'Harry Potter' Spin Off Movie: David Yates Tapped To Take Over First 'Fantastic Beasts' Film In New Trilogy [VIDEO]
While names like Alfonso Cuaron came up in the discussions of who should take on the new leg of the Harry Potter franchise, it seems like another old name will be directing the first movie in the brand new trilogy.
Warner Bros. Sets Dates For Upcoming Blockbusters, May Have Added Two For 'Harry Potter' Spinoffs
Variety reported on Thursday that director David Yates is in talks to take over Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Yates started with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and directed every Potter film after that, including the two-part finale.
Variety said that no deal has been made and there is no confirmation on terms.
The studio announced the new Harry Potter series last September with J.K. Rowling, author of the global phenomenon, making her screenwriting debut.
Set in New York roughly seven decades before Harry Potter's saga starts, Fantastic Beasts is based on the Hogwarts textbook of the same name and follows the adventures of its author, Newt Scamander.
No actor is linked yet to the role of Scamander, but with Yates attached and Rowling most likely done with the first draft of the script, there could be some movement on that front in the coming months.
Yates is currently in production on Tarzan, which stars Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz, and Samuel L. Jackson. He has also recently worked on the pilot for FX's Tyrant.
Hiring him back is a safe bet for Warner Bros. and is reminiscent of directors Peter Jackson coming back to The Hobbit and Sam Mendes on James Bond.
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is set for a release date of November 18, 2016.
