Stars Turn Out for “Fantastic Beasts” Premiere in NYC

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The cast of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” attend Thursday night’s NYC premiere; ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The world premiere of JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them took place in New York City on Thursday, and it wasn’t hard to find Hollywood’s biggest stars walking the black carpet.

Actress Katherine Waterston, who co-stars with Eddie Redmayne in the Harry Potter spinoff, is poised to become a big star, but her dad, Law & Order‘s Sam Waterston, is already a household name. Dadtold ABC Radio that while he didn’t know how the film will stack up against the original Harry Potter series, he and his wife, Lynn, “couldn’t be more proud” to see their daughter, who plays a witch named Porpentina Goldstein, be part of the new franchise.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan isn’t in the film, but took his five children — four of which were dressed in Harry Potter hats, scarves and armed with magic wands. Gaffigan says they may not have been the best costumes for Thursday’s premiere, but Beasts posed a bit of challenge.

“It’s not Harry Potter,” he says, “so there’s some explanation there then again I know that, you know, that JK [Rowling] is like a genius so everything’s going to be all right.”

Jon Voight, who plays newspaper magnate Henrey Shaw, Sr, in the movie, is also an outspoken supporter of president-elect Donald Trump.  He had some comforting words for anyone not happy with Trump’s victory.

“Everybody’s got take it easy a little bit. I know they’re hurting,” said Voight.  “I was hurt in the same way when Mitt Romney lost. I know it hurts you deeply but take it easy, take a deep breath, give him a chance. He’s going to do a lot of good things and very quickly, too.” 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opens nationwide next Friday.

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