It is inevitable that the "Harry Potter" spinoff film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" will draw comparisons from the eight "Harry Potter" films, but it is a comparison that producers welcome warmly.
Four different directors helmed all eight of the films, with David Yates handling the last four films - "Order of the Phoenix," "Half Blood Prince," "Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2." Yates was eventually chosen to helm "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" as well, but producer said that the tone of the spinoff will be more similar to the "Harry Potter" film directed by Mike Newell, which is "Goblet of Fire."
"'Fantastic Beasts' got the charm of the fourth," Heyman told Entertainment Weekly. "It's like the fourth. Mike talked about the fourth as being like an Indian musical - and it's not that, but it's got the humor of of that film. It has the romantic comedy, that fish-out-of-water humor, that very human, natural character comedy. And now David is always looking for truthful, human moments, it's never just a gag, he's grounding (the storytelling moments) in a reality. ('Beasts) is very funny, it's got a big heart, and there's darkness too."
In "Goblet of Fire," Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione gave moviegoers tons of laughs when they struggled to get dates for the Yuletide ball and had their first brush with romance.
As for the dark aspect, Voldemort was hatching a devious plan that would make him regain his powers, and it was the first encounter students had with death. When Harry and fellow Triwizard champion Cedric Diggory travelled through the trophy portkey, they thought they were going back to Hogwarts and be declared as champions. Instead, they were surprised to find themselves in a cemetery - specifically where Tom Riddle Sr. was put to rest. Diggory was instantly killed using the Avada Kedavra curse while Harry was tortured and his blood was used in the potion that would strengthen Voldemort.
Earlier, Heyman commented on the "generosity of the directors" since they all shared their knowledge with one another. Chris Columbus directed the first two films, then he spent time with Alfonso Cuaron, who directed the third one. Cuaron then spent time with Newell, who directed the fourth, and Newell extended that same courtesy to Yates.
What made them stick around with Yates, he said, was that he was able to handle the edgy, emotional, and political content of the last four films.
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" will be released on November 18, 2016.
