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Author Topic: Harry Potter VI moved to July 2009 Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-14-2008 07:05 PM                        "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was originally a Thanksgiving release this year but has been moved to July 17, 2009. News article Partial clip from the article: The announcement was made by Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. In making the announcement, Mr. Horn 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.'" [ 08-15-2008, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: Mike Blakesley ]  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 08-14-2008 07:28 PM                        This is huge. Probably means we're going to see a good deal of release date shifting in the next few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Quantum of Solace move into the November 21 slot.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 08-14-2008 07:50 PM                     That comment about it having to do with the writers' strike is bunkam. There's a problem with it I'd say.  |  IP: Logged Jeremy Weigel Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1062 From: Edmond, OK, USA Registered: Mar 2007 posted 08-14-2008 08:54 PM                     I'd have to agree with John. Moving it back 8 months with post production already finished doesn't make much business sense. So they're going to let what is suppose to be a blockbuster "sit" on the shelf for 8 months? Not likely...  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 08-14-2008 09:09 PM                     This puts a hole in the IMAX schedule, too. I believe they had planned to have part of the film in 3-D as they did with Superman Returns. They had planned to open MADAGASCAR 2 only on the Imax Jr. digital screens for a short run until HP opened...now they might just make it a wider release. [ 08-15-2008, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: Mark Lensenmayer ]  |  IP: Logged Jonathan M. Crist Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 531 From: Hershey, PA, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 08-14-2008 10:33 PM                     I would guess it has more to do with the success of "Dark Night" than anything else. Having proven that the mid-July release date can be a chart-topper, Warners is surely hoping to repeat that sucess next summer.  |  IP: Logged Justin Hamaker Film God Posts: 2253 From: Lakeport, CA USA Registered: Jan 2004 posted 08-14-2008 11:16 PM                        WB didn't need Dark Knight to prove that a mid July release can be huge. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix did pretty well opening in mid July and they had a pretty good gross with Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004.  |  IP: Logged Hugh McCullough Expert Film Handler Posts: 147 From: Old Coulsdon, Surrey, UK Registered: Jan 2003 posted 08-15-2008 06:52 AM                        Over here, in the UK, 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' has been chosen as the film for the Royal Film performance, and World Premiere, on November 17th. Not certain what member of the Royal Family is attending as yet. It goes on general release November 17th.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-15-2008 09:31 AM                        quote: Hugh McCullough It goes on general release November 17th. Well, not any more, apparently. There's no way they're going to debut it in the UK and then hold it for 8 months for everywhere else. If they did that they might as well go straight to DVD, because everyone will have seen it via bootlegs in that amount of time. quote: Mark Lensenmayer They had planned to open MADAGASCAR 2 only on the digital screens for a short run until HP opened...now they might just make it a wider release. A Madagascar film in a digital-only release? That doesn't sound likely, Potter or no Potter.  |  IP: Logged Paul Linfesty Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1383 From: Bakersfield, CA, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 08-15-2008 09:33 AM                     I think Superman 2 opened many months in Britain before debuting in the U.S. in the summer of 81.  |  IP: Logged Lyle Romer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1400 From: Davie, FL, USA Registered: May 2002 posted 08-15-2008 10:05 AM                     quote: Mike Blakesley A Madagascar film in a digital-only release? That doesn't sound likely, Potter or no Potter. I think he meant the digital IMIN (I mean IMAX) screens.  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 08-15-2008 02:24 PM                     Lyle, you are correct...I was referring to the Imax Jr. Digital units they are now putting in. I have corrected the post above.  |  IP: Logged Michael Brown Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1522 From: Bradford, England Registered: May 2001 posted 08-15-2008 02:42 PM                     Below is is the BBC news version of the story. The way the artical is written suggest that Warners are holding it over till June simply because they don't have anything else to bring out next summer. Here ------------------------------------------------------ Potter film release date delayed Order of the Phoenix was the top-grossing UK film in 2007 The release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back by eight months, to July 2009. The sixth instalment of the teenage wizard's adventures was supposed to have its Royal premiere on 17 November. Alan Horn, president of studio Warner Bros, said the decision was taken to guarantee the studio a major summer blockbuster in 2009. He also blamed the Hollywood writers' strike, which hit the film industry hard earlier this year. Mr Horn said the strike, which ended in February, had "impacted the readiness of scripts for other films." Fantasy books He said: "The picture is completely, absolutely, 100% 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." The move will mean a two-year delay between the film adaptations of books five and six in JK Rowling's fantasy series. But it will shorten fans' wait between Half-Blood Prince and the final two instalments of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which are being shot simultaneously next year. It is thought actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson - who is celebrating getting straight As in her A Levels in English literature, geography and art - will reprise their roles. The release date for part one is tentatively set for November 2010. Royal performance Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince had been chosen for this year's Royal Film Performance, on 17 November. Last year's performance was cancelled amid controversy about the chosen movie, Brick Lane. It was the first time the annual gala - held in aid of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) - had been scrapped since 1958. CTBF chief executive Peter Hore told BBC News he was "very disappointed" with the decision to shelve the Potter premiere. But he was hopeful a Royal premiere would still go ahead this year. He said: "The Royal Film Performance has been around for a long time and has a tradition of showcasing the best films. We are confident we will be able to do that again this year." Mr Hore added that he expected to make an announcement shortly. ------------------------------------------------------  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-15-2008 04:36 PM                        There's probably some grain of truth in all of this. They probably don't need the money this year thanks to Dark Knight, but the WILL need the money next year. Another huge hit this year might cost them too much in taxes...or something. We'll probably never know the exact reasons.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 08-15-2008 08:02 PM                     Maybe the faux-3D stuff is taking longer to produce. This delay reminds me of the six month delay of Titanic. That movie was pushed from a summer 1997 to December 1997 release, in part to give effects crews more time to improve certain shots. I can't remember if it was Fox or Paramount that gave the production an 11th hour infusion of cash to get the movie finished. Warner Bros. will likely pay quite a lot in interest payments on this Harry Potter installment for that half year delay. However, they can probably use that to offset some of the big profits they're getting from The Dark Knight.  |  IP: Logged

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