Entertainment Weekly reports that former Daily Show correspondent, 2 Dope Queens co-host, and certified J.K. Rowling bestie Jessica Williams has signed on for the sequel to Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. Williams, a long-time fan of the Harry Potter books, reported the news today via Twitter, complete with congratulations from Rowling herself. (Meanwhile, the two recently celebrated their shared birthday together, complete with tiaras.)
If you’ll pardon us getting obnoxiously dorky for a second here, Williams’ career is as ascendant at the moment as a rising thunderbird; she recently starred in her first film, The Incredible Jessica James, and lined up a starring role on a new Showtime series. (Not to mention the 2 Dope Queens specials she’ll be doing for HBO with podcasting partner Phoebe Robinson.) Now, Williams joins a cast that includes a returning Eddie Redmayne as magical zoologist Newt Scamander, along with Jude Law and Johnny Depp as a young Albus Dumbledore and his friend-turned-rival Grindelwald.
And, while we’re being nerds: EW also reports that Brontis Jodorowsky is joining the cast as Nicolas Flamel, the guy who created the Philospher’s/Sorceror’s Stone that caused so many problems in the first Harry Potter book.