Warner Bros’ Harry Potter spin-off – Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – will introduce an American equivalent of Hogwarts founded with indigenous magics.
Anyone who loved the Harry Potter films should be keenly aware of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, an upcoming spinoff trilogy set 70 years before the original. But we still have very few details on what to expect, especially in regards to its connection with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But now author J.K. Rowling has revealed an especially promising detail on her Twitter feed: An American counterpart of Britain’s well-renowned magic academy.
Fantastic Beasts‘ protagonist and magizoologist Newt Scamander won’t visit the school, but will meet some of its former students in the film. While specifics about the school are locked down – including its name – Rowling did offer a few key points. The school has strong ties to Native American culture, and was founded using indigenous magics. Rowling stopped short of revealing specific tribes however, noting that would reveal that school’s location. That said, the school’s name has an immigrant origin, suggesting it follows a combination of indigenous and European magical practices.
.@MrBanankartong That information will be revealed in due course.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2015
.@tannerfbowen No, but he's going to meet people who were educated at [name] in [not New York].— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2015
.@loonyloolaluna If I answer that fully it will reveal the location of the school, but you can take that as a yes!— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 7, 2015
.@loonyloolaluna Oh wait – did you mean the NAME is of American Indian origin? It isn't. The name is of immigrant origin.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 7, 2015
.@loonyloolaluna However, indigenous magic was important in the founding of the school. If I say which tribes, location is revealed.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 7, 2015
Originally introduced as a Hogwarts textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was later published as a 54-page standalone volume. Warner Bros. will expand this concept into a full-blown prequel trilogy, presumably with Newt traveling the world to locate magical creatures. Rowling has written Fantastic Beasts screenplay, and the finished film will arrive in theaters on Nov. 16, 2016.
Where do you think the American Hogwarts will be located? Feel free to post your theories in the comments!
Source: USA Today
