'Harry Potter' Author J.K. Rowling Confirms Five 'Fantastic Beasts' Movies In The Making; Handpicks Actor To Play 'Albus Dumbledore'

"Harry Potter" author J.K Rowling, who has penned all the seven massively successful books in the series, has confirmed five - not three as originally planned - movies in the spin-off "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" series. Rowling will be writing the screenplay for all five, while former "Harry Potter" director David Yates will be directing the whole series.

Harry Potter author @jk_rowling explains the decision to make 5 #FantasticBeasts movies pic.twitter.com/yWm2Fw3Mht

— Variety (@Variety) November 10, 2016

In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Yates said he "has committed to Warner Bros. entire prequel series." "I love making films, and I've got a great team, all of whom are like family. The commitment isn't daunting to him: "I only look at it movie to movie."

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" will come out in November 18 this year. Its storyline is set in 1926 and the lead character is magizoologist Newt Scamander played by Eddie Redmayne. Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Ron Perlman, Alison Sudol, Carmen Ejogo, and Dan Fogler will also be appearing in the film.

For the sequel of "Fantastic Beasts," "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling has also confirmed that Johnny Depp has been cast as the younger version of the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. He will be introduced as a rival and love interest to an openly gay Albus Dumbledore.

During the world premiere on Thursday, "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling confirmed that "Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was." Rowling said that there's plenty of time to develop the Dumbledore-Grindelwald conflict in a five-movie series.

According to "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, she has already picked an actor to play the powerful wizard's role. "I have, of course, thought about this. I do have a name. I do have someone in mind, but I can't say it. Because if that person doesn't get cast, then the person who does get cast will blame me forever for having said it, won't they? So, I'm going to just keep quiet," Rowling was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling noted that she is very pleased about Johnny Depp's casting as Grindelwald.