Fantastic Beasts actor Eddie Redmayne won't be the lead character in future films

Producer David Heyman suggests Newt Scamander will be sidelined in future outings

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the prequel spin-off to J.K. Rowling's beloved Harry Potter series, stars Eddie Redmayne in the lead role as magizoologist Newt Scamander.

With five films confirmed - all of which will be directed by David Yates - it's a sure bet that Redmayne will be reprising his role for several years to come.

However, it's been suggested that he won't be the focus of all future outings.

Elaborating, he continued: "I've heard that Dumbledore has been confirmed, too. And Credence and Grindelwald. I think they will be the main players."

Introducing a character only to sideline them in future instalments is an intriguing prospect, even if Fantastic Beasts does make an attempt to set up plot strands that'll undoubtedly have the microscope placed upon them in sequels to come.

Ahead of the film's release, which is in cinemas now, Redmayne called for better treatment of Hufflepuff's in a tongue-in-cheek PSA.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them boasts an ensemble cast including Katharine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell, Ron Perlman, Carmen Ejogo and, in a brief cameo as Dumbledore's lover-turned-adversary Grindelwald, Johnny Depp.

You can read our review here.