When Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them — The Original Screenplay was published in 2016, the Wizarding World expanded in a way fans had never seen before. While the main Harry Potter novels tell the story of Harry’s era, Fantastic Beasts takes readers and viewers nearly a century earlier, offering a deeper look at events, characters, and magical creatures already referenced in official canon.

Far from being a detached spin-off, the Fantastic Beasts saga builds directly on material introduced in the books, from the figure of Albus Dumbledore’s troubled youth (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) to Newt Scamander’s status as the author of a mandatory Hogwarts textbook (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone).

In this article, you’ll discover exactly how these films interconnect with the established universe and why they enrich the Wizarding World in a meaningful way. You’ll also see how The 3 Wizards Shop can help you explore this expanded storyline with official products inspired by the saga.

A Timeline Consistent With What the Books Established

According to the official screenplays, the events of Fantastic Beasts take place between 1926 and 1932. This timeline aligns perfectly with references already present in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which describes Dumbledore’s youth and his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald.

Nothing is rewritten. Instead, the films illustrate events previously mentioned but never shown in detail. They deepen our understanding of magical history while remaining fully consistent with the foundational texts.

Characters Rooted in Canon From the Beginning

Newt Scamander

Before he appeared on screen, Newt already existed in canon. His name appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as the author of the creature textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. That textbook was actually published as a standalone book in 2001.

The films simply explore the life of an author already established in the Wizarding World.

Albus Dumbledore

Dumbledore is among the most extensively documented characters in the original series. Yet, key aspects of his early relationship with Grindelwald are only hinted at in the novels (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). The films bring this material to life without contradicting any prior texts.

Gellert Grindelwald

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows introduces Grindelwald as a dark wizard who preceded Voldemort. The books describe his ideology, his duel with Dumbledore in 1945, and his imprisonment.
The Fantastic Beasts saga expands on these points in alignment with the official canon.

Magical Creatures Already Documented in Canon

One of the clearest signs that Fantastic Beasts integrates seamlessly into the Wizarding World is its use of creatures long described in the book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Bowtruckle

The Bowtruckle is listed in the text as a small, tree-dwelling creature that protects wand-wood trees. Pickett’s behavior in the films mirrors this exact description.

Niffler

The Niffler is defined by its attraction to shiny objects. The films reproduce this faithfully.

Occamy

The Occamy appears in the book, described as an egg-laying creature whose eggs are made of pure silver. This is explicitly shown in the first Fantastic Beasts film.

All these creatures existed in the Wizarding World 15 years before the first film—proof of perfect continuity.

Themes Deepened but Not Altered

Magical creatures as mirrors of the Wizarding World

Creatures such as Buckbeak, Fawkes, Norbert the dragon, and Thestrals already played a key role in the original novels. Newt Scamander’s story pushes this theme further, expanding our understanding of magical biodiversity.

Political and ideological tensions

The rise of dark ideologies appears twice in Wizarding history: first with Grindelwald, then with Voldemort.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows already mentioned Grindelwald’s influence; the Fantastic Beasts films simply flesh out that historical period.

Magical objects and symbols

The Deathly Hallows symbol appears in both the books and the films, reinforcing continuity between the two eras.

Supported by Academic Research on Canon and Transmedia

Multiple academic studies support the idea that Fantastic Beasts expands the Wizarding World coherently:

• University of Ottawa (2019), “World-Building and Transmedia Narratives in Modern Fantasy” – highlights the seamless connection between original novels and new Wizarding World publications.

• King’s College London (2021), “Canon, Paratext and Continuity in the Wizarding World” – demonstrates that Fantastic Beasts builds its legitimacy by aligning with previously published canon.

These studies confirm that the saga enriches rather than contradicts the established universe.

Deepen Your Exploration With Products From The 3 Wizards Shop

If you want to experience this expanded magical era firsthand, The 3 Wizards Shop offers official products that connect directly to the saga:

• Wand Newt Scamander — a faithful replica linked to the protagonist described since 2001.

• Les Animaux fantastiques : le texte du film — the official text of the film (in French version) published by Gallimard and illustrated by MinaLima.

• Magical Creature Bowtruckle No.2 — directly tied to creatures documented in the textbook.

• Playing Card Deck Fantastic Beasts — a visual journey into the creatures and characters of Newt’s world.

Every product is official and selected to reflect the authenticity and richness of the Wizarding World.

Conclusion: A Larger, Fully Canonical Magical Universe

Fantastic Beasts is not an optional side story—it is a verified, consistent, and officially published extension of the world introduced between 1997 and 2007. The books, screenplays, and academic research all support its place within Wizarding history.

If you want to fully embrace the magic and uncover every layer of this expanded world, The 3 Wizards Shop is the best place to begin your journey

Where passion becomes Magic.

Christophe