Although the film world of Harry Potter ended back in 2011 with The Deathly Hallows, author JK Rowling is set to resurrect the Potter universe via a different story.

It was announced today that the British writer will work alongside Warner Bros to screen-write a new fantasy film which will be based on the Harry Potter textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The story will focus on the adventures of fictional author Newt Scamander whose book is owned by Harry Potter in the renowned series.

On the bold decision, Rowling had this to say:

“It all started when Warner Bros came to me with the suggestion of turning Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of Fantastic Beasts, realised by another writer was difficult.

Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As hard-core Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.

As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Bros. Although it will be set in the worldwide community of witches and wizards where I was so happy for 17 years, 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. 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.”

To sum that lengthy statement up, it means that the new film will mention creatures from the Potter universe but that it is neither a sequel nor a prequel.

The expanded film series is also set to gain merchandise through computer game tie-ins as well as linking up to Rowling’s website Pottermore.

The move comes after the recent expansions of other film franchises on the big-screen including The Hobbit and the upcoming Star Wars sequels.