“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” continues to introduce Harry Potter fans to new characters and more interesting creatures, but it’s a familiar face from the first one that has a special place in actor Eddie Redmayne’s heart.
During a Q&A at an early fan screening at Universal Studios Hollywood on Saturday, Redmayne, who plays Newt Scamander in the film, was asked which of the beasts in the films are his favorite.
“I mean, my favorite beast and I’m seeing some of my favorite t-shirts over here which are basically Niffler t-shirts with jewels hanging out of a pouch,” Redmayne said. “In this film, there are baby Nifflers and they are the most adorable, beautiful, frustrating things. They are heavenly and nightmarish in equal measure.”
The Nifflers, which had their first on-screen appearance in 2016’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” are described on Pottermore as “long-snouted, burrowing creatures native to Britain with a penchant for anything shiny.”
Niffers’ magical abilities include finding treasure, but Pottermore says they “can be destructive and should not be kept domestically.”
Their destructive and “nightmarish” nature, however, hasn’t stopped audiences from falling in love with the fluffy creatures. As Redmayne noted, they were so beloved that baby Nifflers were added for the second installment.
Much like in “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Newt uses the Nifflers strategically to track down important items; the Niffler also plays a pivotal role toward the end of the film that is bound to have implications for the next film.
The Nifflers have seemingly gotten so important in fact that Redmayne and fellow castmate Jude Law joked the fictional creature got entitled on set.
“Didn’t you say, Eddie, that we nearly didn’t get the Niffler back? He was really demanding,” Law said.
“Yeah the Niffler was obviously the break out from the first movie so his trailer’s massive, he like got lawyers, agents and a publicist,” Redmayne responded in jest.