Fantastic Beasts: JK Rowling announces there will be five films in Harry Potter spin-off series

'I've now done the plotting properly, so we're pretty sure it's going to be five movies,' says Ms Rowling

JK Rowling has announced there will be a total of five films in her new Harry Potter spin-off movie series.

While sitting on a panel about the new series, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them', the author confirmed she was "pretty sure" there were going to be five, and later confirmed the number on Twitter.

Ms Rowling said: "We always knew it was going to be more than one movie. We knew that from the start, and a trilogy is a kind of placeholder.

"I've now done the plotting properly, so we're pretty sure it's going to be five movies."

She later told fans on Twitter there would definitely be five, saying: "Not 'at least' Five. Five movies."

Ms Rowling also confirmed she would be the screenwriter of the movie series, adding that she was currently "putting the finishing touches" on the second film.

The news, which began trending on Twitter shortly after the author announced it, provoked a wave of excitement among Harry Potter fans on social media.

The Fantastic Beasts film franchise wrote on Twitter: "J.K. Rowling has just confirmed the magic continues in a total of FIVE MOVIES! We can't wait!"

The first film in the series will be released on 18 November this year. It takes place in 1920s New York, and focuses on the American magical community and the adventures of a wizard named Newt Scamander.

It is said to feature a cameo by a young Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grendelwald — characters from the original Harry Potter movies.