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DECEMBER 27, 2005 at 2:35 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
Editor's Note: This was a commentary (opinion piece) published in 2005. The official release date for book 7 has now been announced (and I was only two weeks off!). You can pre-order it now as well.
Harry Potter 7 will be released July 7, 2007.
At least, it should be. While this date has no doubt already crossed the minds of many fans, JK Rowling's recent revelation that "2006 will be the year" she writes the final book lends itself entirely to this theory.
That, and it is the biggest stroke of magical marketing luck so far this century. The book simply can't not be released on 07/07/07. It's too perfect.
It just so happens that July 7, 2007 is a Saturday. It just so happens that every Potter book since Goblet of Fire has been released on a Saturday (presumably to allow kids and their parents to attend those midnight release parties without undue hardship). It just so happens that July 7 falls right in the traditional June-July release window during which the other books were released. (Finally, while less relevant but still interesting, 12:00 a.m. on Saturday will be 7 p.m. Friday in the U.S., where the most Potter books have been sold to date. Fans on the east coast, already lined up to buy their copies, will see book 7 released across the pond at 7 p.m. local time - what a coincidence.)
Rowling has hinted at the significance of the number 7
, most recently in August when her official site's Wizard of the Month was an arithmancer who discovered the number's magical properties. In Half-Blood Prince, it was revealed that Lord Voldemort had made seven horcruxes (himself included). Quidditch teams have seven players each. Gryffindor Tower's entrance is on the seventh floor at Hogwarts. The list goes on and on.
I can see it now: the biggest marketing campaign in the history of publishing, with one very short, very simple, very effective message: Book 7. 07/07/07. Woe betide the marketing departments at Bloomsbury and Scholastic if they don't clinch what's obviously the most perfect storm of circumstance, desire, product and marketing the world may ever know.
Not that the book needs to be released on any specific date, though. As one of the planet's most successful authors, Rowling probably has the luxury of turning in a manuscript no sooner than when she sees fit. Fans will line up when told to. And it's up to her editors and publishers to polish, prepare and print it. One last consideration, from a business standpoint, is to ask if it makes sense to bump up against the next movie's release (and Order of the Phoenix will be in theatres July 13, 2007). Unfortunately, July 7 will also be the two-year anniversary of the London terrorist bombings (thanks to a reader for pointing that out).
No true fan would begrudge Jo for taking her time. But I must wonder if she also feels this coincidental "aligning of the fates" is something special, something magical, something to take advantage of. As a fan, I can only hope she does.
I also hope Jo doesn't find this speculation absurdly presumptuous. I hope she realizes it's our duty to poke and prod and ask and beg and whine and plead. How would that be any different from the last five years?
We certainly wouldn't want to disappoint her.
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Head Girl
Points: 475
Vortex7 says:
It's a long way until 07/07/07 to get our hands on the seventh book, but it would be most definitely cool to have it released that day! I'd buy it any day, but having it on such a magical day would give the readers a feeling of actually being part of the magical world!
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 7:35 PM EST
Witch
Points: 580
KarateKid says:
I have a feeling it could be released then too... I hope it does <3
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 7:39 PM EST
Squib
Points: 192
Ovi-wan says:
Anything is possible, this would be the icing on the cake. It doesnt REALLY matter to me wether it comes out on that date, all I care about is reading the last book (or so we think)and getting it over with. This trukky has been a masterpiece.
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 7:42 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1872
Potter Luver says:
That would be really cool if she released it then! Must try typing it... 07/07/07! Hahaha that fun! 07/07/07/... 07/07/07... Hehe I love it!
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 8:10 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1090
Octavian Petronius says:
That is a great theory and will most likely be the release date. It just makes so much sense. But, then again, it might be a bad day just because it makes too much sense.
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 8:20 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1781
Professor Lou says:
I think it would be a great marketing ploy with all sorts of possibilities, but at the same time, not only do I not want to wait that long, I do enjoy the movies. I'm afraid that if Book 7 isn't released until 7/7/07, then it takes them a while to do the movie...well our beloved cast will have aged, possibly to the point where they no longer seem to properly fit into their roles. Also, we've already had to endure the tragic loss of one Dumbledore. Life is so uncertain. I most certainly am not trying to make any of Trelawny's typical gloom & doom predictions, but there's always that possibility. It would certainly seem tragic if we got all the way to the last movie & the cast was not the same. This particularly scares me since there was already rumor circulating about this when they were getting ready to gear up for OOTP.
