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Imagine becoming a movie star - complete with magical powers.

You - or your children - could join the world of Harry Potter by applying to star in the sequel to Fantastic Beasts.

Eddie Redmayne dazzled audiences across the world with his performance as the bumbling Newt Scamander in 2016.

Newt travels the world collecting 'fantastic beasts' - magical creatures mere Muggles (non-magical humans, for the uninitiated) don't know about.

Fantastic Beasts takes place years before the events of the Harry Potter books and films but is part of the same J.K. Rowling created universe.

In fact, the author even wrote the screenplay for the first Fantastic Beasts film.

Harry Potter studies a textbook called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by Newt, during his years as a student at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.



Warning - some spoilers for Fantastic Beasts below

(Image: ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)

How you can get involved with the magic of the movies

The Pottermore website, which was established by Rowling to provide her fans with extra exciting information about her fictional world, is now advertising an incredible opportunity.

Anyone can apply in an open casting call for five young actors to join the Fantastic Beasts sequel.

Warner Bros. Pictures is looking for young people to play five new roles in the film, including teenage incarnations of Newt Scamander, Leta Lestrange, Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore.

(Image: ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/GettyImages)

Information on Pottermore says: "An open casting call has gone out for three actors between the ages of 13 and 16 to play young versions of Newt, Leta, and another character called Sebastian.

"They are also looking for actors between 16 and 18 to portray both Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore as teenagers.

"So, if you know any young acting hopefuls who know their Elder Wand-lore, or have a penchant for Sherbert Lemons, now is the time to let them know."

Why you should believe in yourself

It's not just professional actors which get gigs like this, you know.

Faith Wood-Blagrove beat thousands of other young actresses to the role of Modesty in Fantastic Beasts, and Evanna Lynch was chosen for the part of Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter out of 15,000 other young women following open casting in 2006.

(Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Youngsters from Somerset have succeeded before, too.

Madeleine Harris is an ordinary school girl from Shepton Mallet but she is one of the stars of the British hit film, Paddington.

According to the young actor's Wikipedia page she met Idris Elba in a pub once and told him how much she loves to act. Elba then helped her get into the industry.

True or not, this story shows how young people from our area can achieve their dreams if they're honest about their ambitions and work hard for them.

(Image: Getty)

The wizard background you need to know

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , readers learned that Albus and Gellert were once friends, before becoming arch-rivals. The casting of their teenage incarnations – as well as those of Newt and Leta – will be sure to intrigue Harry Potter fans, and drive further speculation about the next film’s story.

Newt Scamander’s relationships and past remain enigmatic, so any glimpse into his formative years will be huge for the character.

Leta Lestrange was mentioned in the first Fantastic Beasts film as having a ‘close friendship’ with Newt at Hogwarts, and her photograph was seen in Newt’s workshop. The casting of a young Leta would suggest that her character might have a bigger role in the sequel.

(Image: PA)

Who would you be starring alongside?

The cast is pretty impressive (even though you're not in it yet).

Casting for teenage Dumbledore follows on from the news that Jude Law will play the adult character in the Fantastic Beasts sequel.

Johnny Depp was revealed as Gellert Grindelwald at the end of Fantastic Beasts.

How to apply

To apply for the Fantastic Beasts open casting call, email casting.prod@wb.uc-ns.com with a recent colour photograph, (i.e., taken within the last two months), contact telephone number, your home address and date of birth.

Anyone under 18 must ask a parent or guardian to send the application.

No previous acting experience is necessary but applicants need to be eligible to work in the UK (meaning they must be a UK, Irish or EU passport holder), and be available for filming between August and November 2017.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at midnight UK time.

If there is interest in pursuing an application further, the applicant will hear back within 14 days of their original submission.

While every applicant will be considered, only those passing the initial consideration round will be contacted.

When will the Fantastic Beasts sequel come out?

The film is set decades before Harry Potter’s adventures at Hogwarts and marks an increasingly dark time for the wizarding world.

The sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is scheduled for release on November 16, 2018. Filming begins this summer.