The idea that a parent could have magical powers is enough to make any kid ecstatic, except Eddie Redmayne‘s children. The “Theory of Everything” actor will reprise his role as the shy magizoologist Newt Scamander in the Warner Bros’ newest installment of “Fantastic Beasts.”
The latest addition, “The Secrets of Dumbledore,” will be released this month and televise the showdown with the villain, Grindelwald. Since the first movie, the storyline has noticeably shifted from Newt as its primary focus; however, the character is still an integral part of the series.
While making rounds for the movie, Redmayne revealed that his children weren’t very impressed with his role in the franchise. While his daughter had a poor opinion of Newt’s wand, his son had problems understanding if his father was an actual wizard.
Eddie Redmayne Played Newt Scamander In ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’
Redmayne’s children aren’t the biggest fans of his” Fantastic Beasts” role. His role in the franchise came after the actor appeared as Stephen Hawking in the biopic “The Theory of Everything.” The part not only won him an Oscar but shot him into the Hollywood spotlight.
Redmayne’s first movie in the “Harry Potter” prequel series was “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” His role was as one of the lead characters, magizoologist Newt Scamander. Newt was depicted as kindhearted and brave but shy, a role which the Oscar winner had no problem outperforming.
The third film of the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, “The Secrets of Dumbledore,” is slated to hit theaters this month and will have an even more wizardry display than its predecessors.
Redmayne’s Children Weren’t Impressed By His Role
With “The Secrets of Dumbledore” release date so close, actors are making media rounds. Redmayne recently appeared in an interview with “Live With Kelly and Ryan” and revealed that his children, Luke 4 and Iris 5, weren’t so impressed with his magical skills in “Fantastic Beasts.”
His daughter apparently decided that Newt’s wand needed some improvements and covered the entire thing in tin foil. Via ET Canada, Redmayne said, “There was a moment this year where I felt like, as a dad who played a wizard, I could try and get some brownie points.”
The actor continued, “I gave Iris, my daughter, Newt’s wand, which I thought was pretty exciting, and she’s like ‘Okay, thanks, Dad.’ I came back an hour later, and she covered the thing in tin foil. She’d made a little star and made a fairy wand. And she’s like, ‘Now this is a wand,’ [That] slightly undermined my brownie points.”
Eddie Redmayne Tried Convincing His Son He Was A Wizard
On the other hand, Redmayne’s son, Luke, apparently had a tough time understanding if his father was an actual wizard. The actor revealed that he initially struggled with whether to go along with the movie role or not but ultimately decided to continue with his on-screen character.
“You have that sort of moral dilemma, like, do I lie to my child? I find myself stuck in the middle, and he’s like, ‘No, you’re either a wizard or you’re not,’ So I said, ‘Yeah, I am a wizard,’ and I did some sort of trick with a coin, the one magic trick I could do,” the actor said.
The trick apparently failed to convince the 4-year-old, especially after watching the recent trailer of “The Secrets of Dumbledore.” “And he’s like, ‘That’s not the kind of stuff you can do in the [‘Fantastic Beasts’] trailer. In the trailer, you can make stuff explode,'” Redmayne continued.
“So I think he told his friends at school, and they asked me to do some of the stuff in the trailer, and it was a bit of a letdown.” Redmayne shares Luke and Iris with his wife, Hannah Bagshawe.
‘The Secrets Of Dumbledore’ To Be Released On April 14
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Despite his children’s low opinion of Redmayne’s magic, the actor has proven an asset to the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise. The first movie initially focused on his character, Newt and his love and skill in handling magical creatures; however, the subsequent films shed more light on the anticipated fight against Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen).
Newt is still an integral part of the movie, though. Due to the threat Grindelwald poses, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) brought a team together to defeat him. Redmayne’s character is at the forefront of said team.
Other returning characters are Jacob Kowalski, played by Dan Folger, Theseus, Newt’s brother, played by Callum Turner, and several others. Two more movies will reportedly be released after this installment, so Redmayne still has ample time to impress his children with his magic. “The Secrets of Dumbledore” is slated to hit theaters on April 14.
