It took quite some time before the role of magical zoologist Newt Scamander for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" has finally been cast, and now it belongs to award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne.

Author J.K. Rowling, for one, could not be more thrilled that the actor nabbed the role, and she even expressed her thoughts on her Twitter account: "Thrilled that Eddie Redmayne will be starring in Fantastic Beasts. He'll be a perfect Newt Scamander!" Rowling earlier revealed that "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" will neither be a prequel or a sequel for the beloved Harry Potter series, since it will take place decades even before Harry Potter is born and sets foot in Hogwarts.

"The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt's story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry's gets underway," she earlier said.

It will tell the life and adventures of Scamander, who would later pen his magical discoveries in the popular Hogwarts textbook "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," which Harry, Ron, and Hermione and the rest of the wizards would learn from in school. Not much has been said about the upcoming movie though but producer David Heyman did tease that Rowling's script was "sublime," so Harry Potter fans are guaranteed to love the spinoff.

"It's funny, it's vivid, it's exciting. It's filled with all the hallmarks of Rowling's incredible imagination," Heyman told IGN. "The experience of conjuring up these worlds is such fun. So to do it with Rowling and with Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram is involved too, and with David Yates, and Stuart Craig will be designing it - it's great. It's exciting. And it's a great world to return to."

The movie, which has been scheduled for release on November 18, 2016 will mark Rowling's screenwriting debut. Moreover, its director Yates is also really excited to start working with Redmayne. "Eddie is a fearless actor, brimming with invention, wit and humanity," Yates said. "I couldn't be more excited about the prospect of working with him as we start this new adventure in J.K. Rowling's wonderful world, and I know she feels the same way."

The role of Scamander has actually been tipped earlier to "Doctor Who" actor Matt Smith, who is also the beau of "Cinderella" actress Lily James. The two will be appearing together in the film "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies," where James will portray the heroine Lizzie Bennett while Smith would be her bumbling spurned suitor Mr. Collins.