Hang on everyone, there is a new rumor tonight regarding famous directors and a possible two part Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film. The Daily Mail is reporting tonight that crews currently working on “Half-Blood Prince” have been told the final Harry Potter film “will be released in two halves.” The article then points out while the financial benefit would be significant (“it could mean a £500million bonus in ticket sales”) the paper reports this purported move is artistic, citing an unnamed source who says:
“There’s so much to fit that the view is the last movie should be in two halves. There is a huge battle when Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, takes on Voldemort that needs to be done really well.”
The article then goes on to cite that Warner Bros, which has still not formally announced a director for the final film, is considering some big name directors for the final movie, including legendary Oscar winning director Steven Spielberg. Quotage: At Warner Bros, who are rumoured to be thinking of Oscars and a big-name director such as Steven Spielberg for the final film, a spokesman said: “People are discussing all possibilities.”
Readers will remember, and as cited by J.K. Rowling on her website, Steven Spielberg had considered directing the first Harry Potter film, but declined. As we have reported previously as well, other names have surfaced in regards to directing “Deathly Hallows” including Alfonso Cuaron, David Yates, Chris Columbus, and most recently Guillermo Del Toro. As exciting as all of this sounds, please keep this one very much in the rumor category for the time being. We are trying to verify this, and will update with more when we can.
I think this would be fine, on both counts. First, there is no way they could make a single film that’s even three and a half hours long; doing it in two parts would allow for more than 5 hours total which preserves more of the book. If you really like the book and all of the sub-plots (and most fans have been unhappy that those have been cut in previous films), this could be the best solution.
Finding a place to end the first film would not be hard, and there is plenty of precedent for divided stories: remember the end of the Empire Strikes Back? Yes, you would have to wait a while longer for the conclusion. Do you really want it all to be finished so quickly? This would allow for a truly epic, hour-long Battle of Hogwarts sequence, a fitting culmination for the whole series.
Spielberg’s early films were, I think, not very good and not very deep. But have you seen the battle sequences in Saving Private Ryan, or the tense and dramatic emotional tone in Schindler’s List and Munich? I think he could do justice to the epic nature of the final book. It’s not guaranteed; he does have a tendency to fall back on the “Hollywood Spectacular” style. But he’s shown he can also do serious films.
One movie would be better in my humble opinion, but I do think there is too much story in DH to put in one film. And this is different from GOF and OOTP, because allmost everything in DH is important.
Oh well, if it happens, it just means more to look forward to for us.
I’m just a bit concernd about spielberg as director. He’s a great director, but he might be a bit too american for such a british story. Considering he wanted Haley Joel Osmond as Harry Potter (barf!). He should have very contricted freedom.
Cuaron/del Toro – YES!!!! Although I would also not mind Yates, I’m one of the ones who loved what he did with the characters in OotP, especially after Goblet . . . as for the length of the movie: whatever it takes to make it what it deserves to be! 4 hours or 2 parts, I’d go for either!
This is exciting! I can’t believe some people see this as bad news! A two-part DH film (2 or so hours long each) is a much better idea that one three-hour film, and I’m sure Warner Bros wuld cut it to a two-hour film, as they have done with OotP. So, yeah, the two-part thing is a good move, IMO (of course, if the rumours are true).
As for Spielberg….YES! Of course yes! I do not doubt that man for one second, although his films have mostly been un-HP, I’m trust him enough to turn his style around. I mean, come on, at least he’ll do it in a way that makes us cry over ALL the deaths, just like in the book. He’s a brilliant director. And, of course, having him means the return of John Williams, the man who gave us the unforgettable PoA music. So yeah, if this rumour is true, then I’m all for it!
Oh, and the thing about the first film, well, no wonder he was kicked out, BUT after six movies, I’m sure he’s got a fairly good idea about the tone of the films, and, with the producers supervising, he won’t get carried away. I’m sure. Hey, if it isn’t Peter Jackson, might as well be Spielberg.
Crosby, thank u for responding to my opinion i gave myself a good hard slap and got out of my own perspective. lol thanxs 4 everything and MAYBE JUST MAYBE it wont be a horrible trainwreck that will cause me to go crazy =) but thanxs hopefully u will read this….
