While promoting the release of his new animated feature
Early Man, Eddie Redmayne sat down with
Fantastic Beasts costar Dan Fogler about the movie, their projects, acting, and of course J.K. Rowling's film series in which they both star.
The two met up in New York City on Wednesday, Valentine's Day, where Redmayne was doing press work for
Early Man, and talked movies and more for Fogler's podcast (which can be heard below). The two gave a few tidbits and teasers about the November release of
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, including working with Jude Law, information J.K. Rowling gave them, the movie's 4D transformation for screen, and much more.
A few highlights from the discussion (starting at around 15 minutes in) can be read here.
Quote:
- Dan and Eddie start off by chatting about costar Alison Sudol's recent trip to Antarctica for Greenpeace promotion.
- Eddie talks about the etymology of his surname Redmayne, possibly dating back to William the Conqueror (either a work off 'Red Man' or 'Red Hands'); while Dan breaks down the meanings of all of Eddie's name (full name Edward John David Redmayne).
- On the set of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, costar Katherine Waterston did a bit of family history and told Eddie that the two were distantly related generations back
- Dan reveals that they will be making Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in 4D (similar to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), included with interactive seats and sound, and that he will be going into the 4D studios to see how that will be added to the final product later this year. The 4D team are apparently only given a couple of weeks to add the extra effects.
- Eddie jokingly admitted that his daughter used the Niffler Funko figure as a chewing toy; Dan said his daughter did the same with his Jacob Funko figure.
- Eddie talks about how he was cast in Fantastic Beasts; said that David Yates wanted to talk to him about a hush-hush project back years ago. They met in a small pub in Soho in London, where Yates talked about Newt Scamander and J.K. Rowling's story about it. Yates then commented on Newt's case, the same time Eddie carried his own almost-identical suitcase. Eddie admitted it was months after that he heard back about it, because Rowling was still working on it, and when finally asked, he had a 'hell yeah!' moment in accepting it.
- Eddie and Dan chatted about the bond between the four Fantastic Beasts leads, as four outsiders and misfits that come together. They then jump over to having seen Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London (Dan saw it opening day, while Eddie saw it at the Lumos gala screening in 2016).
- Eddie talks about how he and Yates spoke about how to humanize the creatures in Fantastic Beasts, such as if the Niffler was actually a child or an adult form in the first feature.
- Dan calls Jacob Kowalski the best version of himself, loyal with a big heart, who's ready to fight for what's right. Dan teases that he's curious to see Jacob's big-hearted arc given what happened in the second Fantastic Beasts movie, despite knowing future events regarding his character. He said J.K. Rowling told him three-four movies' worth of information on the set of the first installment, but at a party for the sequel she admitted she changed all those original details.
- Dan comments on how Eddie has just 'a couple of scenes' with Jude Law as Dumbledore in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
- Eddie goes into detail about his Oscar-winning transformative work in The Theory of Everything, during which he worked a crew member to get the physical movements right - and later worked with that same crew member on Fantastic Beasts.
Warner Bros. Pictures announces Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald as the title of the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World™. Opening November 16, 2018, the film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp.
At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.
In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is being directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, and produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram.
Dan Fogler & Eddie Redmayne talk 'Fantastic Beasts' 2, Jude Law, J.K. Rowling, more 
