Harry Potter Spin-Off Set For Film Trilogy

JK Rowling's Harry Potter spin-off book Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them is to be turned into a trilogy of films.

The news was revealed by Warner Bros' chief executive Kevin Tsujihara who told The New York Times that 2001's fictitious wizard textbook will be adapted for three "megamovies".

The films will focus on 'magizoologist' Newt Scamander, who wrote the textbook, and will be set before the adventures of Harry, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley played by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

Rowling's screenwriting debut was announced in September 2013 when she revealed a little more of what fans can expect.

"Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world."

She wrote on her Facebook page: "I particularly want to thank Kevin Tsujihara of Warner Bros for his support in this project, which would not have happened without him.

"I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it.”

Rowling said Newt's story will get under way in New York 70 years before Harry's life at Hogwarts begins.

The project will be produced by David Heyman, who most recently worked on the award-winning space adventure Gravity.

The cast and release date for the films have not been revealed.

As well as the seven Harry Potter books, Rowling also wrote Quidditch Through The Ages in 2001 and The Tales of Beedle The Bard in 2008.