5 Things ‘Harry Potter’ Fans Will Recognize in ‘Fantastic Beasts’
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opens in theaters on Friday, much to the delight of “Harry Potter” fans.
While “Fantastic Beasts” isn’t touted specifically as a “Potter” prequel, “Potter” scribe J.K. Rowling wrote the movie and incorporates many things from the magical universe she’s created.
Here are five things that “Harry Potter” fans will recognize right away in “Fantastic Beasts.”
Warning, there are very mild spoilers from the film below.
Muggles aka No-Majs
Muggle is the term they use in England for non-magic users. In America, it’s even more literal. “No-maj,” or no-magic, refers to normal people.
The Magic
Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) casts Petrificus Totalus to paralyze a security guard early in the film. Later, members of the MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), use the Protego spell to create a barrier around a building, similar to the barrier created around Hogwarts in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”
Obliviate is used quite liberally in the film on the New York citizenry. In “Harry Potter,” Hermione uses the memory-wiping spell on a muggle waitress that witnesses a wizard fight.
Legilimens
In “Fantastic Beasts,” the character of Queenie is revealed to be a Legilimens, or mind reader. She uses her ability throughout the movie. In “Harry Potter,” several of the most powerful wizards, including Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and Voldemort, practice Legilimency.
Lestrange family
There’s a photo in Newt’s suitcase of Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz), whom he has a close, possible romantic relationship with. The surname Lestrange should be very familiar to “Harry Potter” fans — its members are powerful pure-bloods. Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter), a major “Potter” antagonist — married into the Lestrange family.
The Deathly Hallows
Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) hands Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller) a necklace of the Deathly Hallows symbol, telling him to touch it if Barebone needs Graves. The Deathly Hallows include the Elder Wand, the Invisibility Cloak, and the Resurrection Stone.
There’s also a fun reference to the popular Quidditch game in the beginning of the movie.
Related stories
Box Office: 'Fantastic Beasts' Roaring to $75 Million Opening Weekend in U.S.
'Fantastic Beasts' Hits $23.5 Million in Two Days at International Box Office
Box Office: 'Fantastic Beasts' Conjures $8.8 Million on Thursday Night
Get more from Variety and Variety411: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
