In The News
Official WB Press Release on Two Part Movie of "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows"
DH FilmWarner Brothers has now issued their formal press release on making Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in two films. Following on what we reported yesterday, Warner Brothers confirm again that David Yates will direct both films, marking the first time any one director will helm more than two releases in the Harry Potter film franchise, with Steve Kloves to continue on as screenwriter and David Heyman and David Barron to produce. Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Brothers said “It has been an honor for our studio to be entrusted with bringing J.K. Rowling’s extraordinary book series to the screen, and we have always felt a great responsibility to be true to her vision. In concluding the film franchise, we recognized that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is packed with vital plot points that complete the story arcs of all of its beloved characters. That said, we feel that the best way to do the book, and its many fans, justice is to expand the screen adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and release the film in two parts. We could not imagine the final chapter of the film franchise being in better hands than those of David Yates.”
Additional quotage from the release is as follows: “This is a very special moment for us, as it is the final episode in the great journey that J.K. Rowling undertook more than a decade ago,” said Alan Horn, President and COO, Warner Bros. Entertainment. “It has been a journey for all of us at Warner Bros. as well, and we are confident that our filmmakers will finish our series of films as a fitting complement to Jo’s completion of Harry’s story on the page.”
“Over ten years ago, we made a commitment to Jo Rowling that, above all else, we would be faithful and true to the spirit of her books, and ever since we have endeavored never to compromise on the creative ambitions of the films. The Deathly Hallows is so rich, the story so dense and there is so much that is resolved that after discussing it with Jo, we came to the conclusion that two parts were needed to do it justice” said David Heyman. “I am thrilled that David Yates is returning to direct ‘The Deathly Hallows.’ He is both inspired and inspiring and is a passionate fan of the remarkable world and characters Jo has created. I know he will lead our incomparable cast and crew—most of whom have been with us since the very beginning—in bringing the series to the unforgettable conclusion it deserves.”
Director David Yates remarked, “I’ve had great pleasure working with a tremendous cast and crew thus far, on both ‘the Order of the Phoenix’ and ‘the Half-Blood Prince.’ It’s a wonderful world to work in and be part of and to create within, and I consider it a great privilege to continue to bring Jo’s extraordinary world to the screen, and to be the director to complete this epic and exhilarating journey.”
As reported previously, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part one and Two will be filmed at the same time, beginning production in February of 2009, with “Deathly Hallows: Part One” to be released in movie theaters November of 2010, and Part Two due May 2011.
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I think a split after the destruction of the locket is most likely. That way we get a classic build up, climax and resolutiuon in both parts of the movie.
Now, have the actors signed on for this second part? Or did WB already know about this when they were signed and have worded the contracts so they have to stay for a third?
I would imagine they had to take the three mains back into negotiations before this was all announced. Because you know if one of them said, nah I’m not doing Part Two, they would change it back to one movie. They would have had to at least been paid more.
There’s hardly that much camping. Everyone btches about all the camping. The book was what, 37 chapters long? 2.5 involved camping. Um… get over it!
There is a HUGE amount of info to get out of this movie. There’s NO way it would fit in one 3 hour film (without everyone btching about that), and there is NO way they would make it any longer. This is a good thing, people! You wanted more stuff told from the books. You wanted LESS left out! This is how it’s going to happen. With two movies, released 6 months apart. That’s just enough time to be able to enjoy hupla twice! Besides, think of the theaters that will feature a special showing of the first part so that it ends at midnight, and then show the 2nd part. It’ll be an event!
besides…. if WB was really only interested in the “cash cow” that the series is, they WOULD have made movies 4 and 5 into multiple movies. And bored us silly with long movies about Spew and Hagrids trip to visit the giants.
It would deff. be somewhere between Ron leaving and the first Horcrux (in THIS book) to be destroyed. I havent read the book in about 4 or so months so the timeline is a bit fuzzy in my head, but all in all, this is a good thing. A better thing would be to have BOTH come out at the same time, that way we arnt left on so much of a cliff, like the Pirates movies.
