The Knockturnal attended the film’s Global Press Conference in New York. Read what J.K. told attendees about the film!
Q: Tell us when you started to think that you wanted to revisit this the world of Harry Potter on the big screen and why did you decide to do the screenplay yourself?
Q: Obviously doing a screenplay is very different then a novel, did you read books on screenplay writing, did people help you?
Q: You could if you wanted to.
Q: He’d have to talk your call.
Q: You’ve managed once again to switch up a story so full of emotions and I wonder how you do it every time and if you actually have a secret potion yourself that you drink before.
Q: What would be a harder decision: to jump on and create a brand new universe or to not give give all those Harry Potter fans much more of this [Harry Potter]. What would be harder?
Q: The starts with Newt coming from London to New York, and I think that what we’re most curious about is that when New York audiences are going to get to see Cursed Child and when that will come and if you have anything else up your sleeve for the stage. Well we see Fantastic Beasts [on the stage] one day or any other property.
Q: It’s been confirmed Dumbledore is in the sequel and I’m curious in that movie will he be portrayed as openly gay and will you explore his romantic relationship with Grindelwald.
Q: Of course after the Potter books you started to experiment with other mediums the play the screenplay, was it a conscious decision for you to stay away from the book route when you started experimenting these other mediums? And what do you see when you see the impact your books have had on other people of all ages and around the world?
Q: How did you decide which beasts you wanted to include in the movie and how involved were you with the design of the creatures.
Q: You were very vocal yesterday about the election of Donald Trump, and I wanted to talk a little about how your feeling on that election relate to some of the themes in Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter.
Q: I heard that you went through several drafts for the screenplay, and some of them being very dark…
Q: Can you talk about the pressures of the fan expectation about going back into the Potter verse?
Q: Not to make any more nervous than you were before but it’s been nine years since the last Potter and five years since the last movie, do you have any words of encouragement for the hardcore fans that are still skeptical. I know half of you are Harry Potter fans and I know half of you created it…do you have any words of encouragement for those who are hesitant that this world they all all so feel protective of is coming back and off-shoot with nothing to do with Harry.
Q: Can you talk a bit about the importance of friendship in your stories. How we’ve gone from this unforgettable trio of Harry Potter movies to the quartet that we have now and also how your characters seem to be outsider and unlikely heroes?
Q: Your story is just as magical to people as what you write. Just say a few words to people who are trying to get into writing and/or are facing hard times and can you give us a glimpse into your writing process. Is it mornings or late nights, how do you do it?
The film hits theaters on November 18.