The first possible pieces of plot for
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them have been revealed during Wednesday evening's on-location filming at St. George's Hall in Liverpool, which may have shown protesters wanting to eradicate wizards and witches.
The video, released hours previously, featured characters chanting something, and now it has been revealed what they were saying:
Quote:
We want a second Salem!
This refers to the famous Salem Witch Trials of Massachusetts in the late 1690s, which actually coincided to the same time the
International Statute of Secrecy was implemented by the International Confederation of Wizards at the end of the 17th century.
The
Harry Potter fan who released the photo above on Reddit noted that they did spot star Eddie Redmayne dressed as Newt Scamander and apparently the only character around without a top hat or bowler on.
There were two separate signs held up by Muggles, presumably, that said
NO WITCHCRAFT IN AMERICA and
THERE ARE WITCHES AMONG US. There were political posters up for a character named 'Shaw Senior,' as well as an insignia for NSPS (no word yet on what that may stand for) with an image below it of two hands snapping a wand, above flames, emblazoned on a red background. More about the scene and Newt's actions can be read here:
Quote:
Eddie is the only hatless individual, and is walking around the crowd at the top of the stairs, and one of the top hat officials with his wife (not part of the rabble/crowd) is climbing the stairs to the courthouse, and knocks into him. Eddie seemed to drop something, maybe a pamphlet for propaganda, picks it up and looks at it thoughtfully.
The scene overall gives some plot perspective for
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, in that the muggles in 1920s New York City were openly persecuting witches and wizards in the public, despite the Statute of Secrecy, and Newt and those he meets are somehow involved, including his (future) wife Porpentina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston).
If anyone is around the St. George's Hall area this week, please do pay attention especially for night scenes, do take notes, and do email some photos right here!