Fantastic Beasts is set 70 years before the Potter saga begins but JK Rowling insists the book is not a prequel.
A Harry Potter spin-off novel written as a Hogwarts school textbook is to be turned into a trilogy of films.
JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, published in 2001, follows the adventures of fictional author Newton Artemis Fido “Newt” Scamander.
The book - a guide to magical creatures with Newt Scamander described as a “magizoologist” - was written between the fourth and fifth Potter instalments.
Six months ago Rowling agreed for the novel to be adapted into one movie but it was revealed today that Warner Bros have since persuaded her to expand it to three films.
Fantastic Beasts is set 70 years before the Harry Potter saga begins but Rowling, 48, insists the book is not a prequel.
She said: “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is neither a prequel nor a sequel to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world.
“The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt’s story will start in New York, 70 years before Harry’s gets underway.”
Rowling said: “I always said that I would only revisit the wizarding world if I had an idea that I was really excited about and this is it.”
The author was persuaded by Warner Bros chief executive Kevin Tsujihara, who took over last year.
Rowling said: “We had one dinner, a follow-up telephone call, and then I got out the rough draft that I’d thought was going to be an interesting bit of memorabilia for my kids and started rewriting.
“When Kevin got the top job, he brought a new energy, which rubbed off. He’s a very engaging person, thoughtful and funny.”
The films do not have any release or casting details but Rowling has revealed it took just 12 days to write the first draft script.
Overall she has written seven novels with combined sales of more than 450million copies.
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