Harry Potter: The Actors Who Almost Played Newt Scamander In Fantastic Beasts

Eddie Redmayne has been the face of Newt Scamander since the Harry Potter film series branched off with a spinoff, but a few other big names were also considered. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them served as a spinoff and a prequel to the original work by J.K. Rowling. The 2016 film, and subsequent sequels, are based on the  2001 “guide book” of the same name featuring a British “magizoologist” at the lead. Rumors swirled that Redmayne was the first and only choice to play the famed wizard Newt but that probably wasn’t the case.

Newt was the author of the guide book used for first-year Hogwarts students. For Fantastic Beasts, Newt served as the central figure prior to his fame. He was a magizoologist researching magical creatures for his book. Newt traveled to nearly a hundred countries before making a stop in New York City during the year 1926. Upon his stop-over, some of Newt’s creatures escaped causing him to get assistance from a no-Maj. Newt also got swept up with the MACUSA, and one of its employees, Tina Goldstein, who also happened to be his future wife. Newt then returned for the sequel which focused on the wizard teaming up with Albus Dumbledore in taking down the Dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald.

Casting for the first Fantastic Beasts film launched in mid-2015. There was a ton of speculation regarding who would be the perfect fit for the lead role. The plan from the beginning was for a multi-film franchise so whoever they cast, had to be in it for the long haul. Rowling was heavily involved in Fantastic Beasts, writing the script, and of course, having a say in the casting process. She, and many other crew members involved, felt that Redmayne embodied the role since it looked like he was already plucked from the 1920s. Though Redmayne was the frontrunner, the film had its eye on X-Men star Nicholas Hoult for the role of Newt. Many fans had no issues with those two choices but another name received even more buzz.

Matt Smith Found His Name In A Lot Of Fantastic Beasts Casting Rumors

Coming off of playing the Eleventh Doctor on Doctor Who, actor Matt Smith was in pretty high demand. A few tabloids put out the notion that Smith was up for the lead in Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter fans were elated at the prospect. Smith had an interest in the project and he was considered for the role but it’s unclear if the actor ever officially auditioned. More than likely, rumors spread like wildfire and the casting director acknowledged those rumors but nothing came out of them. That certainly didn’t stop adamant fans from creating petitions and casting campaigns.

Redmayne was later deemed the pick to play the lead, and there’s no question that the actor already had Newt-like qualities. He was also very familiar with the Harry Potter series and Rowling’s wizarding world. Before getting the role of Newt for Fantastic Beasts, Redmayne auditioned for the teenage version of Tom Riddle. It would certainly be odd to imagine Redmayne in a villainous role now that he’s currently playing a wizard with one of the biggest hearts in the franchise’s history.

About The Author

Kara Hedash
(1745 Articles Published)

Kara Hedash is a features editor and writer for Screen Rant. From time to time, she dives into the world’s most popular franchises but Kara primarily focuses on evergreen topics. The fact that she gets to write about The Office regularly is like a dream come true. Before joining Screen Rant, Kara served as a contributor for Movie Pilot and had work published on The Mary Sue and Reel Honey. After graduating college, writing began as a part-time hobby for Kara but it quickly turned into a career. She loves binging a new series and watching movies ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to hidden indie gems. She also has a soft spot for horror ever since she started watching it at too young of an age. Her favorite Avenger is Thor and her favorite Disney princess is Leia Organa. When Kara’s not busy writing, you can find her doing yoga or hanging out with Gritty.

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