Eddie Redmayne, J.K. Rowling, Katherine Waterson celebrate at NYC premiere of 'Fantastic Beasts'

NEW YORK, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenwriter J.K. Rowling joined the magical movie's stars at its New York premiere Thursday night.

Among those photographed on the red carpet at Lincoln Center were Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston and Zoe Kravitz.

Scheduled to open in theaters on Nov. 18, Beasts is the first installment in a planned, five-part series. The films will serve as prequels to Rowling's beloved Harry Potter franchise.

The movies follow the adventures of Redmayne's magizoologist Newt Scamander and the various wizards and no-majs -- American muggles -- he meets along the way.

The first movie is set in 1920s New York. It co-stars Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Jon Voight, Colin Farrell and Ezra Miller.