Rowling from her novella, already has sequels penciled in for 2018 and 2020. That initial film and its follow-ups will be very loosely based on Rowling's universe-expanding textbook about magical creatures. It's set in the wizarding world and boasts creatures and characters both new and familiar to Potter, with Magizoologist and credited author of the book Newt Scamander (Redmayne, as and when confirmed) the focal point.

from Empire News