Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sequel in the works

The second movie in the planned trilogy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them is already being written and has a release date.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. confirmed that the sequel was already in the works, with a script being written by J.K. Rowling and set to be directed by David Yates (who also directed the last four Harry Potter films). Its official release date will be November 16, 2018.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set decades before the beginning of the Harry Potter series and it chronicles the adventures of Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne), a magi-zoologist who arrives in 1920s New York with a case full of magical (and dangerous) creatures. When some of these escape his case, he needs to contend with the consequences.

The film also explores the magical society in America and how witches and wizards need to maintain secrecy to avoid issues with the No-Majes, American Muggles who fear what they do not understand.

A trilogy is planned with the final film expected to be released in November 2020.

According to the statement released by Warner Bros., the second film “moves deeper into an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world, where Newt and our heroes have to decide on their allegiances.”

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them also stars Katherine Waterston as Porpentina Goldstein, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein, Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, Colin Farrell as Graves, Samantha Morton as Mary Lou, and Ezra Miller as Credence.

This trilogy of films is one of the latest additions to the Harry Potter universe, with the new stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, recently opening in London’s West End to enthusiastic reviews.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will hit theaters on November 18, 2016.