Amidst all the Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiere hype this week, Warner Bros. has dropped the epic announcement trailer for Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. The brief teaser, which clocks in at just under two minutes, literally invites us to return to the wizarding world. For those of us who grew up on Harry Potter, it’s like our childhood is beckoning for us to come play once more.

The short snippet, which consists largely of titles and glimpses of the characters, still manages to pack in all the wonder and magic we expect from the Harry Potter franchise. The Fantastic Beasts teaser has on display the exceptional costuming of course, from Collin Farrell’s impeccable suit to Seraphina (Carmen Ejogo) and her elaborate get up. The signature sets continue the grand detail we are accustomed to as well, which are showcased in the Magical Congress of the United States of America courtroom scene.

However, the most noteworthy moment for me is the teaser’s score. From the moment it began, I felt chills as it set the tone better than any of the visuals. While the composer has not yet been confirmed, there are a few notes that echo “Hedwig’s Theme” composed by John Williams, which in my opinion played such a large role in constructing the Harry Potter universe.

So what does the Fantastic Beasts teaser tell us? That Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has brought his mysterious case with him to the United States, and in it a collection of magical beasts. Unfortunately for Mr. Scamander, and the unsuspecting citizens of New York, he left the case open “just a smidge” thus releasing some of these fantastic beasts out into the world. And it will be up to Newt to return them back into the case. This is where we really get into meat of the plot, which revealed itself along with the character descriptions earlier last month.

To add to the conflict, the destruction from these beasts will likely cause tension among the wizards of New York and the no-maj (the term American wizards call muggles). Plus could it be we have another golden trio? Will Newt, Jacob (Dan Fogler), and Propentina (Katherine Waterson) live up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione?

 Extended commentary:

• Seraphina’s stylist must be Effie Trinket, but she looks fab.
• Text transitions seem to have different animal fur/skin textures? Still no beasts though. Where are the beast?!
• Ohhh that Collin Farrell, so broody surrounded by the destruction.
• Eddie Redmayne is like an adorable golden retriever flopping about. Again, he could not be more perfect for this role.
• Where are the owls?

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Stay tuned for more updates, we will be sure to keep you informed on everything and anything related to the highly anticipated return to the wizarding world. Here’s the plot synopsis of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, courtesy of Warner Bros.:

Eccentric magizoologist Newt Scamander comes to New York with his trusty weathered case. This case is one of those way-way-way-bigger-on-the-inside magical devices, and within are expansive habitats for a collection of rare and endangered magical creatures from Newt’s travels around globe. He discovers the American wizarding community is fearfully hiding from Muggles and the threat of public exposure is an even graver concern than in the UK. Fantastic Beasts is the story of what happens when this uniquely skilled English wizard travels to wiz-phobic America and a variety of his creatures, some quite dangerous… get out of their case.

Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Dan Fogler, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Faith Wood-Blagrove, Jenn Murray, Jon Voight, and Ron Perlman. The film is set to arrive in theaters on November 18, 2016.

Source: Warner Bros.