David Yates to direct all five Fantastic Beasts films

Filmmaker David Yates is on board to direct the remaining Fantastic Beasts films as author J.K. Rowling, who has penned Fantastic Beasts screenplay, plans to pen them. The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” franchise has expanded from three to five films, and Yates is on board for all of them, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

The director, who also helmed four Harry Potter installments, says that he has committed to Warner Bros. entire prequel series, which stars Eddie Redmayne as magizoologist Newt Scamander. The first film, set in New York stars Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Ron Perlman, Alison Sudol, Carmen Ejogo and Dan Fogler. “I love making films, and I've got a great team, all of whom are like family. I only look at it movie to movie,” he said.

Yates said that Rowling is “putting the finishing touches” on the sequel, which he “feels” is “so different from this first film. Much more haunting, like a dream. What she's doing is really interesting; she's not repeating herself.” 

Meanwhile, Yates is in preproduction for the second film, for which they're building sets of Paris, France and Watford, England. 

It will introduce a young (and openly gay) Albus Dumbledore and expand on his rival, played by Johnny Depp. The sequel is scheduled to hit theaters on November 16, 2018 while Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them will release in India on November 18 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.