At a fan event for the upcoming film in London on Thursday, the author revealed that the budding franchise will now stretch to five films. The first, starring Eddie Redmayne, will open Nov. 18.

The announcement, which Warner Bros. confirmed, immediately fueled conjecture that the “Harry Potter” prequel, set decades before Potter’s birth, could lead right up to the young wizard.

The second “Fantastic Beasts” is already in pre-production, and due in theaters November 2018.