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David Yates on Half-Blood Prince: "the sex, drugs, and rock and roll" of the Potter books."

News
Posted by: Sue
December 11, 2007, 02:05 PM

With the release of the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD today here in North America, MTV has a new article previewing the next Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Several of the cast members are interviewed, as well as director David Yates who notes movie six is the sex, drugs, and rock and roll" of the Potter books. He continues: "It's the 'American Graffiti' for this set," Yates said. "I'm looking forward to developing the relationship between Ron and Hermione, and Ron and Lavender. There's a nice triangle there." Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter) also weighs in on the comedic elements of the romances in the movie when he says "If we pull [it] off [right], it should be the funniest of the films so far."

Other cast members are interviewed, including actress Evanna Lynch, who speaks about the new actor who will be portraying a young Lord Voldemort, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin ( real life nephew of actor Ralph Fiennes (Lord Voldemort). Evanna quips "I saw him, but to go up and say, 'Hi'? He's Voldemort!" she said. "But maybe I will. He has a quiet, dark side, so people don't know him much yet. He doesn't say much. I'm sure he's a lovely boy. But he does have that aura."

Finally, we get confirmation yet again that actress Katie Leung will return in "Half-Bood Prince" in her role as Cho Chang, and will begin filming in January. She also says she hopes she will be back for "Deathly Hallows." Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) also mentions the character of Cho, as she stated "I suppose our relationship lasts longer than Cho and Harry, but remember — at the end of [Book] Six, Harry and I can't be together," she said. "It'll be funny to do [the make-out scenes], but it's just a film! Hopefully people will just enjoy it and not get too jealous," she laughed.

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66 Comments

The laughing Man

How in the world is HBP the ‘sex, drugs, and rock n roll’ of the HP books? The ‘American Graffiti’? I don’t get that at all.

Posted by The laughing Man on December 11, 2007, 02:15 PM report to moderator
me, i and myself

will they post a video about this??

Posted by me, i and myself on December 11, 2007, 02:15 PM report to moderator
Mike88

This interview worries me a bit. The whole sex, drugs and rock n roll thing. It sounds as if Yates is focusing more on the romance in the books rather than Voldemort’s history which is what this books mainly about, Harry understanding Voldemort as a person. I hope thats not the case though.

Posted by Mike88 on December 11, 2007, 02:25 PM report to moderator
BellaSnape

I think that is a bit of a over statement, before Dan said that at the end of the movie it will get even darker than the fifth film ever was. besides we could be reading more into this than necessary we will just have to wait and see. Yes there are alot of funny parts to HBP but its not that histarical, besides look at the photos we have seen they look pretty gloomy and ominous- so the only funny parts may be between the trio and the love scenes.

Posted by BellaSnape on December 11, 2007, 02:26 PM report to moderator
Minimoon

Ahh, the stupidity of directors and their unbearably large egos.

Posted by Minimoon on December 11, 2007, 02:30 PM report to moderator
Steven

Ah, Harry Potter fans – attacking and insulting the production team before they’ve even seen the movie.

Posted by Steven on December 11, 2007, 02:42 PM report to moderator
lark

I think the media is focusing on the light-hearted aspect of this movie because it’s something different. Before all you would hear is “Oh yeah, the movies are getting darker blah blah blah” This is just something new so they’re jumping on it. The article itself mentions Harry’s relationship with Dumbledore is a focus point and Yates has done other interviews where he talks about Snape’s importance and the darker aspects. That will all still be there, guys. How can it not? I’m really hoping for a balanced movie and I think we’ll get it.

I think the romances will be fun to watch. For those that haven’t heard, the American DVD has a new sneak peek of HBP that explores that theme a little. There was actual footage of Harry/Ginny and it looked really amazing. They even showed Draco cursing Harry on the train! And yes, there was mention of horcruxes, too! Balance!

Posted by lark on December 11, 2007, 02:48 PM report to moderator
Picazo

I agree with all of you, i dont mind how funny they want to make the movie as long as they focus on the story, and i dont care how long the movie has to be as long as they fowllow the story line, i was really dissapointed with the 5th film so many stuff they cutted i am not going to front the movie was still good but i was like that it, and to be hones with you i saw the movie before i read the book and i notice that it was too short. so i just hope this guy Yates knows what he is doing.

Posted by Picazo on December 11, 2007, 02:56 PM report to moderator
Picazo

Yeah i forgot to add i dont know where he is getting this Sex, Drugs stuff from but he need to choose his words wise.

Posted by Picazo on December 11, 2007, 02:58 PM report to moderator
marillawhite

well at least he has more backing to say that then when alfonso cuaron said the same thing about prisoner of azkaban.

yeah the book is dark but barely any of the darkness happens to the students during the school year- so fun it is!!

Posted by marillawhite on December 11, 2007, 03:06 PM report to moderator
Jason

Ahh, the stupidity of user Minimoon and his/her enormous misunderstanding of what book 6 is about.

Posted by Jason on December 11, 2007, 03:13 PM report to moderator
Jeannine

Well . if you’ve read the book, there are drugs[albeit of a different nature than usually ment by that term] and sex [between a lot of the characters[we just don’t see it in the book it is emplyed] and as for the Rock and Roll---well I hope the film does.I think it will when completed. Yates is correct—-when all the components of the book are broken down, it is “American Grefitti” ,only a bit more mild. And Yates didn’t write the script Steve Kloves did,Yates has to create a good cohesived film from it.I don’t think we will be dissappointed.

Posted by Jeannine on December 11, 2007, 03:15 PM report to moderator
MamaWeasley

I’m not one for dark films, but this series has intrigued me. Partly, is for the subtle humor that is in the film – I mean, hey, these are teenagers we’re talking about. There’s got to be some twisted humor in there, since that’s how the teen years are – twisted, full of turmoil, but yet fun and exciting. I’m sure Yates knows what he is doing, and is trying to pump up the fans a bit and maybe try to appeal to others that have not been in to the films as well. I can’t wait!!!!!

Posted by MamaWeasley on December 11, 2007, 03:17 PM report to moderator
Jessie

I love Evanna.

Posted by Jessie on December 11, 2007, 03:18 PM report to moderator
Coty

I think that the rock and roll part refers to the love relationships that are mentioned in the book, and the drugs may be the potions and poisons included in it. I just hope it’s a good movie… I didn’t like OOTP a lot… mostly because of the amount of things they didn’t include and some others that didn’t fit in or even existed. As some of you already said… I want to see a balance between fun parts and really important parts… also Quidditch will be great. They should follow the books a bit more. Greetings from Argentina!!

Posted by Coty on December 11, 2007, 03:20 PM report to moderator
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