‘Harry Potter’ Director David Yates To Direct ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Film

Director David Yates, who helmed the last four films of the Harry Potter series, may continue to be a part of the Harry Potter world. He is currently in negotiations with Warner Bros. to direct the Harry Potter spinoff film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is based off of J.K. Rowling’s book of the same title.

It was previously announced that Rowling would be penning the screenplay for the film. Harry Potter producer David Heyman will also be involved with the spinoff.

The movie will be set in New York City about 70 years before Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and follows a man named Newt Artemis Fido Scamander through his adventures as he develops a reference guide for magical beasts.

“Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world,” Rowling stated.

According to Variety, sources say that Warner Bros. wants someone familiar with Harry Potter to direct the film and Yates definitely fits the bill.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is slated to hit theaters November 18, 2016.