In The News
David Heyman Talks Splitting Deathly Hallows, Both Films Possibly Two and a Half Hours Long
DH FilmEmpire magazine has a new interview with Harry Potter producer David Heyman on the decision to make two films out of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In this new article, David Heyman describes the thought process behind the decision to split, debating on whether to make a “four and a half hour film,” or the possibility of both as “two and a half hours long” and much more. He also declines to say where the split in the book will come as “don’t have the first script. We do have a point roughly where we want to end, but we haven’t got a draft to know if that works yet.”
On the matter of splitting and length of the films he says quote: ” We just thought how are we going to approach this? Is this going to be a four and a half hour film? That’s probably what it would have been. Would our audience really embrace that? In some way, I think they might. But I think the younger ones would have drifted. There’s always been difficulty making sure that the ones that are two hours, two and a half hours long – making sure that those are the right length. I think by having two films that are two and a half hours – although we’re not sure of the length – then it will be a richer experience. One of the challenges that faces us, which we’ve been discussing, is how to give each film its own identity. We want them to feel like one film, but they’ve got to be self-contained too. We feel now that we’ve got a really good angle on that. But we haven’t got a script yet on either part, so I don’t want to say too much.”
Empire: So these films will be the same length as the ones that came before? We won’t see two films that clock in under two hours? David Heyman: No. The idea is to get everything people want in there. I’m sure there’ll be parts that don’t make it, which we won’t know until the script is written. But that is the idea.
Empire: What do you think is the natural separation point in the books? Where can you end the first film in a satisfying way? David Heyman: It depends what feeling you want [to end on]. I don’t want to answer that just yet because we don’t have the first script. We do have a point roughly where we want to end, but we haven’t got a draft to know if that works yet.”
In addition there are comments on the discussion with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling on the decision to split the book, how the cast members (especially Dan Radcliffe) would handle the filming, and says again they will begin filming both movies at the same time, starting next February. Finally of note are some of the scenes David Heyman is looking forward to in the movies, as he says:
“Well, the final battle, but there’s so much. I love the character stuff. I love the resolution of Dumbledore and Snape. I love the multiple Harries at the beginning. I love the scene of Hermione trapped at the Malfoys’. I love Harry and Hermione in the forest. I think there’s so much, it’s such a rich fabric. What we’ve done now, which I think is really exciting, is that we’ve found thematic centres for each of the films. That gives the film heart. I think it’s pretty great that David Yates has crystalised it and…it’s early days still, so I’m not going to say too much. But I’m just thrilled that David Yates decided to come back, because he’s really found a new spirit for the sixth film and as we talk about seven, it’s very different as well. I think it’s going to be good.”
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One will be released Holiday (November) of 2010, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two due May (early summer timeframe) 2011.
Thanks Sarah and Davey!
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It’s completely obvious (to me, anyway) that the absolute best place to split them is at Dobby’s burial. That way, you get your dramatic climax at the Malfoy Manor (a small-scale action scene,) then you get your emotional climax at Dobby’s death and burial by the sea. Fade out on Harry staring out at the water. Furthermore, there’s a good few weeks (book time) before anything else really happens.
Wow! News after news after news, it’s madness! It’s fantastic! And we aren’t even CLOSE to seeing DH!! I agree with both posts above mine: David, I completely and utterly agree with every word you said, couldn’t have said it better myself. Lindsay, I’m glad you see that we don’t really have to wait THAT long.
Aweome news! Thank you David Heyman for all you’re doing for HP! I agree for “looking forward” scenes+Ron/Hermione kiss ofcourse…
@Lindsay and anotherbloke- we dont have to wait 1 year after HBp for 1st DH-we have to wait almost 2 years!!!!! HBP-November 2008, 1st DH November 2010. LOL PEOPLE 2010-2008=2
BUT IT’S WORTH OF WAITING….
These moviemakers are so full of something. I won’t say what, but you can bet if you held some of it under your nose, it wouldn’t smell like a rose. The only reason they’re splitting the final book into two films is that it’s their last chance to cash in on cinematic versions of the series. Cutting content is clearly not something that mattered to them before, judging by how much the previous adaptations have been butchered.
i’d have loved to see Cuaron’s little creative touches in DH (he’s one of the most inspired directors around nowadays) and i’m sure he’d have handled the action scenes with a bang (just check “children of men”, his latest movie). alas, there comes david yates again, and i’m not angry, he’s my second favourite. but, please, call mr. john williams back. i’ve been missing his wonderful music so much…
All this two movies talk makes me feel all warm and happy! I am so glad they decided that for this the final movie, the last new Harry Potter experience (except the Scottish Book) that we fans will have, it needs to be the ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE! It’s going to have EVERYTHING!!!! Except a couple things, but with nearly 5 hours they wont be cutting much. OH MY GOODNESS THIS MEANS DOBBY IS IN! Oh dear I am going to bawl in this one. HBP too. Nothing makes me cry like Harry Potter… I digrese. The point is, this is going to be every fans dream. The way we all wanted every movie to be. We all know we would gladly have sat through a 12 hour Goblet of Fire to see S.P.E.W, and we all missed Ron’s Quidditch in OotP, and the ever conspicuous by his absence: Peeves. They are making it up in the best way they can, and they are going out with a bang. Ride on to Victory David Heyman! You have made my Year!
