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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'
Reader Comments (289)
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Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8909
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Wow! That is a real disappointment. No christmas present for this year. I hope this does not overly delay the other films. Bummer.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:22 PM EST
Witch
Points: 674
Marauder Addict says:
That really sucks! I guess if it makes them more money and whatever... but I bet they're going to have a bunch of upset fans! I'm disappointed, but as long as I get to see it then it's okay.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:24 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 444
Dark_Soul says:
What the hell Warner Bros? Greedy to the max... this is unfair.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:33 PM EST
Mistress of Legilimency
Points: 3808
Apollonia says:
NOOOOO! *calms down* This is so disappointing. I was so looking forward to this coming November. This means we have to wait almost a year to see it. *pouts*
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:33 PM EST
Witch
Points: 921
expectogirl says:
Is this a joke? Are you kidding me????!!!!????
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:33 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 529
Dementors Shadow says:
WHAT?
I'm so pissed. I don't care about the writers strike or how much money will be made by moving it. Just release it already!!
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:35 PM EST
Student
Points: 201
full_blood_princess08 says:
this has to be a joke. i mean i CANNOT wait another year!!
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:39 PM EST
Witch
Points: 995
Puddy says:
WHAT?!!! ARE THEY CRAZY? Is this really about stupid advertizing and capitalistic gain?! AAAAAAAAAAAARG'
What was the point in getting everyone's hopes up if we have to wait a whole nother year before the movie comes out?!
IF THEY'VE GOT IT READY WHY CAN'T THEY JUST GIVE IT TO US? IT'LL MAKE TONS OF BLOCKBUSTER LISTS ANYWAY!
I DEMAND WARNER BROS RECONSIDER!!!
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:41 PM EST
Points: 224
sdhfskhdfskhd says:
WHAT?!?!?!?!
shut the eff - ity UP
oh my god this is not even fair!
okay whos gunna start the Petition?!
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:43 PM EST
Head Auror
Points: 6993
Nimbus Girl says:
What?! No! Now we have to wait almost a year to see it? :-( Come on!
Really, they have to be joking!
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:44 PM EST
rockstar
Points: 2857
Harry_J Potter says:
I haven't been this angry in ages. That's almost a full year! No one is going to be happy about this except greedy Warner Bros.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:44 PM EST
Witch
Points: 645
Fat lady in pink dress says:
WHAT!!?? What an outrage... I cannot believe they are doing this! There were only 98 days left...
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:45 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1255
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
Whoa, whoa, whoa. This isn't right. I didn't even believe the headline when I first saw it. That really makes me angry. I was so looking forward to this... it better not push back the release of the seventh movie(s) as well. I can't believe this! A full eight-month difference!
So if they just want to make the most money by releasing it in the summer, Are they going to do the same thing with the two halves of DH? Does that mean we're going to have to wait a year, instead of six months, between the two parts? I sincerely hope not.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:46 PM EST
rockstar
Points: 2857
Harry_J Potter says:
"he 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."
that's the biggest load of bull I've ever heard in my life. Stop trying to make it sound like you're doing it for the fans.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:46 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2852
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Noo!!! This is not good news at all! I dont want to wait almost a year for the movie. This sucks! The movie would bring in a lot of money anyway, why did they have to move it?! Now I wont be abe to see it because in July 2009 I'll be in Poland, Europe and the movie wont be out there because it would still need to be translated! This is really unfair. Hopefully a lot of people protest and it gets put back to the original date or at least to May.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:48 PM EST
Witch
Points: 707
RoseZeller says:
WHAT THE HELL?!!!!
Now I have to wait another year for the damn movie to come out?!! What the hell is the difference between now and summer? It would still make money since everyone wants to see it! I am sooooo P.O.ed!!!
Perhaps they don't want to compete with Twilight (which is another I can't wait to see)
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:49 PM EST
Witch
Points: 575
frannie says:
What the flipping Hell?!!
So we have to wait another 8 months for a film that's already been made and has been in post-production for the past 3 months? That blows.
This film was one of, if not the film I've been looking forward to seeing this year. They are taking the p.
The only reason why they are doing this is so they can have 3 years in a row of high profits rather than having to wait 2 years after HBP for their next big hit.
Big, Big mistake if you ask me.
I have a feeling they'll be retracting their statements by the end of the week.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:50 PM EST
Witch
Points: 995
Puddy says:
I agree with JeFleurDeLaCour - let's start a petition of some sort!
If the writers can hold a strike, so can fans!
Warner Bros might change it back if they get 1000s of angry Harry Potter fans on their backs by tomorrow morning...
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:53 PM EST
Student
Points: 282
Hermione8907 says:
What!?!?!? How could they do that. Noo!! I can't wait any longer. I was very excited for this November.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:56 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1485
Flawed Hero says:
tell me this is a joke, someone- anyone! It makes no sense.
Its already in post production, what writing is even involved?? Its madness. And in the tiny chance this is true, what about the game and stuff?? Will all those be pushed back too or something? Its just rubbish and I refuse to believe it.
If its true I'm gonna explode!
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 4:59 PM EST
Witch
Points: 693
Marietta Edgecombe says:
What the hell?! Please tell me this is some bad joke, that Ashton is gonna jump out somewhere.
If they want to shift to summer then release it now! I don't want to wait another year. This is complete bs!
I'm losing my faith in the people working on the Harry Potter movies.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 5:03 PM EST
Squib
Points: 196
EmmaCMF says:
That completely and utterly sucks. If they were doing it for artistic reasons, i.e. they wanted to spend more time on post-production to ensure that they release the best film possible, then fair enough. But it's so very obviously for financial reasons, and that makes me angry.
Thing is, they have us over a barrel. We all want to see the film, and there's not much we can do about it.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 5:04 PM EST
Witch
Points: 940
witch_pirate says:
NOOO! That's horrible! Thats 11 months instead of 3!
...well at least it will be a smaller gap inbetween HBP and DH.....
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 5:04 PM EST
Student
Points: 250
big_chips says:
Awww man. i really wanted to see it this coming november too. what a bummer. =(
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 5:05 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 851
Mr. Unknown says:
WHAT THE IS THIS. Why I can't wait that long.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 5:05 PM EST
Squib
Points: 187
Sprockets says:
Sorry Warner Bros, but that was very stupid.
Very disappointing.
Posted Aug 14, 2008 at 5:05 PM EST
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