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Novel or Screenplay 🤔
Hey there Harry Potter fans! Today, we’re going to dive into a magical world and figure out is the Fantastic Beasts Book Not a Screenplay. For those who may not know, Fantastic Beasts is a spin-off of the Harry Potter series and takes place in the same magical universe created by J.K. Rowling.
But the question is, what exactly is Fantastic Beasts? Is it a screenplay or a book? Well, the answer is a little bit more complicated than you would expect. That’s why I’m here to clear things up and give you all the details on whether the Fantastic Beasts book is not a screenplay.

We’ll be exploring the history of the book and how it came to be, as well as taking a closer look at what makes Fantastic Beasts both a book AND a screenplay. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of what Fantastic Beasts is and how it fits into the world of Harry Potter.
So grab your wand, put on your sorting hat, and let’s dive into the magical world of Fantastic Beasts!
How many Fantastic Beasts books are there?
There are technically 4 Fantastic Beasts “books” that have been published. To start to answer the question of whether or not Fantastic Beasts book not a screenplay though, we need to dive deep into the books that have been published underneath this new magical branch of the Harry Potter world.
Here are the books that are part of the Fantastic Beasts series:
1️⃣ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Newt Scamander’s detailed book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, is a staple in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and is a must-read guide to magical beasts. It’s been entertaining wizarding families for ages, with creatures like the Hippogriff, the Niffler, and the Hungarian Horntail, plus some unexpected ones even for experienced Magizoologists. This textbook-style book was published in 2001. Alongside this textbook, there were also two more Hogwarts Library books released including The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages.
2️⃣ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
In 2016, J.K. Rowling delighted fans everywhere by releasing the original screenplay book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, inspired by the beloved Hogwarts textbook by Newt Scamander. When Newt bravely arrives in New York, his magical case goes missing and some of his fantastic beasts escape, setting off an exciting journey full of remarkable characters and magical creatures.
3️⃣ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
This second screenplay in the Fantastic Beasts series follows Newt Scamander as he teams up with Albus Dumbledore to take down the escaped Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who is trying to take over the non-magical world. Newt and his pals have to figure out where their loyalties lie and face the divisions of the wizarding world, with some familiar references to the Harry Potter story.
4️⃣ Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
Professor Albus Dumbledore ropes in Magizoologist Newt Scamander and a squad of wizards, witches, and one Muggle baker to stop the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald from taking over the wizarding world. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is the official screenplay for the movie, including extra content and insights from the cast and crew.
Is there a book for Fantastic Beasts?
As you can tell from above there is a distinct version between the book and the screenplay. I would say there is truly no “novel” for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Instead, we see a textbook-style book written by Newt describing different magical creatures. Then later on a screenplay “book” of each movie.
Will there be more Fantastic Beasts books?
It looks like there’s no news yet about additional books or movies for the Fantastic Beasts series. But, with the Harry Potter franchise’s huge success and Universal Studios starting to build out the French Magic of Ministry, there’s a chance that more books or movies could be added in the future. Nothing’s been said officially yet, but we can all hold out hope that there might be more screenplay books added in the future.
Why did J.K. Rowling choose to write the Fantastic Beasts movie series?
J.K. Rowling has been seen in interviews saying that she was so inspired by all the Harry Potter fans around the world that she had to keep writing in the Harry Potter universe. The Fantastic Beasts series was her way of letting people keep exploring the magical world and getting to know the characters, stories, and creatures even better. She wanted to keep up the energy and excitement of the Harry Potter series and give fans something new and thrilling to enjoy.
Novels Similar to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
If you have already read this spin-off series inside the Harry Potter world, then you will love these novels! They all have components of the Fantastic Beasts series and will keep you swept in the magic.
1️⃣ The Magicians
This is an adult coming-of-age novel about Quentin Coldwater, who discovers a secret college of magic and learns all about modern sorcery. Not only that, but it turns out the magical world of Fillory is real – and it’s way darker and more dangerous than any of them expected. They uncover a shocking truth at the heart of it all.
🤩 Why you should read it: This is a series that is like Harry Potter but with a more adult twist.
2️⃣ The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter
Mary Jekyll was desperate to sort out her money troubles and went looking for Edward Hyde, the murderer. She stumbled upon a clandestine bunch of scientists who had made their own monstrous women. With the help of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary, and her new friends had to triumph over this monstrous society.
🤩 What I loved about it: I loved that this book combined classics like Sherlock Holmes and Frankenstein and made it a found family of monster girls solving mysteries. It will become of your new favorites.
3️⃣ Neverwhere
Richard Mayhew’s life takes an unexpected turn when he does a good deed and discovers the secret world of “Neverwhere” that lurks beneath the streets of London. It’s full of some really weird and out-of-this-world characters.
🤩 What I loved about it: If you haven’t read any of Neil Gaiman’s books then what are you waiting for? This book is a spell-binding fantasy with an almost Alice in Wonderland vibe.
4️⃣ A Darker Shade of Magic
Kell, an Antari from Red London, is an ambassador for the Maresh Empire but also a smuggler. After an exchange goes wrong, he meets Delilah Bard, a *thief* who convinces him to take her to another world. Together, they have to struggle through treacherous magic and dangerous people in order to save the world.
🤩 Why you should read it: Set in 4 parallel Londons, this book combines the atmosphere of Harry Potter series in a new fun way.
5️⃣ The Night Circus
Le Cirque des Rêves is a circus that shows up out of nowhere and becomes the setting for a battle between two magicians, Celia and Marco. Even though they are rivals, they fall for each other, and everyone in the circus, the performers and the visitors are all waiting to find out what will happen. This book is written in such beautiful words, it’s like a treat for your senses and your heart.
🤩 What I loved about it: This is a slower-paced book that will have you immersed in this unique setting and on the edge of your seat to what happens to the characters.
So, is the Fantastic Beasts book not a screenplay?
In conclusion, we can see that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is not exactly a novel. Rather, it is both a screenplay and textbook from Hogwarts Library, providing both a thrilling story and a detailed guide to the magical creatures within the Wizarding World.
Personally, I am a massive fan of both books and film series. I love the way J.K. Rowling continues to expand the Wizarding World, introducing new characters, creatures, and settings that captivate people of all ages.
I would highly recommend both the screenplay, textbook, and film series to anyone looking for a magical adventure. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Harry Potter or new to the Wizarding World, you’re sure to be enchanted by the fantastic beasts and characters that inhabit this world of magic and mystery. So grab a copy, sit back, and prepare to be transported to a world beyond your wildest dreams.