<P> Principal photography commenced on 17 August 2015, at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden and was completed in January 2016 . Several scenes were also shot on location in London . After two months, the production moved to the Cunard Building and St George's Hall in Liverpool, which was transformed into 1920s New York City . Framestore in London produced the visual effects for the film . </P> <P> On 9 April 2016, it was announced that James Newton Howard would write and compose the film's score . On 24 October, Pottermore published an official first look at the film's main theme composed by Howard . The main theme incorporated John Williams' themes from earlier films, such as "Hedwig's Theme". The soundtrack was released by WaterTower Music on 18 November 2016 . </P> <P> Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them held its world premiere at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on 10 November 2016 . The film was released worldwide on 18 November 2016, in 2D, 3D and the new IMAX 4K Laser system . It would premiere one day earlier in a number of other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany and Italy, on 17 November . The film will be released in a total of 1,028 IMAX screens worldwide (388 screens in the United States and Canada, 347 screens in China, 26 screens in Japan and 267 screens in other countries). This marked the second time--after Doctor Strange--that a film secured a release in over 1,000 IMAX screens worldwide . </P> <P> On 4 November 2015, Entertainment Weekly released the first official publicity shots of the film, containing pictures of characters Newt, Tina, and Queenie, and production and filming being held in various sets designed to mirror 1920s New York City . On 10 December 2015, it was announced that an "announcement trailer" would be released five days later, on 15 December . Along with the one - minute trailer, a teaser poster was released . </P>

When was fantastic beasts and where to find them released