Warner Bros and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling
jointly announced that they have just signed
a multi-picture deal, allowing Warner Bros.
the rights to additional, original films
based in the Harry Potter mythology.
Although details are sketchy when it comes to
just how many films are included in this deal,
we do know that the first upcoming film
will be very loosely based off the short HP spinoff book
Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them,
and will be set roughly 70 years before the first HP book/film.
It was hinted that, as the film is set only 70 years prior
to the first HP book/film, there may be some subtle Easter eggs
for fans of the Harry Potter series, HP book and/or film fans alike!
The screenplay for the film will be penned by J.K Rowling herself,
and it is presumed she will also act as an Executive Producer
for the film, as she did for all the previous Harry Potter films.
Although their choice of material may strike people as unusual,
(The book was a 60ish page HP creature encyclopedia covering HP books 1-3,)
when J.K. Rowling, who vowed that both the Harry Potter books and films
would end after "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", (The final book/2-part film,)
announces that multiple original Harry Potter films are on their way,
it can only be viewed at as a good thing for everyone all around.