J.K. Rowling's 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' Cast: Top Contenders for Key Roles Revealed

J.K. Rowling
'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling |

Warner Bros. Pictures has reportedly chosen their top choices for a number of important roles in the upcoming trilogy, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.'

Saoirse Ronan ("The Grand Budapest Hotel', "Hanna'), Dakota Fanning ("The Twilight Saga'), Lili Simmons ("True Detective') and Alison Sudol ("Dig,' "Transparent') are seemingly in contention to take on the role of Tina.

Meanwhile, Kate Upton ("The Other Woman'), Katherine Waterston ("Inherent Vice') and Elizabeth Debicki ("The Great Gatsby') are being considered for the role of Tina's older sister, Queenie. At this time, it remains uncertain as to what role these characters will be playing in the upcoming film.

Aside from these individuals, three more actors are reportedly auditioning for the role of Jacob, who will be the rival to the story's lead character, Newt Scamander. These actors include Steve Zissis ("Her'), Zack Pearlman ("The Virginity Hit') and Dan Fogler ("Fanboys').

Based on a script written by "Harry Potter' creator J.K. Rowling, the movie will star Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander and will be helmed by David Yates, who previously worked in a number of "Potter' films.

"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," Rowling explained during the announcement of the spinoff film.

Scheduled for an official release on Nov. 18, 2016, the film follows a story based on Harry Potter's Hogwarts textbook "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' and its fictitious author, Newt Scamander.

Also set in the wizarding world, the story is expected to highlight magical characters and creatures, as suggested by the book's title, with which some of these beings will be familiar to fans who have read the books and watched the films.

Although the rules and customs of the magical society have become highly familiar to Potter followers, Scamander's story begins in New York, at least seven decades before Potter's story materializes.

"The experience of conjuring up these worlds is such fun. So to do it with [Rowling] and with Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram is involved too, and with David Yates, and Stuart Craig will be designing it - it's great. It's exciting. And it's a great world to return to," producer David Heyman shared.

The second and third movies in the "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' series have already been scheduled for an official release on Nov. 16, 2018 and Nov. 20, 2020, respectively.