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AUGUST 14, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Business Wire
Warner Bros. has just announced
that the release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back and will be released on July 17, 2009 instead of this coming November. This news has been confirmed to HPANA by Warner Bros.
Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. stated:
Our reasons for shifting Half-Blood Prince to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers’ strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films—changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move Half-Blood Prince to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer.
Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, confirmed:
The release date change does not alter the production schedule for this or future Harry Potter films. Post-production on Half-Blood Prince was completed on time, and the studio’s release plans for the two-part Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will not be affected by this change. We know Harry Potter fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the final chapters unfold onscreen. In fact, the good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between Half-Blood Prince and the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
While producer David Heyman offered:
When Jeff Robinov explained the rationale behind moving the release date of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to July 2009, it was immediately apparent that this offered us the potential to reach the widest possible audience. I am extremely proud of this latest film and of the work of David Yates and our incomparable cast; I believe we have developed and pushed the series further still. We are all looking forward to sharing it with Harry Potter fans around the world, even if we have to wait just a bit longer.
UPDATE: The official Potter site has been updated with the new release date.
UPDATE II: We don't normally do this, but fan reaction to this news is understandably heated (to put it mildly) and we thought it would be fun to post links to petitions that will try to convince WB to rethink their decision. (No offense, but it will have no effect whatsoever except to make them feel bad -- momentarily -- before going back to counting money --Ed., Cheeser.) Feel free to send links to any petitions you find!
UPDATE III: IMAX was apparently caught by surprise. They've just released a very short statement concerning the change:
Reflecting today's announcement that the release date of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has moved to July 2009, IMAX Corporation confirmed it is already exploring alternative titles for this year's holiday season and is confident it will secure a solid film for the IMAX(R) theatre network.
UPDATE IV: Hold on to your hats, folks. Studio head Alan Horn told the Associated Press today after the announcement:
"The picture is completely, absolutely, 100 percent on schedule, on time. There were no delays. I've seen the movie. It is fabulous. We would have been perfectly able to have it out in November."
UPDATE V: 16-year-old explodes due to delay of 'Harry Potter 6'
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Witch
Points: 660
HalfBloodMel says:
WHAT!!????!!!
no i cant be true , i mean they have allready a trailer and it says it comes in november. HOw could they do this!
this is very mean done, if they put a date decide wish and dont change it all the time!!!!*mad face*.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 10:24 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1576
ALLI8 says:
OH MY GOOOOODNESSS!! I was reading comments about the pictures and wondering why everyone was so angry and what they were talking about but NOW i get it.
I can not believe this!! They're going to have to change the trailer and everything because when i went to the movies the other day it's still saying november. This is absolutly insane. I can't believe them. I don't understand why they have to change the date.
Something about they will get more money if it comes out later?? That is rediculous. They will still make the same amount of money. Probably less now.
alli8
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 10:34 AM EST
Witch
Points: 996
Puddy says:
I heard it yesterday and I'm still in denial. It seems so official now tho... now that they're updating websites adn trailers and all that :( . They're going to have to reconsider and change it back ... they just have to!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 10:36 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 314
steffy_loves_ron says:
It is digusting! Money rules this world! Would JK Rowling have decided to release her last book one year later because of "a wider audience" of readers? WB are making of Harry Potter a phenomenom based on money and nothing else. They're taking advantages over it's popularity! It was inevitable but it sucks anyway...I am disapointed by them. Money is one thing. Art is another!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 10:40 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 28
Snapes Gal says:
Harry Potter fans are a force to be reckoned with. A boycott of all Warner Brothers movies until Half-Blood Prince is released would hit them where it hurts. In the bank account.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 11:17 AM EST
Witch
Points: 741
Emily Radcliffe says:
This has made me so angry. I'm not sure WB have really justified this very well...does no-one else think its a little fishy that they are prepared to sit on a finished film for 11 months?!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 11:48 AM EST
Student
Points: 292
Melina White says:
That is BULL CRAP!!! They act like that are not going to be making millions as it is if they release it in november! Now they've gotten greedy, thats all it is greed, they want to make more money they dont care about all the fans that were so excited for the release in november, but now we have to wait another 9 MONTHS! REDICULUS! I hope they have fun spening a bunch of money reworking everything that said it was to be released this fall.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:07 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2157
HogwartsWitch says:
This is totally about the almightly dollar and I think it's a shame - they now the cash machine that is Harry Potter will end with the release of the 2nd part of the 7th movie they want to suck out every little penny they can and the heck with the fans. What a shame they think so little of us except in terms of dollars.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:07 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 387
diva_alix says:
Oh brother, do they seriously think they're going to make less money?? The Harry Potter movies are ALWAYS going to do well, and people LOVE to see movies during the holiday season. This is extremely lame.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:15 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 67
Poly Wonka says:
I can't even post a comment I'm so ANGERY! Well, this explains why we had to wait so long for the Teaser Trailer.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:19 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 67
Poly Wonka says:
After reading all the comments I've decided I'm not seeing and if we do have a strike good luck!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:29 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 496
Duran Vegrandis says:
You like how right after they announce their 11-month delay, they throw new pictures at us like it's going to calm the storm? No deal, WB. We're not stupid.
