Today, JK Rowling revealed that she’s going to be writing the screenplay for some new movies set in the Harry Potter universe. They’ll star a gentleman named Newt Scamander, author of the Hogwarts textbook “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Well, we’ve got a theory about this Scamander fellow.
When our own Jason Schreier posted the news, he and I started making jokes about Mr. Scamander’s true identity in the comments. Our discussion led us to a surprising series of revelations, along with a hell of a (yes, possibly totally wrong) hairbrained theory.
See… it turns out Scamander may have turned up in the main Potter stories, albeit in disguise.
Here, excerpted from the comment thread, is our theory so far.
Jason: I just noticed this part of the press release: “…and the adventures of the book’s fictitious author, Newt Scamander.” I love that they needed to specify that the author of a Harry Potter textbook named “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is fictitious. In case you were confused.
Kirk: Maybe they thought if they didn’t specify “fictitious” that people would assume the J.K. in J.K. Rowling actually stood for “Newt Scamander” this whole time. As in, “JK you guys, my name’s actually Newt Scamander.”
[Time passes.]
Kirk: IMPORTANT POTTERVERSE LORE-UPDATE: Awesomely, the wikipedia entry for the novelty version of the Fantastic Beasts textbook that Rowling wrote way back in 2001 includes this bit:
Although Rowling has never hidden the fact that she is the author of Fantastic Beasts, “Newt Scamander” can nevertheless be considered a pseudonym of hers, as he is technically the author listed on the book’s cover.
JK ROWLING REALLY IS NEWT SCAMANDER.
Also this:
In the film version of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Newt Scamander’s name appeared on the Marauder’s Map. Why he was at Hogwarts was not addressed, but it is likely to be linked to Buckbeak, the Hippogriff Hagrid has at the school.
The plot… thickens
Jason: Hahaha holy shit if Newt Scamander is an Animagus and is actually Buckbeak that’d be the best thing ever.
Kirk: Dying from how great that would be.
Jason: Check this out: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Newton_Sc…
Scamander developed an interest in magical creatures early in life, influenced by his mother‘s breeding of hippogriffs.
DUDE LOVES HIPPOGRIFFS.
Professor Scamander passed away in the early 1990s (sometime between 31 July,1991 and 18 December, 1992).[2]
Buckbeak:
In 1993, Rubeus Hagrid brought his first Care of Magical Creatures class to see Buckbeak, as well as other Hippogriffs.
THE PIECES FIT.
Kirk: Man if this turns out to be true I’m gonna be like
Are we crazy? Or are we ONTO SOMETHING? Only time and/or further investigation will tell.
Scamander image via The Harry Potter Lexicon.
To contact the author of this post, write to kirk@kotaku.com or find him on Twitter @kirkhamilton.
Comments
7 responses to “We’ve Got A Wild Theory About The New Harry Potter Movie”
That’d be pretty damn interesting actually.
J K Rowling is Buckbeak??
I do like the idea of “Just Kidding Rowling”.
its HagridYou guys are totally right. Any other outcome would be shit.
That’s actually… Genius!
Hoping the story is now retrofitted for this theory.