To all those who thought some of the other books could have been split: how? GoF is a tournament and so it would be madness to have split it. There is no actual break. And OotP the book while being the longest does have lots of extraneous information. I can’t see how you could split it at all to make it 2 actual movies; again there is no climactic scene in the middle where you could have stopped. Whereas with DH I can see many many places where it could be a believeable cut to finish off one movie and set up for another (When Ron returns and destroys the locket, As they decide to go after horcruxes rather than Hallows, After the Gringotts breakout just to name a few)
Thank god I can keep my fan obsession going even longer!!!!
DH in 2 movies is really perfect…like everyone has said, the only truly logical place to split is really after Ron comes back and destroys the locket. Yet, if that is true, it will mean that, in my opinion, Part 2 will be 200x better than Part 1 because i feel like the book is really powerful only after that scene-before Ron comes back there are no true climaxes-that might be one possible creative problem with splitting the book there.
And LunaMum- so true, so true.
DH in 2 movies is really perfect…like everyone has said, the only truly logical place to split is really after Ron comes back and destroys the locket. Yet, if that is true, it will mean that, in my opinion, Part 2 will be 200x better than Part 1 because i feel like the book is really powerful only after that scene-before Ron comes back there are no true climaxes-that might be one possible creative problem with splitting the book there.
And LunaMum- so true, so true.
(This post and the one above are in reference to comments on Pg 4)
... and Amy, if WB doesn’t make money with these, they won’t make them. Period. So yeah, we want the films to do well….. and, um, as fans, we want more films!
I wish I could understand why people are so upset about this. It’s okay if you don’t like David Yates, but I hope people will give him the benefit of a doubt with a longer film. If it’s about money, I can respect that. It is expensive, especially if you have a family, to go to the movies these days. WIth gas prices going up every day, it makes it even worse. But other than that, why are people so angry? Isn’t this a good thing for the fandom? They’re making a 4 to 5 hour film! Isn’t this what people have been dreaming about for years? Don’t we beg for the extended editions to be released on DVD?
I think it’s hilarious that people say all that is in this book is camping. Really? Sometimes I wonder if people read the same story as me. The plot of this book is 3 times denser than any of the other books. Look at HBP for example: Nothing happens for half the book! Most of it is Harry’s crush on Ginny, his fixation with Malfoy, and his potions book. Thank goodness they’re not trying to turn THAT book into two films.
I think people should stop focusing on the negative and start thinking about how much fun this could be, and how great it would be for the fandom.
...If it’s about money, I can respect that. It is expensive, especially if you have a family, to go to the movies these days. WIth gas prices going up every day, it makes it even worse…. Posted by mollywobble on March 13, 2008 @ 08:20 PM
I think that may be a reasonable explanation why some people are pissed. You take a couple of kids to the cinema for both, then you need two DVDs because you can’t get just the one. It’s about the money.
Wow. that’s all i have to say….
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Jackie, I can definitely understand that. However, I think that both parts will be on one DVD. This is one film but released in two parts. They’ll probably be more expensive, but I don’t think they would force people to buy two DVDs. Of course I could be wrong. If they do decide to do that, I think people would have a genuine argument that WB is ripping them off.
I am soooooooooo glad that they decided to do this. It is really amazing that a huge studio is really thinking this one through and keeping the fans in mind instead of their wallets!
DONT LEAVE ANYTHING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I’m willing to bet that the DVD will be sold as two seperate movies, and why not? it will technically be two different movies, and all the work and time and money involved in making two, and putting two to dvd, will still be required. Why would you think they’d give that away for free? Besides, they will most likely release DVD Part 1 just prior to Part 2’s theatrical release. It makes sense. Of course, they may also offer it in a set (7.1 and 7.2) for like $25 or $30 bucks after the fact (which would be cheaper then buying them seperately, but more then a single dvd).
How did they handle Kill Bill, Volume 1 and 2? That was technically one movie that was deemed too long (I think) so a spot was picked, and it was cut in two (at least that’s what I heard). How did they handle that DVD? I’m pretty sure it was sold as two seperate movies.
I’m more of a movie fan than a book fan so Bring It ON! Two movies mean more cinematic treats aside from of course having : more premieres, more print and TV promotions, more pics and interviews of the trio. I love the idea of it…
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i want ALFONSO to direct the 7th!