‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ Begins Filming, Samantha Morton Joins Cast

The casting recently began falling into place for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, but the Harry Potter spinoff isn’t done just yet — Samantha Morton has joined the line-up of the upcoming film, which has begun shooting in London. Given that the story brings its protagonist over to New York, it shouldn’t be long before filming commences stateside.

The latest comes via a press release over at Business Wire, which reveals the casting of Samantha Morton (best known for her roles in Minority Report and Morvern Callar), along with Jenn Murray (Testament of Youth) and newcomer Faith Wood-Blagrove. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them stars Eddie Redmayne as the magizoologist Newt Scamander, who travels the world documenting various magical creatures.

Scamander was the author behind the fictional textbook of the same name, featured in both the Harry Potter novels and films. Author J.K. Rowling is making her screenwriting debut on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is being directed by Harry Potter franchise vet David Yates.

The film also stars Ezra Miller, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler and Colin Farrell.

We don’t know much about the film’s plot — although it’s based on the fictional Hogwart’s textbook, Rowling wrote an entirely new story for the film, which is set some seven decades before Harry Potter’s adventures at the school for witchcraft and wizardry.

WB is planning a trilogy of films, with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them arriving in theaters on November 18, 2016.