Auditions - Fantastic Beasts - the sequel
The studio is looking for young people to play five new roles in the film, including teenage incarnations of Newt Scamander, Leta Lestrange, Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore.
An open casting call has gone out for three actors between the ages of 13 and 16 to play young versions of Newt, Leta, and another character called Sebastian.
They are also looking for actors between 16 and 18 to portray both Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore as teenagers. So, if you know any young acting hopefuls who know their Elder Wand-lore, or have a penchant for Sherbert Lemons, now is the time to let them know.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, readers learned that Albus and Gellert were once friends, before becoming arch-rivals. The casting of their teenage incarnations as well as those of Newt and Leta will be sure to intrigue Harry Potter fans, and drive further speculation about the next films story.
Newt Scamanders relationships and past remain enigmatic, so any glimpse into his formative years will be huge for the character.
Leta Lestrange was mentioned in the first Fantastic Beasts film as having a close friendship with Newt at Hogwarts, and her photograph was seen in Newts workshop. The casting of a young Leta would suggest that her character might have a bigger role in the sequel.
Casting for teenage Dumbledore follows on from the news that Jude Law will play the adult character in the Fantastic Beasts sequel.
Open casting calls are something of a tradition in the Wizarding World. Faith Wood-Blagrove beat thousands of other young actresses to the role of Modesty in Fantastic Beasts, and Evanna Lynch was chosen for the part of Luna Lovegood out of 15,000 other young women following open casting in 2006.
To apply for the Fantastic Beasts open casting call, email casting.prod@wb.uc-ns.com with a recent colour photograph, (i.e., taken within the last two months), contact telephone number, your home address and date of birth. Anyone under 18 must ask a parent or guardian to send the application.
No previous acting experience is necessary, but applicants need to be eligible to work in the UK (meaning they must be a UK, Irish or EU passport holder), and be available for filming between August and November 2017.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 20 June 2017 at midnight GMT. If there is interest in pursuing an application further, the applicant will hear back within 14 days of their original submission. While every applicant will be considered, only those passing the initial consideration round will be contacted.
The film is set decades before Harry Potters adventures at Hogwarts, and marks an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world.
The sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is slated for release 16 November 2018, and filming begins this summer.