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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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Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1268
SiriusBlackComesBack says:
I'm completely bummed...the reason is to reach the widest audience possible? That's ridiculous. As if they don't make a killing with the HP movies as it is....
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 6:04 PM EST
Witch
Points: 803
FawkesRox says:
What the hackin' HELL?!?!?!?!?!!!!!
Oh that is it!!! First we get the dumb voice-over thingy and then we finally get a teaser and now this?! I officially hate WB!!!!!!!!
Ugh! now I have nothing besides the Tales of Beedle the Bard to look forward to this year!
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 6:06 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 630
Aberforth Puckle says:
"behind the first film". As I recall, the first film was released in November? I know thats a bit of an unfair comparison because there would be more interest in 1, but I'm disappointed
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 6:11 PM EST
Squib
Points: 151
FrSv says:
This sucks -_-' Lets break into WarnerBros HQ and steal the movie :@
*going to send a HOWLER*
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 6:12 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2855
HarriPotter says:
Can we get together a petition?...this sucks big fat corporate butt.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 6:17 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2334
SlytherinStarGazer says:
I can't believe that they would do that. First there was that AWFUL teaser which wasn't even a teaser it was a voice over that you couldn't even understand, and now they are pushing the release of the pretty much finished movie back almost an entire year!!...Seriously, I can't believe they would do that...that just plain sucks..
I agree with the MANY posters that we should all start a petition, I know I would sign it...cause that is an outrage! If we could manage 1500 - 2000 signatures perhaps WB would reconsider it's choice on the matter...and I really don't think getting that many signatures would be a problem..considering this is all for financial gain..
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 6:22 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 48
Secret192 says:
I am very disappointed with this. WB just wants to make a quick buck.
I am really pissed at WB for teasing us then saying 'well, you guys have to wait another year SO SORRY!' Lets hope to god Twilight's date doesn't get pushed back or I'll go crazier then I already am.
Warner Bro. is VERY stupid to have done this.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 6:40 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1608
~Harry's true love~ says:
That's 8 months of torture....great!
ARGH! Why do they do this to us. And right after all the happiness of it almost being here...pardon my...but that's just stupid. I'm going to go sulk now. :[
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:01 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1780
TheOtherMinister says:
Ok this is not april's fool day so all I can say is What the fack!!!!!????? I'm gonna kick something now....
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:02 PM EST
Celtic Epona
Points: 6699
Val-Halla says:
*Cries* Noooo...July 2009 ~ it's not fair!!
*Waits until next year*
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:03 PM EST
Celtic Epona
Points: 6699
Val-Halla says:
I mean, what the hell are they thinking...
I seriously want to scream and kick stuff right now.
Grrrr....
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:08 PM EST
Points: 4
Team AZKATRAZ says:
I'm part of the team working on Azkatraz (hp2009.org) and we announced tonight that we're going to include at least one movie showing in tandem with the con, so it'll be a terrific way to see the film in the company of hundreds of fans. Back in 2004, I worked with HPANA on POAIMAXNYC and then the next year on GOFIMAXINTL and they were fantastic fun, and this is going to be great, too! Even if it's a little later than anticipated...
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:15 PM EST
Points: 217
Theo Murpse says:
I call SHENANIGANS and we ought to BOYCOTT.
We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT. We ought to BOYCOTT.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 692
FizzingWhizbeez says:
Oh yeah, let's disappoint millions of people so we can put a little more cash in our pockets - really nice, WB!! :(
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 769
go-go-Gryffindor says:
Nooooo! As Snape would say, "How disappointing".
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:25 PM EST
Half-Blooded Fooch
Points: 2447
fooch48 says:
Well, that was a disappointment! A whole freaking year?!!!! WB is basically saying they want to make more money! At least we have Twilight for Nov.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:34 PM EST
Points: 1
witchy mom says:
I agree a petition would be great.
I emailed them directly through their website, that might work too. Also I plan to boycott the movie, this was going to be my older son's birthday event, their too pissed to even want to see it. Not to mention they & I weren't that impressed with Yates's interpretation of the last book he directed. This ties in so well with the fall and halloween, it was a holiday almost in itself.
We will boycott the July release, wait until DVD and then watch it on Netflix. I am so disgusted by thier greed I think I may boycott all their movie theatre releases.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:35 PM EST
Points: 1
witchy mom says:
Im4everawesome I am taking your advice, emails have been sent and thank you for the info.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:41 PM EST
Squib
Points: 105
nr2solace says:
I am so pissed at WB! They are doing this for their all consuming greed and fronting it with lame excuses. I've been posting the petition site and contacts everywhere I can. Thanks to surfster and The Oncoming Storm! We don't deserve their capitolistic garbage decision.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:47 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 316
*Ginny&Harry* says:
This means they have to make the film even better to make the fans happy ( as well they should)!
You can't just pospone it and make it cr/\p! That's unfair! I hope this doesn't mean the game has been too...that WOULD REALLY MAKE MY DAY!
*counts amount of day...*
*finds out it is 237 more days than previous*
Waiting 335 days....*curses*
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:48 PM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5292
GodricsGirl says:
I can't believe this!
Shocked.
Stunned.
Saddened.
Disappointed.
Angry.
I am so emotional right now. What about the game? I suppose that will be pushed back, too? Everything was set for this release date! I don't understand this at all. It was just written about for Fall releases in Entertainment Weekly!
Surely they will reconsider!
I could cry.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 7:53 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 12
LordPottermort says:
Postproduction of the movie is almost over. It doesn't make sense to push it back until July 2009. I hate you, WB!
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 8:01 PM EST
Heir of Gryffindor
Points: 5731
Gryffindor Lord says:
That has to be the dumbest thing WB has EVER done! I can't believe it! I was so looking forward to seeing that on my birthday! This sucks big time! Nice one WB!
- Kyle
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 8:10 PM EST
Witch
Points: 917
zxPurplezx says:
I say whenever HBP does come out, we don't see it. No one. I can wait until it's on netflix. Hell, I'll wait until they have that Harry Potter marathon on ABC.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 8:12 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 35
Xanthippe_Svanstrom says:
'Tent pole'? Sigh. I'm not sure whether I want to weep or vomit. I could understand a delay of a couple of months, say, releasing it on Valentine's Day, but July? Of 2009?
WB, you're going to have a mob of wickedly furious HP fans banging on your door with torches! Gosh, this is the first time I've ever considered mobbing.
Here's to the WB executives coming to their senses and backing up the date...
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 8:15 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2536
caroline81 says:
"changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of."
Well that is just hilarious; I mean, leave it to capitalistic goals to come up with that pile of rubbish. The bottom line: Warner Brothers is scrambling to make every last cent they can from this franchise, and they are scared to death to lose one teeny cent. Honestly, I expected more and I am very disappointed. Of course, this could all be a ploy to make sure we see the WORST film made in the franchise yet...because Order was nothing to write home about...
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 8:18 PM EST
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