I also noticed that in trying to reach a "wider audience", i.e., grab more cash, they completely neglected to inform IMAX, who was probably relying heavily on Half-Blood Prince for it's holiday income. They're probably sh*tting bricks right now--I wouldn't doubt their projected annual income just plummeted at least 25% because of this. WB, how thoughtless of you. That's grounds for a lawsuit.
Obviously, WB has been planning this for awhile. It explains why they didn't give us a decent trailer until 3 months before the announced release date, when typically they release it 6 months in advance. Should we have seen this coming? Probably. But WB is still a money monger.
And of course, we, the audience, can now look forward to increased ticket prices, because theaters typically raise the ticket prices in anticipation of the summer movie season. Thanks a lot, WB.
Now that WB has nearly a whole year before Half-Blood Prince is released, they better spend that time wisely. Those special effects had better be so amazing they knock people on their backs. The writing had better be phenomenal and downright Oscar-worthy. And while you're at it, start saving up your money for the next year WB, because millions of ticked off HP fans will probably forgo seeing any other WB release because of the stunt you just pulled. I haven't seen Dark Knight in theaters yet, and now, I don't think I want to.
And finally, since HBP has been moved to the summer, it better kick Twilight's a$$ in box office receipts. That was your only real competition. If you fail in doing THAT, then you can wallow in your shame that you lost to the sparkling vampires even after pushing back the HP movie for the sole purpose of getting more money.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:55 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2316
loopy looney says:
This is ridiculous, this was the movie that I was looking forward to this fall!!! I cannot believe they would do this to so many fans that are already planning on midnight releases and everything.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 1:28 PM EST
Squib
Points: 181
Smiler says:
what the hell is wrong with WB. This is HarrY Potter, its gonna make bucket loads of cash wheneve it comes out.
"The good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between Half-Blood Prince and the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."
Pull the other one, it has little wings on it. I have a funny feeling they'll change their minds again soon if any of them read a forum on just one HP website....
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 1:28 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1268
Power of Love says:
The petitions are gaining vast amounts of signatures! Maybe along with that, if we all email and call the WB directly about this, we can accomplish something. Let the WB know we want the release on November 21.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 3:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2137
True*R/Hr*Love says:
Ok seriously, what do they actually think they're doing? How is there any need to postpone the film by 8 MONTHS, at all?
I really really can't believe this, oooh and isn't it lovely how they phrased it:
[i]We agreed the best strategy was to move Half-Blood Prince to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer.[/]
Because that ooobviously doesn't mean 'Oh we just want more money (:'
Ughh soo irritating.
I'm obviously not very happy about this.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 3:55 PM EST
Squib
Points: 173
R2krw says:
Well I guess WB deserves that flaming bag of poo after all. Booo ya! I'm sorry but this sucks royally. Of course they don't care because they've seen the dang movie. Oh snap..is that my bludger?
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 4:03 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 28
Snapes Gal says:
Well, think about it. You can't have Daniel out there promoting the new film while he's also appearing nude on the NY stage. Bad PR for the Potter franchise.
And just maybe they are releasing the film to coinside with the opening of the Universal Studios "World of Harry Potter"
It would insure a big take for them. Go see the film and then straight into the park.
Anyway, they won't get another cent of my money until July. Quess I'll be skipping Dark Knight as much as I wanted to see it.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 4:15 PM EST
Squib
Points: 112
HorcruxLord says:
Thats so not fair! We've been waiting for so long already and now almost a year again! Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 4:21 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1482
*SmoraDora* says:
UGH. my birthday was then...god. i wanted my birthday to be harry potter full-filled.
obnoxious.
I'm angry now..
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 4:51 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 63
Meganc93 says:
I really just want to shoot someone.
Its one thing if your doing it to make the movie better.
but they're doing it to make more money.
dooouuucccchhhheee bbbaaaggggssss.
I dont think Ive ever been so mad in my entire life.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:04 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2349
PHOENIX5625 says:
NO! How can you do something like this? I can understand if the post production of the movie had taken longer then expected and if had to be delayed, But the movie was done ON TIME. It feels we been waiting so long for it already but Warner Bros said November there is no reason it can't be November! They are going to make a lot of money no matter when it is released.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:14 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 581
Dara_255 says:
C'mon people! You need to sign those petitions!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:30 PM EST
The Quibbler Poet
Points: 7054
.:Wicked T:. says:
Are you kidding I have to wait another year for the movie to come out why I mean they just started promotion this is just not cool.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 6:03 PM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2875
Chogiiiirl says:
Wow, I had planned to watch the movie for my birthday in November, but I guess I won't now! Pitiful.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 6:27 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 786
Rudeboy2025 says:
It's all about the Benjamins. Those greedy...you know what I wanted to say right there.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 6:45 PM EST
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