20 Essential Movie Performances That Will Define 2016
7. Eddie Redmayne - Newt Scamander (Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them)
Release Date: November 18
The Role: Newt Scamander, a weirdo wizard and employee of the British Ministry of Magic, who arrives at the Magical Congress of the United States of America in 1926, and accidentally lets a host of creatures loose from his magical briefcase, who run rampant across New York City. Newt must then attempt to bring the situation under control as all hell breaks loose.
Why It'll Define 2016: Because Eddie Redmayne will essentially become the new face of the Harry Potter-verse, considering that Warner Bros. have already banked on Fantastic Beasts becoming a trilogy in the very least.
Redmayne is well-liked by fans, critics and awards bodies alike, so this should be another crowd-pleasing feather in his cap, and bring him by far his hugest movie audience to date. Even if the movie has its wonky moments (though it shouldn't, with J.K. Rowling herself writing the screenplay), it's hard to imagine Eddie going full Jupiter Ascending and screwing this one up.