Eddie Redmayne is not a stranger to big movie roles. The British actor won an Oscar for playing Stephen Hawking and is about to portray a trans-gender woman in the upcoming movie "The Danish Girl."
However, for Redmayne, starring in the "Harry Potter" prequel "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" has made him extremely nervous, as the previous movies starring Harry, Hermione and Ron at Hogwarts have set the bar high.
Redmayne told E! News that "the stakes are high because they were so good before."
"You don't want to screw this up," he said at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Redmayne is all set to play the role of Newt Scamander in "Fantastic Beasts," based on "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling's book of the same name. The book was published under the name Newt Scamander and was used as a textbook in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
Even though Redmyne is under pressure to match up to the standards set by previous Potter movies, here are the five reasons why he should be trusted with this role:
He Respects the Franchise
Luckily, Redmyne is a huge fan of Harry Potter books and realises he is taking on a franchise that he also loves dearly.
"It's a complete privilege for me," he told E! News, "I love JK Rowling. I love the Harry Potter films and books so for me this is just the most wondrous gift really."
He is Familiar to Researching Roles
According to an interview in Variety, to play the role of Stephen Hawking, Redmayne read renowned physicist's books and spent time with him. Also, he is reportedly spending a lot of time interacting with trans-gender women and men about their experiences and vigorously researching on the subject.
Undoubtedly, he is very serious when it comes to research for his roles and he does it passionately. So, we better believe that he will do justice to the role when it comes to Harry Potter universe.
He Has Got an Oscar
Redmayne had a tough competition earlier this year to take home an Academy Award for his role as Hawking in "The Theory of Everything." However, he made it and that says a lot about the dedication of this 33-year-old actor.
He Has Done Science Fiction and Fantasy Movies Before
Redmayne played antagonist Balem Abrasax in "Jupiter Ascending." Though the movie flopped, Redmayne's role received praise from the critics. Also, the movie helped him to get accustomed with fantasy roles, as is in "Fantastic Beasts."
He Has Played Struggling Characters with Fighting Spirits
Apart from the role of Hawking battling ALS (a nervous disorder) and exceeding expectations in "The Theory of Everything," he has played Marius in the 2012 movie "Les Miserables" helping to lead the Paris Uprising. Redmayne is not an actor who would take on mystical creatures lightly.
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is set to be released in 2016. The exact date is yet to be announced.
