Eddie Redmayne Reveals His Favorite Creature In ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’
Note: This article has spoilers
Harry Potter fans are surely in for a treat as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will feature astounding magical creatures from the beloved Wizarding World. Eddie Redmayne, who gives life to the role of Magizoologist Newt Scamander, even has a favorite among the unusual creatures.
He told Entertainment Weekly that his favorite is a Bowtruckle, particularly the one named Pickett. A Bowtruckle is described as a “sweet and intensely shy creature, but extremely loyal.” The creature has the uncanny ability of picking locks, which is helpful if Newt will open rooms he’s not supposed to be in.
Fans got a glimpse of a Bowtruckle when the studio released a film featurette last March. The Bowtruckle was also featured on the film’s official Instagram page.
The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them team reportedly found it challenging to come up with a Bowtruckle’s appearance. The team had to draw 200 versions before agreeing on a final look.
While Newt’s magical suitcase has four Bowtruckles, he explained why he loved Pickett.
“Pickett has attachment issues, so Newt knows he shouldn’t have favorites, but like he loves Pickett to sit in his top pocket. I felt for him quite badly.”
Apart from Bowtruckles, fans will meet more creatures as Newt accidentally unleashes them in New York City.
Redmayne also shared Newt’s tragic backstory to EW, although he expectedly did not go into detail. In the film’s teaser trailer, Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) mentions that Newt was expelled from Hogwarts for “endangering human life with a beast,” but Albus Dumbledore objected.
The publication also asked Redmayne if the film will have a romantic aspect, but Redmayne said that Newt’s more comfortable with his beast companions than with people.
“Newt’s been damaged by human beings, and at the beginning of the film, he’s someone that’s pretty content in his own company and the company of the beasts. He enjoys his solitude, and he’s also spent a year out in the field. So he really hasn’t had to deal with people. And when he arrives in New York, there are more people than he’s ever imagined.”
While Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them readers already know that Newt and Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) will indeed end up together, it is interesting to see how the film will portray them. Redmayne said that there would be a “great antagonism” between the two characters at first.
Another aspect viewers should watch out for is the new power that will be unveiled in the Wizarding World. Alison Sudol’s character, Queenie Goldstein, is capable of knowing the thoughts as well as feelings of the people surrounding her.
Potterheads might liken the ability to the Legilimency spell which Severus Snape once taught Harry. However, Queenie’s version is “natural.” The actress playing Queenie asserted she’s an unusual type of witch.
“She’s basically a complete and utter magical empath. She’s able to read people — so it’s not just reading somebody’s thoughts. She’s can read into someone’s story, she can see people’s goals. And so even though she’s able to do magic with her wand, a lot of her magic is actually internal, which makes her a different type of wizard or witch.”
Despite the “tuning” power that she possesses, Sudol said that Queenie remains joyful. It isn’t known yet if Queenie was born with such power or if she acquired it during a magical encounter.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will come out on November 18.
[Image via Warner Bros.]
