Between the mid 1990s and 2011, fans were left spellbound by the adventures of young wizard Harry Potter and his friends in both the Harry Potter novels AND film adaptations.

The origins of that magical world created by author J.K Rowling are now being explored in the upcoming prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them which is the first of a new cinematic trilogy.

The film, which stars Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables, The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl) in the lead role of heroic writer Newt Scamander, premiered its latest trailer at Comic Con last night.

Helmed by former Harry Potter director David Yates (The Order of the Phoenix, The Deathly Hallows Part I & II), the film focuses on Scamander’s adventures in 1920s New York as he tries to find some dangerous creatures who have escaped from his magical briefcase. With the aid of some Muggles, he must locate his creatures and prevent them from being seen in public before the US authorities get to them.

The story is set seventy years before Harry Potter first read Newt’s book in school with some of the New York scenes filmed in my local city Liverpool.

Redmayne is supported in the film by Colin Farrell (In Bruges, Saving Mr Banks), Katherine Waterston (Inherent Vice, Steve Jobs), Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Flash), Carmen Ejogo (The Purge: Anarchy, Selma), Ron Perlman (Hellboy trilogy, Sons of Anarchy), Samantha Morton (Minority Report, The Last Panthers), Dan Fogler (Kung Fu Panda, Fanboys), Gemma Chan (Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Humans) and Oscar winner Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy, Ray Donovan).

Fantastic Beasts will be released in the UK on November 18th.