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!
Please no….
He absolutely butchered OotP.
If he’s doing it, why don’t they just get somebody who does 30 second commercials on T.V. Or do the whole 7 book series as a 1/2 hour sit com.
I sure hope not, the fifth one wasn’t that great to be honest. And about this nonsense about NOT changing anything, you obviously have no idea of the art of cinema, film is just different than book, and themes must be presented differently, I mean I found that the previous films were just simply adaptations, not “works of art” or visionary/cinematic achievements, with maybe some good directors like Alfonso, but were not given enough creative freedom. I mean look at the film Beowulf, the changes it made from the book were crucial to the effect of the film. Although Beowulf is much older and much more vague than Harry Potter, Directors NEED vision, not just adaptive ability. I’ve only seen the 5th film once (in theatres), but from what I remember of I really didn’t like it, I mean I liked that it was darker, but the pacing was strange, the changes from the book didn’t seem to do anything, and it felt almost childish and postmodern, I think Guillermo would do the best job, but Alfonso would be good as well, although I really think they should get a brand new director to do it (as in different from the previous ones) I was not really impressed by any of the films, so pedestrian! Gilliam would do a good job, a wierd and strange one, but good, although his creative talent would be severely limited by the bureacratic hollywood producers.
Well, crap. I really really really hope this isn’t true. Don’t get me wrong, I like Yates just fine and thought he did a decent enough job with OotP, but I think it would get really stale if he did 3 movies in a row. After CC doing the first 2 movies, I like that they’ve been switching it up each movie. I was a bit disappointed that Yates was coming back to do HBP but I thought hey, what the hell, let him have his fun. But DH too, now? Please no!!! I want the final movie to get a fresh director or, in my wildest dreams, CUARON! :D
On another note, The Giver is one of my favourite books ever and I am thrilled/nervous to hear that it will be made into a film. I think David Yates would do lovely work with it (the source material seems suited to his sensibilities) and he should go for it :)
Just as I thought, Yates believe’s he is going to direct 7. I can understand the arguement that he directed the last two, he may aswell finish the series. Also I did like OotP, but, I really dislike Yates attitude to certain plot points like the Horcrux in the Black house. He even wanted to cut Kreacher out, it wasn’t till Jo pointed out to him that he is important in 7, then he put him back in. Also Yates strikes me as the type of director who doesn’t want to go over 2 hours.
As much as I’m pulling for a few other directors, I’m really fine with Yates directing if Warner is willing to do two films, or simply do a Return of the King and make a three-and-a-half long hour film.
From what I have heard is being cut from movie 6 and all the other changes being made to this movie, I think that having this hack direct the last movie would be a huge, and I do mean HUGE mistake. He has no feeling or heart for the books at all. I really feeling now like we have been betrayed by both WB and JK for allowing this idiot to direct anything after the mess he made of #5. I am very, very sad about this news.
I find this distressing. Yates took one of my favorites of the series and made by far the worst of the series. Ootp ws a horrible film and leaves a whole in my DVD collection because I refuse to spend money on it.
I am on the fence about this. OoTP was my favorite book before DH and is still tied. I have up and down days watching it, I get annoyed at how much was left out and how choppy it is, but I do think Yates got the best performances out of the actors. I think he will do a good job with HBP (my least favorite of the books, I know I am in the minority on that one!), but I just don’t know about DH.
One of the reasons I think he will be good for HBP is because I see it as pretty easy to condense, so I am not worried about the length of the film too much. He gave a pretty revealing interview during OoTP filming in which he stated flat out that he did not believe ANY movie needed to be over 2 hours long. That worried me for OoTP, for good reason as it turned out, as that needed at least another 1/2 hour, and terrifies me for DH. It could possibly be good news for those who want a two part movie, as we might get a bit more from two 2-hour movies than one 2-3 hour movie, but the fact that he goes into movie making with that preconceived notion of overall length is just worrying. HP cannot be condensed that way without losing valuable and important material.
As far as the “freshness” factor, I am in the minority there, as well. I would have preferred one great director for the whole franchise because of the lack of continuity in the films. One cohesive vision, as Jo had for the books, would have served better, IMO. It may be nitpicky, but even little things like the difference in the way the dementors look from POA versus OoTP (MUCH better in POA, I don’t know why they changed them, they just look silly and completely fake in OoTP) are irritating. If they couldn’t have Colin Creevey, they should have just written around him and preserved his character for a later film when he might have been available instead of inventing Nigel. Things like that. sigh
I would bet that the fact that the actors seem to really like working with Yates is also a factor in this, if it turns out to be true.
Please no…. He absolutely butchered OotP. If he’s doing it, why don’t they just get somebody who does 30 second commercials on T.V. Or do the whole 7 book series as a 1/2 hour sit com.