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 8:34 PM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5292
GodricsGirl says:
I mentioned that in the post I made on the news topic about her site update. I agree completely with Cheeser. I think that will be the release date. I also think she has had that as a target date for the 7th book since the release of the first in 1997. Seven books in ten years. Wow.
The lady definitely knows what she's doing.
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 8:41 PM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
I doubt that it will be released on July 7th, 2007. It is too much of a coincidence, but it is possible. It is on a saturday, every book was released on a saturday, and well, 7 is a magical number. All of these reasons give me reason to believe that it will not be released on that day. I do have reason to believe that it will be released in 2007. All we know is that she does have the ending done, so she is one chapter away from finishing it.
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 9:28 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2682
hplovergurl says:
That would be the best! I really want to know when it will be done, I wish it would be next year! 2007 seems so far away, but I suppose it isn't all that far away... Hmmmm, well I hope we find out soon enough.
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 10:44 PM EST
Student
Points: 268
DreamSickle123 says:
Gee, I cannot wait till Book7 comes out!!! & I hate to wait; I'm so impatient when it comes to HP! hehe.. (i cant even wait till GoF comes out on dvd & i already saw it)that 7-7-07 release date is pretty cool though... wOw!..what about book seven's title?? hmm...
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 10:45 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1737
HermyG13 says:
I think it would be amazing if the book was released then! If it does, wouldn't it be incredible if J.K. Rowling had it all planned to come out like that?!
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 11:00 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1111
Phoenix_Patronus says:
It would be interesting if the book were to be released on that date. I would find it a coinscidence.
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 11:51 PM EST
Daughter of Dark Arts
Points: 2904
True Slytherin Princess says:
Book 7 released on 7/7/07.... I love that idea! ITS ALL 7s!!! But I really hate to think that we need to wait a year and half for the final book. Oh well, guess we will just have to wait and see!!
Posted Dec 29, 2005 at 11:54 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 16
ravenclawsrox says:
It would be cool if it came out on 7/7/07 but the wait would be killer. I hope she will let it be published earlyer (sp). I dont want to wait.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 12:09 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 435
Maximilian Ravenclaw says:
2007 is TOO long of a wait for me.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 1:03 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 16
jumpity says:
Book 7... on 07/07/07 that will be cool and very magical. but i cant wait for another year for the book...(well, actually i can wait a bit)
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 2:41 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2860
mad_eye muggle says:
Wicked cool!That would be a really cool coincidence.That the final HP book,which is book 7 is to be released on 7/7/07 is simply fate,that it was ment to be released on that very date.But to be honest i would really wanted it to released sooner.Can't wait till it's 2007.And 7 is a really luky number.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 4:05 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 427
photogenic peeves says:
I sure hope it is sooner than that I cant be stuck with six for that long,
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 4:07 AM EST
Cryptologist
Points: 3010
Veronica Smethley says:
I hope Bloomsbury reads this theory! JKR is not the one who decides the release dates, remember?
Insufferable Know-it-all: You need to ask that question in this thread.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 5:17 AM EST
Witch
Points: 808
Hogwarts babe says:
The final book is everything to all the fans. In my opinion, i don't think J.K Rowling should hurry the last book. It will be the most special book to her because it's her last harry potter book that she is writing so i don't think people should pressure her. I'm just hoping that ron and hermione get it together and harry dosen't die.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 9:15 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 348
mpk says:
Good...but it will be the very last book?
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 9:39 AM EST
Witch
Points: 687
amdorn says:
I wish I could plan my trip for the release now. At least I would have a date to count down to. And I am definitely going to take a trip for the next book release.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 9:48 AM EST
Witch
Points: 558
Padfoot Returns says:
Oh man that would be so cool!!!!!!!!!!! that's 4days before my birthday!
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 10:07 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 10
potter rox says:
[b] i really dont think i can wait that long, JRK, pleaze, pleaze, i am dying (not really) but still, i cannot wait, O MY G-D i really want to read it i love hp books! But that is a magical number....
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 10:29 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 41
Elenah says:
oh my God.I cant't wait longer.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 10:34 AM EST
Witch
Points: 541
ProfMM says:
Fun idea about the 07/07/07 release date. I doubt that the OoP release will interfere with the release of the book...I can't imagine that someone as smart as JKR & Bloomsbury didn't put down in writing that they have choice of release dates for books and that Warner Brothers has to adjust from there...besides, it's in the best interest of WB to get all of the books on the market as quickly as possible considering that they want to get the movies made before Dan, Emma and Rupert turn 30.
Posted Dec 30, 2005 at 10:37 AM EST
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