There is a new report online today regarding the possibility of David Yates returning to direct Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Children's author Lois Lowry has updated her blog with an entry regarding Mr. Yates who she had hoped would be directing the film version of her book "The Giver," but has now declined in order to helm movie seven in the Harry Potter series. Lois Lowry writes:
"David Yates, the director currently working on the next Harry Potter film, was supposed to begin The Giver film next. But he has just decided he wants to do the final Harry Potter first, thereby postponing The Giver by several years.
As reported previously, David Yates is working on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince which is currently in production in London, England, and has been one of the many names previously rumored to direct the final Harry Potter movie. Readers will also recall that we recently heard from producers David Barron and David Heyman who said that a few directors were under consideration for the job, and that we would hear more on the status of a director and a possibility of a two- part Deathly Hallows film soon. As exciting as this news is, please consider this a rumor until we receive confirmation from Warner Brothers.
Thanks very much Dani!
I think Yates is a good director but I did not like how he closed the Order of the Phoenix. I thought it was abrupt and meaningless. Other than that I enjoyed the film immensely. I hope that on the next two films he keeps that in mind.
Caracticus, I agree. However, I also wouldn’t mind a 3 hour long verson.
As for Yates, I’ll be content is this is true. It makes sense to finish out the series. It would also explain why Dan Radcliffe adimantly said Spielberg would not direct the final film. My only problem with OotP was the editing decisions. Hopefully that will improve in HBP. If they choose to extend DH, we shouldn’t run into that problem (hopefully).
Cuaron or bust!! Yates made Ootp boring IMO, it was the most bland HP movie so far. It could have been SO much more amazing, and should have been 30 minutes longer without question. Because it was his debut feature he was bullied into making a shorter film to get more screenings in (this is my opinion). Directors with a bigger sway like Cuaron and Newell could do more what they liked.
Posted by performingmonkey on February 19, 2008, 07:35 PM
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I really didn’t find anything directorially astounding about OotP. While it was an appreciable improvement over the previous films., I attribute that much more to Michael Goldenberg than to Yates. Nothing wrong with Yates, nor particularly amazing about Goldenberg come to that. I think anyone who didn’t decide to replace perfectly good sections of dialogue or minor plot points with creations of their own aspiring mind would be an improvement over Steve Kloves. With him slated for the last two movies, I’ve essentially given up hope on the franchise.
Minor quibbles regarding the headline:
If we’re going to use quotations around the title (an altogether questionable practice) we should at least move the question mark to outside of those. The novel isn’t, after all titled with a question.
“They should get a new director. Even if Yates did a good job with #5, they should keep the series fresh!”
I agree.
I like getting new directors. Each time the series has a new take and each film feels very much to be their own work, rather than just another iteration of the same thing. It’s very refreshing. I was pleased when Yates came on to do 6, but 7 is so different I think a new directorial voice should take it on. Why oh why couldn’t it have been del Toro?
oh, and FGK, your quibble is with the AP style guide, not with Leaky. Not that I take issue with you quibbling with the AP. As someone with an MA in English, I’m right with you. But good luck getting them to listen. ;-)
NO,no please!!I hope this rumor proves to be mistaken….come on guys!!Who wants this hugely important film to be handed over to someone with almost zero experience??OotP was ok for a film but undenyably slow with abrupt sequences.And I am sure he doesn’t have that many ideas about the way he will approach the series.All his ideas will be used up by the time he takes DH into his hands.WB should be looking for a director with experience,able not only to make a faithful adaptation but also to create an original artistic movie….what new ideas will David Yates have to offer after all these years?I can guess why they are doing this,it is surely more economical for WB to hire this kind of a director.But WB can also summon the bigest names in the industry,hasn’t the Harry Potter series earned this?I am seriously upset about this!!I had faith in WB and Heymann to make DH the best of all the hp films….I guess they are just not taking the film as seriously as I expected them to take it.
I vote for a 4 hour Deathly Hallows film…