Eddie Redmayne Talks Details on Fantastic Beasts

Eddie Redmayne talked to the New York Times about some of the creatures he encounters in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

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With Fantastic Beasts‘ November release date getting closer every day, excitement and curiosity among Potter fans is at its peak. Questions burn left and right: Who is Newt Scamander? How did he go from Hogwarts delinquent to celebrated magizoologist and writer? What’s he doing in New York? How does his supply of magical creatures escape, and why? And perhaps most importantly–what creatures are powerful enough to wreak such havoc across the city?

As for that last question, we may be able to assume that the likes of dragons and chimeras could do some damage. But so far there has been no evidence that such beasts will appear in the film. As of now, only a handful of fantastic beasts have been confirmed to appear. These include the Bowtruckle, the Demiguise, the Niffler, and the Swooping Evil.

Potter fans may remember encountering the Niffler while reading Goblet of Fire, and the Bowtruckle in Order of the Phoenix. The Demiguise is included in the faux-textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which inspired the film. But the Swooping Evil is a new creature entirely.

Image via Warner Brothers Pictures

Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne, who plays the protagonist Newt Scamander, revealed some tidbits about all of these little beasties to the New York Times.

To prepare for his role as the magizoologist, Redmayne spent time studying animal handlers at wildlife parks. This exercise helped him to understand and connect with the creatures Newt is studying in the film. For instance, Redmayne’s observations of a baby anteater proved similar to Newt’s handling of the Niffler, as both animals respond to tickling.

Redmayne also revealed that Bowtruckles are “wonderful at picking locks.” Newt is in possession of four of these twiglike creatures, one of whom is a special favorite. So it sounds like the Bowtruckles will really come in handy while Newt and the gang are running around New York City, as there are sure to be plenty of locked doors in their way. Although a simple Alohomora might do in these cases, the spell wouldn’t work on a door that’s been magically barricaded (as we saw at the Department of Mysteries in Order of the Phoenix). Plus, a Bowtruckle would be more discreet than a spell, and discretion among No-Maj’s (non-magical people) is key.

Image via Warner Brothers Pictures

Meanwhile, should the Demiguise prove to be one of the escapees, he won’t be easy to lasso, as he has “a kind of precognitive vision; to catch it, spontaneous tricks are necessary.” That would certainly make for some entertaining viewing.

But the Swooping Evil may prove to be the most troublesome of the lot. Redmayne describes the beast as a “spiky ball with a thread that hangs down from Newt’s finger. When you spin him out, almost like a yo-yo, he unfurls into this terrifying creature.” A terrifying creature that, as it turns out, has the ability to suck out brains. A cousin of the soul-sucking dementors, perhaps? I suppose we’ll find out soon enough. One thing’s for sure, though–the Swooping Evil’s potential escape from Newt’s suitcase won’t mean good things for the denizens of the Big Apple.

From the cuddly Niffler to the deadly Swooping Evil, no amount of research could prepare Redmayne for the green screen. Since the beasts are all CGI, the film relies on the green screen to bring them to life. It was a source of trepidation for the actor, who by his own admission has “quite a dodgy imagination.” To combat this, animator Pablo Grillo took on the role of the Niffler so Redmayne could get a proper feel for the creature’s mannerisms. (I for one hope this footage will be included in the DVD special features.)

Next: Ezra Miller Talks Credence In Fantastic Beasts

All in all, it sounds like Redmayne really did his Care of Magical Creatures homework in preparation for this role. We’ll see the payoff–as well as all the fantastic beasts in their full glory–this November.

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