“Fantastic Beasts” trailer ramps up the thrill

Eddie Redmayne learns the rules of New York magic in the brand new trailer for the upcoming Warner Bros. Harry Potter spinoff “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”.

In the film, Redmayne stars as Newt Scamander, an eccentric wizard who carries a briefcase full of monsters — trouble ensues when the beasts escape.

“Mr. Scamander, do you know anything about the wizarding community in America?” a voiceover asks. “We don't let things loose.”

Scamander also has to deal with a No-Maj, or non-wizard named Jacob Kowalski, played by Dan Fogler, who happens upon the world of wizards.

 “You wiped his memory, right?” Katherine Waterston as Porpentina 'Tina' Goldstein asks Scamander.

Once inside the magical land in Scamander's briefcase, Kowalski remarks, “I don't think I'm dreaming. I ain't got the brains to make this up.”

Later, Carmen Ejogo as President Seraphina Picquery warns “This could mean war,” referring to strained relations between the magical and non-magical communities. It is clear from the action-packed trailer that war is imminent.

While previous trailers have played up the cute wonders of the film, visual effects are nearing completion so this full trailer really digs into the magic of it all, unveiling a world that is both colorful and dangerous. The trailer is far more serious than previous looks at the film, which is more in line with the latter half of the “Harry Potter” films. And that's perfectly appropriate given that “Fantastic Beasts”, unlike Potter, revolves around adults instead of children. It is also helmed by David Yates, who successfully steered the Potter franchise into dark territory by helming “Order of the Phoenix”, “Half-Blood Prince”, and both “Deathly Hallows” films.

The film is an adaptation of JK Rowling's book. Rowling is producing the movie alongside David Heyman, Steve Kloves, and Lionel Wigram, Alison Sudol and Colin Farrell.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” opens Nov. 18.