Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay [Paperback] Rowling, J.K. Paperback – July 26, 2018

This screenplay isn’t just a script—it’s a beautifully designed book that brings the magic of Fantastic Beasts to life in a fresh format. The layout is elegant, the gold foil cover is stunning, and the interior artwork is a bonus for collectors. As for the story, it’s fun, fast-paced, and full of imaginative creatures and quirky charm. Reading the screenplay gives you insight into the characters and scenes that you don’t always catch in the film. A must-have for fans of the Wizarding World who want something both magical and display-worthy.

I've never read a book in screenplay format before, I steered clear of HP and the Cursed Child for that very reason. For Potterheads worried that Fantastic Beasts will be another Harry Potter fan fiction that messes with your view of the original characters, fear not. Fantastic Beasts occurs decades before little Harry was born, and involves very different themes. While the original HP series revolved around one hero and his fight against the all powerful You Know Who, Fantastic Beasts seemed more lighthearted without being childish.This particular cast of characters was a pleasure to get to know. I loved seeing Muggles other than the Dursleys in the wizarding world. There's Newt Scamander, a magic zoologist, dorky and loveable. There's Jacob Kowalski, a bumbling Muggle caught up in the mess, learning about the magical world as we do. And then there are Tina and Queenie, beautiful, talented, charming and kindhearted sisters, stuck in menial positions in the wizarding world and wanting more.This screenplay is wonderful because we get to visit the rich detailed wizarding world again. It was wonderful to see the magical creatures Harry learned about on the written page again. It was wonderful feeling that sense of anticipation opening a new Rowling novel again knowing you won't be able to do anything but read for the next 8 hours. The play was fun, witty, and just brilliant. The hardcover copy is beautiful and will go well with my hardcover copies of the original HP series. I would definitely recommend this book to new HP readers and Potterheads alike.

This was FIVE STARS for me. Yes, I know screenplays aren't typically liked, but I really enjoyed it.For a Harry Potter related story, it's wonderful and new and so different. The creatures are familiar, the trolls, a few of the magical elements are the same... But the differences really shined. A whole new unique twist I spent few hours reading. (And HP is the only book series where I hadn't seen ANY of the movies, including this one.)The paper cover? Gorgeous. I enjoy the colors (so totally Ravenclaw). The creatures within the 1920s art deco feel are so pretty. Best cover by far for me.Under the cover? A pretty denim blue book with a gold Niffler embossed. So cute! The polka dot end papers are whimsical and adorable.Inside, there are a lot of art deco type design on every page. Some of the pages throughout have creature prints or the actual creatures emerging through the design. Very aesthetically pleasing.As for the story... Newt Scamander, whom we've all heard about being the author of the book Fantastic Beasts, arrives in New York City in search of a rare creature. In his casee, he carries his incidentals, or so the human setting tells the customs official. In reality, he transports his collection of beasts.So when his case gets accidentally exchanged with an unsuspecting human, chaos was bound to break...Add in a power hungry wizard, GRAVES, and the US version of the Ministry of Magic, MACUSA, and you have this entire new world within the Wizarding one that was pleasant to visit and a joy to read!Two hours of reading time for me, with two breaks, just wasn't enough. I'd take stars away for something like that, but it was too fun and too different. I loved every moment and want to do it all over again. I would even love more and more of Newt and this 1920s Wizard world...It was so much fun.HIGHLY RECOMMEND just for the new story alone.