In The News
Official: Two Parts for "Deathly Hallows" Movie, David Yates to Direct Both Films
DH FilmBig News everyone! The L.A Times is reporting an exclusive today: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be made in two films, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" , and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. Furthermore, the paper cites producer David Heyman confirming the return of David Yates as director for both films, with Steven Kloves to finish out his duties as screenwriter for both Harry Potter movies as well. The movies are to be filmed at the same time, and will be released several months apart, with Part One due November 2010, and Part Two, May 2011.
Update: The article has additional information now, with quotes from producer David Heyman on his conversation with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling on splitting the book into two films. "Heyman said he approached Rowling with some trepidation about the strategy but found that she signed off on its logic rather quickly. "I went to Jo and she was cool with it," Heyman said, "and that was quite a relief."
The newspaper continues saying "Producer David Heyman said the decision was made with some anxiety and only after considerable deliberations. The producer joked that "while my wife and Warner Brothers were pleased" to hear that the Potter movie magic will continue into the next decade, he himself fretted that the cynical observers would see the decision as a purely mercenary move."I swear to you it was born out of purely creative reasons," Heyman said during an interview in a converted airplane factory outside London that has been home base to all of the "Potter" productions. "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book. You can remove scenes of Ron playing quidditch from the fifth book, and you can remove Hermione and S.P.E.W. [Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare] and those subplots . . . but with the seventh, that can't be done."
Actor Dan Radcliffe who portrays Harry Potter in the film is quoted as saying "I think it's the only way you can do it without cutting out a huge portion of the book," Radcliffe said recently during a break on the set of "Half-Blood Prince," the sixth "Potter" film, which is due in theaters on Nov. 21. "There have been compartmentalized subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut - although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans- but the seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go."
Of interest to many fans is the spot in the book where the films will break, and producer David Heyman addresses this as he notes: "The question will be, where do you break it? And how do you make them one but two separate and distinct stories? Do you break it with a moment of suspense or one of resolution? These are the interesting challenges. But each book has presented its challenges."
Warner Bros. Chairman Alan Horn and Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, are expected to discuss the new plans for "Potter" on Thursday during a presentation at ShoWest, the convention of movie exhibitors in Las Vegas.
UPDATE 2The LA Times has a second story now online, containing new comments from WB Chair Alan Horn on the decision to split and the additional film time for the story "This way, we have an extra hour and a half, at least, to celebrate what this franchise has been and do justice to all the words and ideas that Jo has put in the amazing story," Horn said. "This is the end of the story too. We want to celebrate it. We want to give a full meal." Mr Horn continued on, remarking about the epilogue to "Deathly Hallows" regarding the beloved trio and how that would be translated to the big screen. "Horn said that particular denouement has the filmmakers fretting about how to keep the young familiar stars on the screen just before it goes dark. "That," Horn said, "is something we will need to deal with. People have watched these kids grow up, and it's been very special to do so. That's important to us."
Thanks much to the LA Times, Jimbo, and TML!rate this article
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I think sionwith’s idea about ending part one right after Voldemort gets the elder wand out dumbledore’s tomb is a good spot to end it.
I think the perfect ending for the first film would be Ron walking out on Harry and Hermione. That part is definitely a cliffhanger, I remember when I was reading the book for the first time I was thinking, “OH NO YOU DIDN’T! I can’t believe this what next, what next,” and so on and so forth.
@BellaSnape: Dan, Rupert, and Emma have already signed on to do it and they aren’t going to film the two halves separately. They’re going to film it like it’s one film and then decide where to split it during the editing process. so they shouldn’t have any problem getting them all to come back…unless someone dies.
I’m kind of pleased and kind of disappointed about this. This way they’ll fit in so much more information from the book, but it’ll also be so much longer to wait for the second part! It would be horrible if they broke it in half when Harry’s about to be attacked by Nagini in Godric’s Hollow.
Kelso: that happens way too early in the book. if they did that then part one would just have the escape scene, the wedding, the ministry break in and the rest of it would just be the trio sitting around in a tent being bored. part one has to be an exciting film too. all the good stuff can’t be just be put into part two.
I just realized we have to wait almost 3 years to see the hermione/ron scene BOO-HOO
@ Timbler How can you say that there are not heaps of plot in DH. Theres like a billion important scenes and I dont even have the time to list them all right now becuz im watching Big Brother Anyway….... It would be a really sucky movie if they had to cut most of the scenes.
HUGE news! Have to say the date of the film releases is a little disappointing. 2 whole years. On the plus side, this means theres obviously a LOT of filming that needs to be done, and thats always good in the end!
For the record, I like.
Ever since hearing the suggestion, my first thought was that the pefect place to cut would be apparating away from Shell Cottage – Arrival at Gringotts. Make that amazing last day into one continuous, glorious set.
If they must cut at an earlier point, the second best place to cut would be when the Death Eaters arrive at the tent.
Just IMHO, of course.
Wouldn’t it be funny if the teaser for Part 2 was on Part 1? They’d have to make sure they didn’t give anything away, though, so maybe not.
@Timbler: DH is pure plot. GOF and OOTP had things that weren’t really needed for the end to make sense. Not only do they need to tie things together, they need to make sure that in addition to the action sequences, the characters have a chance to be more complex than they were. The fomula changes with this book anyway. There is no Hogwarts. It’s going to be completely new to the movie-only folks. I say do it justice anyway they can.
As for where they should cut it, I think they should cut it when they flee the Lovegood’s house. That way the hallows are introduced, it’s a little cliffhanger-y (with Luna missing and Voldy after the Elder Wand). Another good place to cut the first part would be when Harry breaks the taboo.
I hope they bring back Lee Jordan for Potterwatch. Mega love for that part.
YAY at 2-part Deathly Hallows and at Kloves finishing them off. BOOOOOOOOOOO at Yates! Looks like CoS will remain the last true Potter film, and Goblet will remain the last really good one.
I can’t wait 3 years! What are we all going to do???
I’m gunna be 20 when the final one is released. Grrr. Why so long? I like the fact that it’s been split and I don’t really care about DY, but 3 YEARS???
I thoroughly doubt Victore is going to be in the movie. she wasn’t even in the book. so i’m assuming you were just joking. But I think Bob Hopskins is going to be playing Xenophilius Lovegood. That’s the only new casting for movie 7.
I think it will be cool if they film the tales of the Bard thoughout the film as hermione reads each story – since they have two films to fill out ! – Of course that wont happen but at least the 3 brothers tale should be filmed. I love that wizard fairy tale.
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Terrible, horrible money making scheme by Warners to sell extra tickets. This is just plain pathetic… If they can turn Order and Half-blood into one film, surely they can turn the shorter Hallows into one film as well. It’s not as if there is heaps of plot in the book anyway. And how long will we have to wait for both films? Shocking, just shocking!