Everyone knows the story of Harry Potter. But how much do they know about the years predating the Boy Who Lived’s birth? The film series Fantastic Beasts was a way to answer that question. In 2016, upon the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a screenplay debuted written by J.K. Rowling herself.
The Fantastic Beasts screenplay (and coordinating film) introduces the audience to Newt Scamander, a British Magizoologist. His later textbook, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, would be a staple at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for Care of Magical Creature classes.
What’s impressive about the Fantastic Beasts screenplay is that it’s not dull. It has illustrations to do with the story that is being told. For many people, it would be an adjustment on the eyes if you’ve never read a screenplay before.
The story plays out as the film does, as it is the script from the final film, so it doesn’t include deleted scenes. It also reads like stageplay reads, so if you have the Cursed Child stageplay in any form, you’ll know what we’re talking about here. However, it is written for the stage as shown with the stage directions, whereas the Fantastic Beasts screenplay is written with film directions.
The Fantastic Beasts screenplay is a pleasure to read and gives everyday readers an experience that they wouldn’t usually get to read a screenplay.
