Recent Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne is official as the lead in Warner Bros. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," the upcoming film set in the same world as the massively successful "Harry Potter" franchise. Redmayne will play Newt Scamander, the fictional author of the "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" text.

"Eddie is a fearless actor, brimming with invention, wit and humanity," David Yates, director of "Fantastic Beasts" and the last four "Harry Potter" films, said in the announcement. "I couldn't be more excited about the prospect of working with him as we start this new adventure in J.K. Rowling's wonderful world, and I know she feels the same way."

Reports have connected Redmayne to the role since April. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor earlier this year for his performance as Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything."

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," based on "Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling's 2001 book of the same name, is scheduled for release on Nov. 18, 2016. Rowling wrote the screenplay, her first.