Eddie Redmayne, who just won the Oscar for playing Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything," may play Newt Scamander in Warner Bros.' hotly anticipated "Harry Potter" spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
J.K. Rowling is making her screenwriting debut on the trilogy.
Redmayne recently wrapped Tom Hooper's "The Danish Girl" and has yet to receive an official offer.
Director David Yates is said to be considering a few other actors for the part but Redmayne is the frontrunner.
"Fantastic Beasts" is based on the Hogwarts textbook of the same name and follows the adventures of its author.
The first "Fantastic Beasts" movie is scheduled to arrive Nov. 18, 2016.