David Heyman, soon after
confirming he will produce
Harry Potter spinoff
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them for the big screen, for the first time commented on which other characters may be in the film besides lead Newt Scamander, and even took a few cast choices from
Vulture on who may play the famous magizoologist. Those tidbits from an interview this week while promoting
Gravity in New York can be read below.
Quote:
First up, Hogwarts. Even if Fantastic Beasts protagonist Newt Scamander has graduated from wizarding school, we could see him heading there for a consult, and butting heads with who we surmised would be headmaster at the time, Phineas Black. ("Yes, he would be," Heyman confirmed). When we suggested that Black could provide conflict, since he wouldn't support Newt's research or goals of understanding other species, Heyman lit up. "I love this! I'm going to remember that." As for the once and future headmaster Dumbledore, Heyman agreed that just a cameo should do the trick. "It could still be Michael Gambon [even if Dumbledore was younger]," Heyman said. "But I like that. A little wink is a good idea."
Heyman then asked us the more pressing casting question, "Who should play Newt?" Did he want a relatively unknown actor, someone who hasn't been overexposed? "I like that," he said. "Please, I need all the help I can get!" Well, then! We thought about it and rattled off a few names:
• Dev Patel ("He's a really good actor," Heyman agreed.)
• Thomas Brodie-Sangster, despite the fact that he's playing another character named Newt in The Maze Runner ("I know him, he's excellent.")
• Jack Gleeson, who's said he wants to go into academia after his reign as King Joffrey on Game of Thrones ends, but perhaps could be convinced to play an academic instead ("How old is he?" Heyman asked. "Newt is a tiny bit older.")
• Bret McKenzie, who is much older, but can play younger ("He's really good.")
• And if they wanted to promote from within, Harry Melling, who originally played Dudley Dursley but has thinned out considerably as he's grown up, which is why he was wearing a fat suit in Deathly Hallows ("He's a really good actor, and I love his work, but that's a little more difficult because he's been Dudley.")