OMG I hope it’s true. Can I just say I am REALLY surprised that people on here don’t want two parts. It’s like ARE YOU SERIOUS. It’s the right thing to do. WB owes it to us fans to do the final movie right.
People on the IMDB want this to happen so bad they talk about it ALL THE TIME and are going to press WB to make it happen. 2010 will be so good. They will probably release Part 1 in June/July and Part 2 towards the end of the year. Remember filming and editing will be complete as they shoot it all at the same time. There are no problems for this to happen.
All this “It needs to go out with a bang” talk, WTF are you talking about IT TOTALLY WILL. If they end part one of high then it will leave the audience begging for more. I’m thinking maybe when they get caught and go to Malfoy manner or after Harry buries Dobby. I’m just guessing.
Quite frankly I don’t care what all the “movie” potter fans think or the under 12 years old, these movies are made for the HARRY POTTER fans like us. The ones who read the books over & over and who log on to HP site’s because they can’t get enough. Little kids shouldn’t even be going to these movies anymore as they aren’t suitable for them. If your kid can’t sit through a 3-4hr movie then that’s your problem. Don’t ruin our fun.
And just think what’s even better is that we will get a 4 hr plus DVD with it all together plus hopefully amazing special features. HOW FREAKING AWESOME WILL THAT BE.
I’m going to pray that this happens and I hope others do too.
PS I agree – NO to Spielberg. I love him but this movie is just not for him. At present my money is on Yates but Del Toro would be cool.
That would be awesome.
I really hope Speliberg DOES NOT direct Deathly Hallows. He may be a great director, but he’s plans for Philosophers stone were not great at all.
I dont know about the rest of you but im prepared to sit in the cinemas for even 5hours. But only because it is Harry Potter.
But i really hope that we wont have to wait a whole year for the second half. It would be good if they filmed the whole thing (even though it would take way longer) and then release them a few moths apart.
And it would be great if they made the movie exactly like the book. Then nothing would get missed out, not like Order of the Pheonix, they missed a tone out on that.
And i think it would be good if they split it when harry jumped in the water to recieve the sword, and finish it just before ron came to save him :P
Thats practically half way through the book.
I am confused, actually. Even if I’d love to see a 2-part film with the first film running at 120 minutes and the second one at about 130-140 minutes, I don’t know if it’ll be worked out…Spielberg is OK. I mean, Deathly Hallows NEED the BEST EPIC DIRECTOR EVER. But at the same time, it needs DARKNESS and MYSTERY and TENSION. Don’t know if Spielberg is good at ALL of these. Two directors, perhaps? What about Yates,Cuaron and Spielberg directing it?LOL. Yates would be terrific for the mystery and the politics, Cuaron for the darkness and the landscapes and Spielberg for the epic battles and the tension. I’d love that…Now, about the two parts….I don’t think I’ll have a problem, I’d love this actually! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 released in June/July 2010 and Part 2 in November/December 2010. BUT, Part 1 needs to be EXTRA awesome in order to let lots to watch it and take GOOD reviews. The second one will be ALL about ANSWERS to our QUESTIONS and massive battle sequences. Now, there is a strange thing going on…The first part won’t be particularly impressive…
If we divide the book in the middle, the first part would be “The Dark Lord Ascending-The Silver Doe” and the second part “Xenophilius Lovegood-Nineteen Years Later” There’s a bad ending for the first film and a bad beginning for the second one. I don’t know how they’ll work this out. Even if the first film ends at Malfoy Mansion (it would be great), the rest of the film would be 90-100 minutes…BUT they could be begin the second part with Voldemort punishing the DEs of the Manor. That would be great…I still don’t know how they’ll work on this…
Now, about the battles…we have:
1.The Seven Potters battle sequence in the air (I guess it will be 5 min. tops if it’s only ONE film but 15 minutes if it’s a two-part film totally…I also think they will not only use landscapes but also the city of London for a bombastic flight battle sequence.)
