Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them director David Yates promised the upcoming film would be “more grown-up” than Harry Potter.

The 52-year-old directed the final four Harry Potter films and has turned his hand to the new trilogy from JK Rowling about magizoologist Newt Scamander, who threatens to expose the wizarding world when he accidentally releases a briefcase of dangerous magical creatures in New York City in 1926.

Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemEddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Warner Bros)

Speaking at the premiere of his new film The Legend Of Tarzan, he opened up about the hotly-anticipated screenwriting debut from author Rowling.

He said: “Fantastic Beasts is a continuation of that world that Jo created. It’s a whole set of new characters. It’s a little bit more grown-up than Potter but it’s equally as magical.”

Author JK Rowling's books comforted a dying fanFantastic Beasts in JK Rowling’s screenwriting debut (Dan Hallman/Invision)

He would not be drawn on what exactly fans could expect, but David said the film would still be relevant to today despite its 1920s setting.

He said: “It deals with themes that resonate with us now in our current world which is what I love about Jo, she’s not afraid to explore quite interesting themes that mean something to us in this magical universe and that’ll be evident in the first and second films.”

David Yates at the Legend of Tarzan premiere (Matt Crossick/PA)David Yates at the Legend of Tarzan premiere (Matt Crossick/PA)

It will star Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne in the lead role as Scamander, with a stellar cast including Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton and Jon Voight.

Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them is released in UK cinemas in November 18.