'Fantastic Beasts' Cast Talks Wizard Persecution, American vs. British Differences
One of Warner Bros’ biggest presentations at least week’s Comic-Con focused on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the upcoming prequel set in the same magical universe as J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter saga. This time, the action moves to 1920s America and a whole other unexplored wing of the wizard world. While in San Diego, the movie’s leads sat down with us to detail the differences — some obvious, some less so — between American and British wizards. (Watch the video above.)
Related: Magic Is on the Loose in ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ Comic-Con Trailer
Speaking with Yahoo Movies’ Kevin Polowy, stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler and Colin Farrell expound on the qualities that separate a wand-wielding Brit and Yank — leading to a bit of a disagreement between the American and English actors. What they can all agree upon, however, is that the film’s 1920s setting will provide a unique window onto this extraordinary world. Unlike in the later, modern Potter stories, the divisions between wizards and “No-Majs” (i.e. ordinary humans or Muggles) are exceedingly stark and complicated by the efforts of a group called the New Salem Philanthropic Society to persecute the country’s magical population. “It’s much more evolved in Britain — they’re much more integrated,” says Sudol, who plays witch Queenie Goldstein. “We’re persecuted for our magic in America,” adds Waterson, who plays her sister Porpentina. “So we’re in hiding.”
You can hear the cast’s entire thoughts on their upcoming fantasy adventure above. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them flies into theaters on Nov. 18.
Watch the cast talk about the movie’s breakout creature:
