Kate Upton, Dakota Fanning, and More Up For FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Warner Bros. is stepping back into the Harry Potter universe with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a separate story that takes place 70 years before Potter shows up at Hogwarts. This film follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a "magizoologist" who wrote one of the textbooks that Harry and his friends eventually study. Author J.K. Rowling is making her screenwriting debut, and Potter helmer David Yates is returning to direct.

The Wrap reports that several actors have appeared on a new shortlist for roles in the film. Dakota Fanning, Saoirse Ronan, Lili Simmons (Banshee), and Alison Sudol (Transparent, Dig) are in contention for the role of Queenie, while supermodel Kate Upton (The Other Woman), Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice), and Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby) are being eyed for the role of Tina, Queenie's older sister. In the book, Newt Scamander is married to a woman named Porpentina, so it seems like this "Tina" role is that of his eventual wife. The report states that several of these actresses have test deals in place and are expected to read opposite Redmayne over the next week, so I expect we'll be hearing an official casting announcement soon.

In addition, Variety's Justin Kroll says that a few actors are up for the role of Jacob, Newt's rival: Steve Zissis (who is great on the HBO series Togetherness), Zack Pearlman (The Inbetweeners), and Dan Fogler (Fanboys) are among them.

Fantastic Beasts hits theaters on November 18, 2016. Who would you like to see join the cast?

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