Eddie Redmayne Nervous About ‘Harry Potter’ Prequel? Actor Admits ‘Stakes Are High’

Eddie Redmayne may be making headlines for his role as a transgender woman in The Danish Girl, but fans are also eager to hear how the actor is performing on the set of the Harry Potter prequel.

In an interview with E! News during the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of The Danish Girl, Redmayne opens up about the pressures of living up to the massively successful Harry Potter films in regard to the prequel, admitting that he’s hoping it lives up to the hype.

“The stakes are high because they were so good before. You don’t want to screw it up. It’s a complete privilege for me. I love J.K. Rowling. I love the Harry Potter films [and] books so for me this is just the most wondrous gift, really.”

While Redmayne may be feeling the pressure to live up to fan’s expectations for the film, Danielle Radcliffe admits that he’s looking forward to the latest installments in the Harry Potter franchise.

“I’m excited to see them, especially with Eddie,” Radcliffe admits. “He’s awesome. I think it’ll be fantastic. I’m intrigued to see what they’re going to do.”

While reports previously suggested that Radcliffe may make a special appearance in future Harry Potter flicks, the actor shut down the rumors by explaining that it would be “distracting.”

“I feel that would be a very distracting thing so I’m not looking to pop up in them,” Radcliffe concludes.

The news comes months after Redmayne was confirmed to star in the film’s first spin-off, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, where Redmayne will portray “magizoologist” Newt Scamander, who pens a Hogwarts School textbook about the various creatures that he encounters in the wizarding world.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, via HNGN, Redmayne admits, “Like many people, I read those books, I watched those films, and became completely intoxicated by J.K. Rowling’s world. The idea of getting to tiptoe into it felt truly exciting. I hope it’s going to be quite a ride.”

While the actor is excited to gush over the film franchise, Redmayne admits he can say “absolutely nothing” in regard to details of the upcoming film.

Currently, the cast of the prequel includes Katherine Waterston as Scamander’s wife, Tina; Alison Sudol as Tina’s sister, Queenie; Dan Fogler; Ezra Miller; Samantha Morton; Jenn Murray; Faith Wood-Blagrove; and Colin Farrell.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is set to hit theaters on November 18, 2016.

What do you think we can expect from the Harry Potter prequel?

[Image Credit: Getty Images / Michael Buckner]