Which J.K. Rowling screenplay introduced the film series about magizoologist Newt Scamander?

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them introduced the film series about magizoologist Newt Scamander.

Released in 2016, the film was written by J.K. Rowling and marked her screenwriting debut. It is set in the wizarding world but takes place decades before Harry Potter’s school years and begins in New York City in 1926.

Eddie Redmayne plays Newt Scamander, a British wizard and magizoologist whose suitcase contains magical creatures. The film expands a brief Hogwarts textbook reference into a separate cinematic story.

The title is shared with a companion book published under Rowling’s name in 2001. That earlier book is presented as a textbook, while the 2016 film uses the title for a narrative prequel series.