J.K. Rowling to educate us on magic in North America to prep for Fantastic Beasts

By Stephanie Topacio Long Published April 4, 2016

This year is set to be a big one for Potterheads: Not only is Harry Potter series creator J.K. Rowling releasing an eighth book this summer, a film based on the spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will open in theaters in November. To get fans excited about the movie (as if they aren’t already), the bestselling author is set to publish a series of new writing on Pottermore this week called Magic in North America.

The website announced the news today, revealing that the first installment, History of Magic in North America, will be available tomorrow, March 8 at 9 am ET. The series will consist of four installments, with the last being published on Friday, March 11. “Magic in North America will bring to light the history of this previously unexplored corner of the wizarding world in the run up to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” according to the Pottermore announcement.

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Exclusive video announcements about the series were released by EW and The Telegraph today as well. “The history of America is more amazing than you could ever imagine,” teases the video. It touches on subjects that will be covered in Rowling’s new writing, including the North American wizarding school, Ilvermorny; “skin walkers”; the Salem Witch trials; and the U.S. equivalent of the Ministry of Magic, the Magical Congress of the United States of America.

The knowledge may come in handy when Fantastic Beasts opens in theaters this fall. The film is set in New York in the 1920s and it follows Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne), a Ministry of Magic employee who is an expert in magical creatures. (You may recognize him as the author of the Fantastic Beasts book, which was assigned reading for Harry and his Hogwarts classmates.)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them hits theaters on November 18.

Stephanie Topacio Long

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Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…

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Warner Bros. Pictures has released 18 new character posters from The Secrets of Dumbledore. These are the major players in the war to come. But since Dumbledore (Jude Law) is restrained by a magical pact with Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen), he has to defer to his best student, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But as good as Newt is, he isn't Grindelwald's equal. That's why Newt has been assembling a team to stand against the evil wizard. Unfortunately, he has plenty of followers of his own, and they aren't shy about using dark magic against their enemies.

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Don’t let these 3 hidden March 2025 streaming TV shows fly under your radar

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Every month, there's always one, maybe two, new shows that get all the attention. Sometimes, it's a popular show returning with a new season. This March, many less high-profile shows are flying under the radar. You might have heard of these shows but weren't quite sure what they were about or even if they're worth watching.
We suspect that you'll be pleasantly surprised if you give any of these shows your time. Check out an episode or two, and it will likely lead to binging the whole thing. Two of the three series release all season one episodes at once, while the third will tease you with the first two episodes this month. What are these three hidden March 2025 streaming TV shows you shouldn't let fly under your radar? Have a look.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and best shows on Disney+.
Deli Boys (March 6)
Deli Boys | Official Trailer | Hulu
Already receiving rave reviews, Deli Boys is a hilarious comedy about two Pakistani American brothers, Mir (Asif Ali) and Raj (Saagar Shaikh), who discover that their father was much more than a convenience store owner. When he suddenly passes, the brothers discover that dear Dad was actually embroiled in a life of crime.
If they don’t want to lose everything their family has worked for, they need to take over as the new crime bosses. But this is not a life they know anything about. As one of the most anticipated Hulu shows of 2025, Deli Boys’ first season delights thanks to its clever one-liners, talented cast, and bizarre storylines.
Stream Deli Boys on Hulu.
The Residence (March 20)
The Residence | Official Trailer | Netflix
The best way to describe The Residence is that it's like Knives Out in the White House with a gender-swapped Benoit Blanc-like character. The lead is Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba), an equally eccentric yet brilliant detective who consults with the local police. When the White House chief usher, A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito in a role that was originally supposed to be played by the late Andre Braugher), winds up dead, she’s called in to investigate. A state dinner is going on downstairs with officials from Australia, and Cupp orders that no one leave until she questions all 140+ people present.
The Residence is plenty of fun, mixing the usual whodunit formula with Shonda Rhimes' unique creative flair that will keep you guessing from one episode, even a moment, to the next. Aduba is perfect as Cupp, who combines an oddball personality — including repeatedly birdwatching in the middle of a murder case — with a subtle sarcasm. Through it all, however, she throws down astute observations that teach everyone she knows exactly what she’s doing, even if it doesn’t look like it. If you love the whodunit genre, The Residence won’t disappoint.

Stream The Residence on Netflix.
The Studio (March 26)
The Studio — Official Trailer | Apple TV+
One of Apple TV+’s quieter new show releases is The Studio, which has gotten overwhelmingly positive reception in early reviews. Seth Rogen created and stars in this comedy as Matt Remick, a man who longs to run a Hollywood studio. When he finally realizes this dream, however, the reality of the complicated balancing act of managing budgets, changing economic and societal times, corporate demands, and eccentric actors sinks in.
The Studio has an incredible cast that includes Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Kathryn Hahn. There's also a rotating selection of guest stars playing exaggerated versions of themselves to add to the Hollywood feel, from Zac Efron to Martin Scorsese. Early reviews already give The Studio a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, with Slant Magazine’s Ross McIndoe singling out the dark and “more than a little pointed” comedy as the highlight.