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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Well, I have mixed feelings right now. On one hand, I’m so excited for David Yates to return. He’s my second favorite director in the series. (first is Cuaron). Then I’m glad for a longer movie (albeit two). Then I’m disappointed that Goldenberg won’t return, I loved the OOTP script. And then I’m sad that it is two parts separate…coming out on different dates. But I understand it. Not just due to money but also intermission would be weird in America which is their largest audience.
What I really hope is that Patrick Doyle comes back to do the music. =-D
YES YES YES!! THIS IS THE BEST NEWS EVER IM SOOO HAPPY ABOUU THIS I HOPE IT IS DEFINETLY TRUE!!! IM SOO GLAD I KNOW THAT DAVID HEYMAN IS WANTING TO GET THE WHOLE STORY IN THANK GOD!! The actors should stay on board as they are filing it all at the same time :) yey! this has really made my day :D
GREAT IDEA!!Why don’t they call the first part “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:The tale of the three Brothers” and the second part “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:the Elder Wand”?After all “the elder wand” was the runner up for the book 7 title,according to JKR,wasn’t it?I love the idea of splitting book 7!I started celebrating when I first read it,but noone seems to notice that we will have to wait 2 WHOLE YEARS after the release of HBP.It is going to be very agonizing!!
NOVEMBER 2010… MAY 2011? Holy crap! We still have 3 more years of Harry Potter! SQUEEE!!!
And David Yates too… omg… SO EXCITED!
The OOTP script was awful. That couple with the cutting killed the movie.
I feel like squeeing a young school girl! This is soooo awesome. The best way ever to finish of the HP Series! Way to go!
OOOOOOOOHHHHHH Mygosh.!!!
I’m definitely excited! When the question of one movie vs. two came up, i was kind of neutral, but i’m especially excited to have two with yates as director. Hurray!
SO… as for the breaking point: i’m thinking when Ron leaves the group. WHat about that? i think it’d be so maddening, but it’d be a great place to stop, because then you have high action in the beginning with them going to Godric’s Hollow, etc.
Anyway, great news. :)
YAYAYYYYYAAAAAA. WOOT WOOT! SQUEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):):) CANT WAIT!!! and i think the wait is for suspence, cause the longer you got to wait the longer u have to get people to come to watch…......I decided that mine wasnt excited enough before so im posting another one…. YAAAAAY!!!!!`~```~` WOoOt WoOot ~```~``~
Never mond about the director. I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! i SO CANT WOIT FOR THE FIRST HALF 2 COME OUT!
I wish they’d go back to the old style for long epic movies. 3 and a half hours with intermission!
YAY!!! I’m super excited!! All except for the November-May separation. People who havn’t read the books might forget what happened in the first part (unless in May theaters run the first part). I will probably not be able to wait until 2010 though!
Wow, that’s just an terrible idea, and I’m very susprised it got the greenlight.
Personally, I’d MUCH rather have one tightly edited, to-the-point, well-paced film, rather than two bloated, disjointed, mediocre films, Unfortunately, it seems most people here would prefer the latter.
Wow!!! Oh my God!! That’s fantastic. This is probably the best news we have had this year so far. Now if we get some HBP film news, then it will be a pretty great news week.
DH can be easily split into two without compromising the story. It’s not Goblet of Fire.
I am happy that it is split into two movies, however I hate David Yates and I hate that the movie will be spread apart by 7 months. that seems just too long!
Oh GOD. I’m so disappointed. Yates is not that great of a director. Two films just means more money. This whole thing is selling Potter short. I hope someone comes around in 20 years and does the films again the RIGHT way.
I don’t even want to see these films.
Hmmm. Well, I’ve been fairly outspoken in my opposition of this idea from the off, and now that it’s official, I’m filled with doubt; simply put, as of right now, I feel that this move ha been made purely with commercial interests in mind, and that creatively the split will be not only unnecessary but actively harmful, and will result in two bloated, needless exercises in expensive fanservice rather than the single great film we might have had.
But, what can you do? Life goes on. I don’t mind Kloves as a screenwriter, and I actively like Yates as a director, but at this point, they have it everything to prove, as far as I’m concerned. Let’s hope I’m wrong…
Head explodes
I’m having to resist the urge to jump up and down. This is so cool!
Does the “More Canon” dance
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