Up until now, all that fans knew of the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was its connection to the Harry Potter series and that it will be following the wizarding magizoologist Newt Scamander in his adventures through New York City. The basis for this character comes from author J.K. Rowling’s inclusion of a textbook’s catalog of creatures – authored by Scamander – in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. These creatures play a central role in the spinoff screenplay written by Rowling — the author’s very first solo script!

According to Entertainment Weekly, Rowling’s film will follow the peculiar Newt Scamander in 1926 New York – to be portrayed by Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) – and his weather-beaten briefcase. In Mary-Poppins fashion, the case is actually larger-than-life on the inside and contains habitats for the many magical creatures he has encountered in his travels. The story kicks into gear when several of these creatures manage to escape on the streets of New York City. One of the main issues of the film will be the Salem Witch Trials-esque atmosphere present in the States, and the magical distrust from “No-Maj” persons (what the UK know as Muggles).

That is where Fantastic Beasts begins. Besides Redmayne, the cast will also feature Colin Farrell (The Lobster), Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice), Dan Fogler (Take Me Home Tonight), Ezra Miller (Trainwreck), Alison Sudol (TV’s Transparent), Jon Voight (Tomb Raider), and Ron Perlman (Hellboy). Harry Potter‘s David Yates is directing.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has a November 18, 2016 release date. It has already begun filming in the Big Apple. We will have more on the feature as it is released.