Harry Potter spin-off films get release dates

Warner Bros. is banking on the fact that Harry Potter can compete with Marvel.

The studio just announced that it is creating three new spin-off films with the help of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who will be writing the screenplay.

Muggles, rejoice! Harry Potter spin-off movie is on the way

“Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it,” Rowling said in a statement of her decision to write the screenplay.

The three films are scheduled to be released in 2016, 2018 and 2020, according to a tweet from Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Fritz. Though specific dates have yet to be determined, we’re guessing the series will be targeted toward the summer blockbuster time of year, meaning Warner Bros. will be competing against Marvel and the superhero films.

J.K. Rowling pens note to shooting survivor Cassidy Stay

According to The Verve, Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara was also quoted as saying the franchise will be “at least a trilogy,” leaving the possibility open for more movies following 2020.

The films will be based on Rowling’s novel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is set in the same world as Harry Potter. It features creatures and characters derived from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts textbook and is told from the perspective of fictitious author Newt Scamander.

“I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of Fantastic Beasts, realized by another writer was difficult,” Rowling explained.

No more Harry Potter for Daniel Radcliffe

It seems fans aren’t the only ones excited by the prospect of the new franchise. Rowling has also been getting in on the fan excitement with some fun anagram tweets over the past few weeks.

Newt only meant to stay in New York for a few hours. Circumstances ensured that he remained… for the length of a movie, anyway. X

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014

She posted the above answer after a lucky fan guessed her riddle correctly.

Thank you, thank you, for being the kind of people who get excited about an anagram #myspiritualhome

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 7, 2014

Do you think Harry Potter has what it takes to challenge Marvel at the box office?