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 am so happy they decided to do this, I was worried they were going to butcher the last book, but now we know it will be done right and done with the best of teams at the helm! Great news for Potter fans across the world! =)
I have to agree with TML on this: Shell Cottage is too far into the story to have the break. I still maintain that after Ron leaves is a great place to stop the first movie (even if there is a cheesy voice over. haha. —actually, i think yates would have much better taste to do that, even if he is a TV director.)
OMG OMG OMG! yes!
i am speechless and happy and excited and omg! how unfortunate though to how far apart they will come out.
YES!!! Although, I still don’t agree that cutting out S.P.E.W. was okay, which they seem to think it was. However, woo- hoo! They’re teasing me with the months apart release though. I think the original actors will probably play their characters in the epilouge but perhaps a little make-up magic will be performed to make them look older than they did at the Battle of Hogwarts. It’s kind of cool that we’ll get Potter releases so far into the future even though the wait will stink. (It’ll be nothing compared to the pain we had to endure waiting for the book) I’m happy about Yates as well.
AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I am screaming right as I type. I DO NOT want Yates 2 film these!!!!!!!! I am so P.O.ed!!!! The spliting thing is cool. I was hoping they would do that. But November and may is a long gap…hmm..oh well! I am happy at sliting it and VERY ANGRY that Yates is directiong!!!!!!!!!!Gotta go scream some more….....
I love how everyone is moving up where part one should end. First it started out with Dobby’s funeral and now every seems to think cutting it after Ron comes back or when they’re at the lovegoods is a good place. I was thinking the Silver Doe would be a good place, so I guess that is around the time Ron comes back. But the Lovegoods is an interesting theory because I just thought that whole chapter with Xeno was pretty suspenseful. it was really creepy how Xeno was trying to keep them there and then when Harry saw Luna’s room. that’s a really good chapter.
TML
You can’t cut Gringott’s! That’s where they get one of the Horcruxes! And if you think WB are going to skip the chance to show the trio riding on the back of a dragon blasting through a bank… well I just don’t see how you could think of cutting Gringotts. I agree they probably should just be captured from Xeno’s. That makes a lot of sense. They’ll probably cut Potterwatch.
Tyler
I completely agree. Who in the world would even suggest that they should cut Gringotts. That chapter was absolutely fantastic. It’s one of the most suspenseful and exciting moments in the whole book.
They could lower the number of Horcruxes by one, move the Horcrux to Malfoy Manor… all sorts of easy fixes. The fact is that the most excess garbage from DH comes from the lead up to the whole scene at Gringotts. It being cut would fix most of their problems and allow for a better flowing story.
Mixed feelings here… YAY for two movies (I was very much for this on the staff cast), but I dunno about Yates. He needs to commit to making two more-than-full length movies, I think, for it to be successful as a two-parter. He’s been quoted in interviews as saying that he’s a fan of the 90 minute film, and I just don’t think that will cut it for this (or for HBP, for that matter).
My bet has always been that they’ll end the film after the attack by Nagini, with Harry nearly dead and Hermione knealing over him, wonderfully cheesy. Then open part II with Voldemort’s vision of the night of the Potters’ murder. In my non-screenwriter’s mind, that’d be perfect.
But, thankfully, I’m not the poor bloke who has to make these sorts of decisions… seeing as no matter what they choose, it’s bound to piss off a lot of people!
Tyler:
With all due respect, they can’t cut Potterwatch! It’s an essential part to connecting Harry to the wizarding world. Ron had to leave and discover Potterwatch. If he didn’t Harry and Hermione would have been cut off.
I know i’m being nitpicky, but still. If they’re doing two movies, i don’t think they’d have any reason to cut potterwatch. It reconnects everyone together.
i do not like the idea of two films but i know(hopefully) i will change my mind when the movies come out. what upsets me is not knowing where they will split it and if its going to be a goood ending.
@Scarletti
If they change Xeno’s little bit to him suceeding to turn them in, Potterwatch won’t really matter.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN CAPTURED FROM XENO’S??? It’s way more creepier if they get captured right after Harry says Voldemort’s name. And then Ron makes the lights go out. That part is alot better if it happens in the dark cause then it would make more sense for the snatchers to not immediately recognize Harry, Ron, or Hermione. And I think Malfoy Manor would look alot creepier if they arrive there at night. I’m surprised you guys are talking about what should be cut out now when there’s a good chance alot of stuff won’t be cut out. i thought some of you were hated the other films because “they cut alot of stuff out of them.”
Captured from Xeno’s would be just fine and could be at night, too. It would be just as creepy.
I think the end of the first part should be-in the water,Harry chokeing,and something pulling him….and then: MAGIC CONTINUES… AWESOME!
and we’ll not be waiting 2 years for 1st DH than 3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! filming begins in february 2009-so that means 2 years of filming-——-man…...........but thats ok.that means about 4 more years of HP.I like it. And it’s ok that DH1 and DH2 are 6 months apart. we have enough time to enoy in the first one(+DVD,I hope) and then all that excitement anout the grand final!!!!
thank you, God! and Jo:)
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I KNEW IT! I bet they’ll cut it off around the silver doe, after Ron and Harry become friends again.