J.K. Rowling confirms there will be five total ‘Fantastic Beasts’ movies. Yes, five

Prepare to get quite familiar with Newt Scamander: J.K. Rowling has revealed that there will be five “Fantastic Beasts” movies. That’s right, five.

The “Harry Potter” author made a surprise appearance Thursday at a fan event for the upcoming “Fantastic Beasts” that involved a live Q&A with the film’s cast.

While Rowling was able to refrain from revealing too many details about the upcoming top secret adventures of the magizoologist (played by Eddie Redmayne), she did make an announcement that was news even to the “Fantastic Beast” cast.

“I can say one thing,” said Rowling. “I can tell you that we always knew it was going to be more than one movie. We knew that from the start. We said a trilogy is a kind of placeholder … I’ve now done the plotting properly, so we’re pretty sure it’s going to be five movies.”

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That’s right, five movies. Not three, not seven. Five exact.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” takes its name from a textbook used by Hogwarts students in the “Harry Potter” series, written by Scamander. Rowling has since written and published the fictional textbook, which is about magical creatures, in Scamander’s name.

The “Fantastic Beasts” film will follow Scamander’s adventures as he comes to 1926 New York, giving fans a first look at the magical world in North America.

Starring Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo, Samantha Morton, Ezra Miller, Ron Perlman and Jon Voight, “Fantastic Beasts” marks Rowling’s screenwriting debut.

Directed by “Harry Potter” alum David Yates, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will hit theaters Nov. 18.

Watch the full “Fantastic Beasts” fan event below.

tracy.brown@latimes.com

Twitter: @tracycbrown