'Harry Potter' spinoff to turn into movie trilogy

If all goes well, "Harry Potter" spinoff "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" could be turn into a movie trilogy.

According to The New York Times, the book, published in 2001 and billed as one of Harry Potter's Hogwarts textbooks, will be adapted by Warner Bros into "three megamovies".

In an interview with the publication, Warner Bros' CEO Kevin Tsujihara confirmed that the stories, which are not prequels or sequels, would be set in New York about 70 years before Harry Potter, reports digitialspy.co.uk.

David Heyman will produce the films, about a "magizoologist" named Newt Scamander.

Rowling also praised Tsujihara, saying: "When I say he made 'Fantastic Beasts' happen, it isn't PR-speak, but the literal truth.

"We had one dinner, a follow-up telephone call, and then I got out the rough draft that I'd thought was going to be an interesting bit of memorabilia for my kids and started rewriting!"

She continued: "When Kevin got the top job, he brought a new energy, which rubbed off. He's a very engaging person, thoughtful and funny."

Rowling previously revealed that she penned the first screenplay draft of "Fantastic Beasts" in 12 days.