Eddie Redmayne Reveals How Much He Is Like Newt Scamander

Eddie Redmayne talks about his first meeting with David Yates, and how he realized he and Newt Scamander were alike.

When it comes to starring in major franchises like the Harry Potter series, actors find that their fans can often get them confused with the character they play. Daniel Radcliffe, for example seems to be spending most of his career running away from any roles that might cement him playing Harry Potter types for the rest of his life. Emma Watson, on the other hand, has embraced the sheen of intellect that Hermione Granger gave to her in the eyes of the public, to the point that her next major role will be another bookish heroine who finds herself paired off with an unlikely fellow, in Beauty and the Beast.

Eddie Redmayne on the other hand, perhaps because this is his first go round on such a large scale franchise, is eager to tell the world how his own personality and that of Newt Scamander, who he plays in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, overlap. Turns out he and Newt both have a fondness for carrying around their lives in nondescript cases.

Talking to the Pottermore correspondent about his first experience meeting David Yates to discuss the role, he admits he brought his case with him. Because that’s what he does.

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“I’ve had it for about eight years. My dad works in the city and has always had a briefcase. I always did this acting thing for a living, which didn’t feel like a proper job and I wanted something that made me feel like I was doing a proper job and so I got this case. I use it whenever I go on set. I keep my script and whatever mementos I find useful in it.

So when David and I had our first meeting about this movie I had this case with me. We met in a pub in Soho and sat down by a roaring fire. As he started telling me about Newt and the basic plot of this film – which included Newt having a magic case – I said, “I promise I didn’t know about Newt’s case. I didn’t bring this as some sort of weird method audition – like, don’t worry David, I come with my own case!” And I’m afraid it’s still here, it’s still got my life in it. Not quite as much as Newt has in his case, though…”

Well that’s a little bit awkward. One hopes that Redmayne always kept his case in his trailer. Considering that the plot suggests that Newt Scamander’s case gets lost because it accidentally gets switched with the one Jacob Kowalski is carrying, it might be a little much for their to be three identical cases on set. One full of Kowalski’s muggle items, one full of Redmayne’s scripts and knick knacks and one full of fantastical beasts. Let’s hope Redmayne never accidentally carried that last one home from the set after work….

Though that would make for a really fun behind-the-scenes/making of film….

Next: 15 Fantastic Beasts In The Potterverse And if We’ll Find Them in The New Movie

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens in theaters worldwide this coming November.