Seriously, guys. This post contains major spoilers. If you haven't seen the film yet, get off the internet ASAP and go watch it. You have been warned.
1. This film is directed by David Yates, who directed the last four films in the Harry Potter franchise.
2. The name Newt Scamander appears on the Marauder's Map in Prisoner of Azkaban.
3. Eddie Redmayne auditioned to be Tom Riddle in Chamber of Secrets but was turned down after reading one line.
4. But Eddie was J.K. Rowling's first choice to play Newt. He didn't have to audition, and he also had a hand in the other casting decisions.
5. Saoirse Ronan, Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, and Lili Simmons were considered for the role of Queenie before Alison Sudol was cast.
6. J.K. Rowling said, “I knew more about Newt than I needed to know,” and that was her reason for writing this film.
7. Before J.K. Rowling wrote the screenplay, director David Yates had the idea of turning the book into a “documentary” about Newt Scamander.
8. Each of the actors got to design their own wands.
9. The wizarding currency in the US is called Dragots. It looks like a $ but with a D.
10. Redmayne trained with real zookeepers and animal handlers to get practice.
11. The cast took wand classes to learn how to properly hold them.
12. They also watched old Harry Potter films to get tips.
13. Remember when we got a glimpse of Leta Lestrange in Newt's photo frame? That was Zoë Kravitz, which means she'll probably pop up in some of the later films.
14. According to a statement from Warner Bros., “The second Fantastic Beasts movie moves deeper into an increasingly dark time for the Wizarding world, where Newt and our other heroes have to decide on their allegiances."
15. Dumbledore will be in the next film, and he'll have a couple of scenes with Newt.
16. There’s no official word yet on who will play him, but producer David Heyman mentioned Jared Harris as an option.
17. Though Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in the later Harry Potter films, said he was desperate to be a part of Fantastic Beasts.
18. In the second film, the beasts will be featured less, and there’ll be more of a focus on Grindelwald.
19. Also, Credence will be making an appearance in the next films in a significant way.
20. The next film will be set in Paris and probably also the UK.
21. And Jacob is going to be in the next few movies too!
22. This film is set in the same year that Voldemort/Tom Riddle was born (1926).
23. The music was written at the same time the movie was being made so it could become “part of the architecture” of the film.
24. Johnny Depp’s scene was shot in January, and everyone was sworn to secrecy about his involvement.
25. The movie was finished three weeks before the release date.
26. There were a LOT of scenes that were cut, but don’t worry, they’ll be on the DVD extras.
27. This'll include a scene where Tina and Queenie sing the Ilvermorny school song, which Alison Sudol (Queenie) co-wrote with J.K. Rowling.
28. One of the lyrics is: “We stand as one united against the Puritan. We draw our inspiration from good witch Morrigan.”
29. The song performed in the underground bar was also written by J.K. Rowling.
30. There was also a scene cut early from the film, in which Jacob’s girlfriend breaks up with him because he didn’t get the bank loan for his bakery.
31. None of the film was actually shot in New York.
32. J.K. Rowling said that Jacob the No-Maj reminds her of Ron.
33. Ezra Miller (Credence) actually recorded some movement that was used to animate the Obscurus cloud.
34. The Erumpent mating scene dance was choreographed by one of the guys who does the dances for the Royal Ballet.
35. The pastries in Jacob’s bakery were actually made of foam.
36. Dan Fogler’s great great grandfather was actually a baker on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
37. And Eddie Redmayne’s favourite of all the beasts in the film is his little pet Bowtruckle.