2.After the Wedding (Here, in the book we have a brief attack of DEs and then the attack of the two DEs in the cafeteria. They could actually make the wedding battle a lot longer with OotP members fighting DEs…it’s not a big battle but it’s intense)
3.The Ministry of Magic Battle (that’s awesome. Not only we have all these haunting Dementors but also the Death Eaters hunting the trio-I’d love to see the trio not having the Polyjuice Potion influence from the Umbridge/Dementors scene to make it better. And the Atrium in OotP film was AWESOME so it would be nice)
4.The Silver Doe sequence (it’s not a battle but it is adventurous. The silver doe in the middle of the snowy forest and the pond and the whole sequence with the sword would be a really beautiful scene and a dark one)
5.Bathilda/Nagini attack in Godric’s Hollow (it’s a scary/intense scene with Voldemort appearing later and Harry and Hermione escaping from death…)
6.DEs attack in Lovegood’s house (a brief action scene with the trio exploding the whole house…it will be intense, for sure)
7.Malfoy Manor (that’s awesome. Not a battle but INTENSE. The capture, the torturing of Hermione, the fast paced battle, Wormtail’s Death, Dobby’s death…wow.)
8.Gringotts break-in battle (that will be awesome too. The tunnels, the waterfall, the intense scene in the vault, the flight with the blind dragon…nice)
9.Hogsmeade scene (a nice touch ,too. The dark village, the attack of DEs, the Dementors…it will be breathtaking)
10.Severus Snape VS McGonagall and Flitwick (cool too! It’s brief but it can be longer and even more impressive)
11.The Fiendfyre Sequence (ooh…I cannot wait for this one! The fire creatures, the destruction of the lost objects maze…Crabbe’s death…awesome)
12.The First Battle of Hogwarts (ooh, this HAS to be LOOOONG. 15-20 minutes…the whole battle…in the castle, in the grounds, next to the forest, next to the lake, next to the whomping willow…Death Eaters, Dementors, Spiders, Greyback…MASSIVE)
13.Elder Wand/Shrieking Shack/Prince’s Tale- more story-driven part even if it’s intense and sad…It’ll give emotion in the middle of the battle…
14.The Forest Again/King’s Cross—-it nees everything…Harry seeing the survivors of the battle, meeting Neville, going to the forest, crying, the spirits of the dead, the dementors, the camp of Voldemort in the heart of the forest…Harry’s death…the scene with Dumbledore in the whilte-lit misty place…oh, the best part of the film for sure
15.The Second Battle of Hogwarts—that will be AWESOOOOOOME. Centaurs, Thestrals, Buckbeak,House Elves, Students,Professors, the Order, Parents, Aurors…all against Death Eaters,Spiders,Giants and Dementors…the great finale with Bellatrix VS Molly,Hermione,Ginny,Luna and Voldemort VS Harry…omg…)
So, these are the action parts. I really NEED help…I mean how could they split them in two parts without cutting too much and making abrupt endings?
Well, I’d rather take two 2½ hour movies than one 7 hour-blast.
It would give DH the respect and the value that it deserves.
You saw OotP and how badly it was edited. You want the same thing for DH? I certainly don’t.
Although I wouldn’t have minded them doing this for any other film, deathly hallows wouldn’t work because the 1st half of it was rubbish compared to the amazingness of the 2nd half, so it would be a bit weird.
It could work both, IMO. A two part movie or one longer movie. I personally would sit throught 3 1/2 hours even without intermission. :-). I guess I did it for LOTR.
The big pro of a two part movie would be that there is a chance they let Ron have his shining moments. With Kloves as scriptwriter (if he does DH) these are likely the first to be cut.
IF they decide for a two part movie (and yes, of course that’s mainly a means to milk the audience for more money, WB is no charity enterprise but set on profit LoL), then I hope they will film it back to back, so that there is no visible difference in the age of the actors, AND they’ll release it within one or two months, if that’s techinically possible. I would not want to wait a year or two for the second half of DH.
About Spielberg, he is a great director, so why not. If he does the story and the characters justice.
Even if Steven doesnt do it. I HOPE ITS 2 PARTS! It is the only way to do the book justice, and it shows they are committed to a fuller story!
If the movies are 2 hours each that would 4 hours total! Thats and hour and a half more than ussual!