Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: first glimpse of Eddie Redmayne in Harry Potter prequel

HARRY Potter fans, prepare to be dazzled. The first picture of an incredibly dapper Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander in the series spin-off has emerged.

MUST RUN COVER IN FULL Fantastic Beasts Star Eddie Redmayne. Picture: Entertainment Weekly

HARRY Potter fans have had their first glimpse of Eddie Redmayne in the much-anticipated series spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.

The Oscar-winning British actor looks dashing as the “world-famous magizoologist” Newt Scamander on the cover of Entertainment Weekly.

Dazzling ... Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander in Fantasic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Picture: Entertainment Weekly

The film — to be released in November 2016 — follows the adventures of Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards in 1926.

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The production stills of the period drama look suitably dazzling. Redmayne is dapper in a brown tweed suit with a long blue coat and brown boots.

Exclusive behind the scenes of #FantasticBeasts pic.twitter.com/f2S4k6BgIB

— Harry Potter Facts (@TheHPFacts) November 4, 2015

The cover shows Redmayne’s character standing inside the entrance of the fictional Magical Congress of the United States of America, the American version of the Ministry of Magic, which is hiddent inside New York’s Woolworth building.

Redmayne is holding a briefcase in one hand, described by Entertainment Weekly as “pivotal”. In the other hand, he is brandishing a wand.

The film, set 70 years before the events of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, also stars Katherine Waterston, Colin Farrell, and Samantha Morton.

Trilogy ... the upcoming prequel is based on JK Rowling’s 2001 novel.