J.K. Rowling was true to her word. From the very start, she claimed that there would be only seven Harry Potter novels, and so far that’s all there have been. Of course, those seven books gave birth to eight films, a Broadway and West End sequel in the form of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and, now, a whole new film franchise in the form of Fantastic Beasts, the second installment of which, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, reaches theaters on Nov. 16.

The concept of Fantastic Beasts actually had its beginnings as a textbook at Hogwarts in the Potter novels and films, and it should come as no surprise to anyone who knows her that the author spent a lot of time devleoping that textbook, bringing it to life in her mind first.

“During the writing of that textbook,” J.K — who also pens the screenplays for these films rather than having them adapted by others as had been done with Harry Potter — said. “I became quite interested in the ostensible author, Newt Scamender. Of all the characters in Potter who were just a name, he was the one who took on quite a bit of life in my mind. Newt’s been traveling the world, studying magical creatures. His amibiton is he wants to write Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He wants people to understand how remarkable these magical creatures are, and he wants to educate the public and stop them killing them. A very laudable design, one would say, but Newt being Newt, he can’t resist if you find something that’s injured or endangered, taking it with him. so over time, this case he carries has become effectively a portable animal hospital/safari park for endangered species.”

Warner Bros describes the new film as follows: “At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings. In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.”

The magic is revealed on Nov. 16.