In The News
David Yates Talks Army of the Dead for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" Film
HBP FilmIn a new interview recorded around the time of the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Voices from Krypton has a new audio interview with director David Yates who talks details and more about the upcoming sixth Harry Potter film. Noting that screenwriter Steven Kloves has turned in a “terrific and fun” draft that will lend to a very “character-driven” film, David Yates discusses things like character relationships as well as the final “wonderful” sequence at the end of the film. In particular, Mr. Yates specifically mentions the “epic” cave scene and the army of the dead sequence that will take place in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, as well as the relationship between mentor Albus Dumbledore and student Harry Potter.
In this riveting interview (runs approx 6:48) HBP director David Yates says the film will swing between drama and moments of horror to those of delicate character relationship moments. He also mentions the humor in the film, and the “unrequited feelings” between Harry and Ginny that will be incorporated, as well as the deeping and developing relationship between Ron and Hermione which he describes as “delightful and funny and tender and true.” To listen to this audio interview, click here.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is currently in production and will be released in theaters November 21, 2008.
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Just finished listening to the audio track… YAYY I’M SO EXCITED FOR THIS MOVIE!!!

This is encouraging news. What I liked best about OOTP was the emotional engagement of it – it got it right, especially between Harry and Sirius. Since David Yates oversaw that, I have higher hopes that he can make that happen in HBP.

I really hope that they don’t make a huge deal out of the lake inferi. It’s a very small part in the epic climax—they see them in the lake, they see a hand jump out, and then they attack for a moment until Dumbledore starts a ring of fire. That’s it.
What I really don’t want to see is this fierce 5-minute long struggle of Harry trying to beat them off, and then Dumbledore and Harry fleeing for their life pursued by this dramatic fleet of dead bodies.
What’s more important to that scene is Dumbledore—his pain while drinking the potion, his last triumph over it, still remaining strong enough to protect Harry…etc. It’s about the potion and the locket, not the inferi.

I am impressed! This is the first real “news”. I think they chose the right director. He’s got it all! (And NO, they don’t “get it onnn) Be serious…! This is going to be a great film! YYYAAAAAYYYY David!

The man certainly loves to talk.
But, hey, fantastic interview. I can’t wait to start hearing or seeing more production pieces!

burningpumpkins, Harry does spend a lot of the novel pining for Ginny, even though ultimately they do get together. I think the “monster in the chest” stuff is what Yates plans on developing.
I’m really looking forward to this one!

Very exciting interview, sounds like the film is on track to be another great Potter film.

Mrs McClaggan: I know I know… I just think that they’re going to overdo it. Everyone knows the relationship that is MOST developed is that of Ron/Hermione. I just hope they don’t make Harry/Ginny SOO SOSSOOSOSOS much more of a thing, and make R/Hr simply humor and fluff. However, that H/G kiss better be DAYMNN good.

Amen, Nikki! I too hope they don’t make the encounter with inferi some epic scene a la dragon chase scene in GoF. You are absolutely right that they need to focus on what happens to Dumbledore as he drinks the potion and how hard it is for Harry to watch it. And after the emotionalism in OotP, I have confidence they’ll get it right. Not that OotP was perfect (it was just too short and needed to be fleshed out), but the overall feeling was great. Hope it continues in HBP!

this sounds promising… dare I get super excited? I cant wait for the cave scene! it makes me cry everytime I read it. its one of my absolute favorite scenes! i hope it will be as good as yates is making it all sound!!

Reading this gave me chilly bumps. It’s so weird to already be thinking about HBP for next year, you know?

They need to sort Dumbledore out! Why is he so incessantly aggressive?? He storms into scenes ranting and raving like an angry drunk… When does he ever shout or bark at people in the books?

Can someone direct me to where I’m supposed to be clicking to listen to the interview? I can get to the site, but I can’t find anything to listen to the interview. Thanks!

I kind of hate Yates because of the way he de-emphasized the “Snape’s worst memory” sequence in OOTP. Listening to this interview I didn’t hear the name “Snape” utter one time. Come on! He’s the title character of this book! I’m sure that Yates will give his story short shrift again, and I will be as dissappointed in this movie as I was in OOTP.

Sounds good, but I hope they don’t focus too much on funny parts of the film. They’d better make it really scary too (I would have no objection to a 15 rated film…. lol)

Indeed it sounds great !
Hope he’ll do a great finale ! The scene in the cave could be really fantastic but I hope they’ll really insist on Dumbledore last suffering.
The battle in Hogwarts musn’t be too epic in this movie. They have to keep the epic dimension for the battle at the end of the last film.

You will be disappointed? Awww, that’s a shame. You do not have my pity, already hating a movie before it comes out.
First of all, the Snape storyline in HBP was utterly minute: That added to the shock of the fact that it was him. Until Harry is chasing him down like a dog on the grounds of Hogwarts, you do not know that he is in fact the Prince.
Yates will do exactly what JK did and develop the Prince as possibly one of the marauders, only to make it known that it’s Snape.
Also do not judge this movie from OOTP entirely, as the script is from Kloves and Yates has changed gears entirely on the focus. He isn’t Columbus you know, who kept the exact same vision going into COS.

Snapes-Angel-23:
In case no one has answere your question: Go to the first part of the interview, scroll down to where it says “continue” That will take you to the “long version” Scroll down THERE, until you get to the “Click Here” (in red) That will take you to it. Click on and listen..well worth it. cheers! Gail

Agreed Doobah. Unfortunately, some people have a tendency to judge too quickly and they end up ruining the movie for themselves b/c they expect a crappy one. Eh, but what can you do? I’m very excited for this movie. I thoroughly enjoyed OOTP.

Sorry, comments are closed for this article.
Leaky Poll
Moving the HBP film to July 2009 is:
- Completely unforgivable33 (45%)
- Annoying, but I'll get over it27 (36%)
- Not something I care about.3 (4%)
- Cool; who wants to go to the movies in the winter anyway?1 (1%)
- Awesome! I get to save $10 until next year.3 (4%)
- Awesome! I get to save $10 because now I'm skipping this movie!4 (5%)
- I've made a Facebook group, started a protest, called my local councilman, staged a sit-in, started a boycott, and organized a million-fan march because we won't stand for the - wait, what was this about again?2 (2%)
Woohoo first post!
I don’t understand… ‘unrequited’? Don’t they (H/G) get it onnn?