Oh and they better have either Nicholas Hooper back or John Williams back. No one else should be allowed near.
i FREAKIN LOVE David Heyman!!!!!! He’s gets (understands) Hp just like all the fans do….. And I just love the fact that he said he’s looking forward to the scene where hermoine is trapped in Malfoy Manor….. b/c it is such a heartwrenching seen when ron is screaming and crying for her….LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! glad to know he does to.
I cannot wait, seriously…. I’ve been praying for DH to be split into to 2 parts or for it be four and a half to five hours long…........And now it finally is! Can they possibly get the guy that composed the LOTR films to come for DH??????? Please…......a great film needs an epic score I wanna cry, this is the last book/movie it needs to be damn good!
i mean David iz da most elegant guy i eva seen ♥
why can’t they release them closer to each other??
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My friends and i like to go to the midnight premiere and now it will be weird to go to one and then have to wait 6 months to see the rest of the movie! I know they couldn’t do the book justice w/ 1 film, but why couldn’t thhey film both and release them at the same time?
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if they split it when ron came back and they had destroyed the locket, then its like a cliff hanger… the other horcruxes DUN DUN DUUUUUN :P
im soo glad that they are defo having 2 films. but they say sum stuff still might be missed out, isnt that the point of 2 films? any who
yay david yates!!!!!!
There are no words to describe just how excited I am about all of this.
I love you, David Heyman.
Oh, I wonder if by “some parts that won’t make it” they mean something like the Bill and Fleur storyline which could be awkward to introduce to the films at this point?
I have to say, it’ll be pretty weird without Shell Cottage. I hope that whatever they use to make up for that part won’t be too cheesy.
There are some other things that could seem out of place too, but I can’t think of them right now.
While I’ll accept that lots of HP fans will be overjoyed a the news of this split I will maintain I am entitled to my view that this decision is about money and extending the franchise more than being ‘loyal to the fans’. As I clearly stated my issues are more that so much has been cut before that I do not believe extending the last book to two films is necessary because so much will have to be removed prior to the last book/films (they couldn’t possibly refer to cut elements from previous films, that would surely require the audience to have read the books and after having had to listen to people going on about how we should seperate the books and the films I feel this would be hypocritical). While I agree the last film needs to be sufficiently longer than the previous films (I personally believe all the films should have been longer but that was never going to happen as WB clearly saw their key audience as little kids and underestimated how many of the books fans were in the double digits) splitting the films just doesn’t sit right with me. I can’t see where they could split them and I don’t see a need to either. Regardless of how I feel about the previous films my view of the split is still valid (as are other people’s excitement at getting around 5 hours of DH). I don’t claim to speak for anyone but myself but am entitled to my view. Admittedly I have been disappointed with the other films and so some might say I should give up on them completely, however (foolishly or not) I still have some small faith that some parts may not be as bad as anticipated. I’m not a fluffy little optimist who is simply estatic just to have the books adapted onto film, I would like to see QUALITY as I feel befits JKs hard work with creating the story and characters. And as such I put some hope into watching some great actors, who I’ve admired long before they were cast in these movies, to try to make the films better than they would have been without them (such as Julie Walters, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall etc.). I don’t feel we should have to simply settle, which is what has disappointed me, we’ve had to settle for characters being cut and existing ones being altered drastically for no apparent reason other than to dumb down the story (seemingly). I resent JKs work being treated that way, I feel it deserved better adaptation. I love the books and I love (quite a few of) the actors, I watch the movies hoping for the best. Just because I feel a certain way about the previous films doesn’t mean I can’t be proved wrong in my worries about future ones. I don’t claim to be all-knowing and who knows maybe they will find a good place to cut the films and maybe the script will be so rich as to require making it two films. We don’t know yet and until we do people are allowed to either have concerns or simply be thrilled at the prosepct of two films. I don’t see anything wrong with that. I’m not closed-minded enough to write them off completely, just cos I haven’t cared a great deal for the others (apart from POA) doesn’t mean they can’t win me over with teh last films. I cannot say EVERYTHING about the films has riled me, most of the adult casting has been superb and there have been moments I have enjoyed of the films, but that does not mean I have to sing the praises of WB or Heyman or whatever director was working on that film.
Incidently who said I’d be paying to see the film? That was never confirmed. I don’t ‘grumble’ behind anyone at the cinema (I’m very respectful when I go, going to the cinema is a big thing for me as I don’t do it very often so when I do I keep quiet, I’m not some annoying, small child) but if I’m paying (or merely just spending my time) watching a film I expect to be entertained and not ripped off (of my time or money).
I sincerely hope the films improve and the last films are wonderful, I’m just not that optimistic and I’m entitled to feel the way I do just as those who feel the opposite are entitled to.
Three hours of camping and five minutes of Snape. I think I’ll pass, thanks. Of all the HP books that needed to be edited to a fare-thee-well, DH beats out OoP.
I know a lot of people loved the Order of the Phoenix film but I thought that it really, really, really suffered from having so much of what was in the book cut. I was so disappointed after the film, feeling that the audience had been utterly underestimated. The book (which is my favourite of all of them) is so rich with feeling and meaning, a total triumph, and to my mind the film just seemed disjointed and cobbled together. As a result, I am ecstatic to hear that the Deathly Hallows will be two films! I agree they should have been more sensitive to the depth of the books prior to DH but that doesn’t mean they should continue to hack up the books right until the bitter end! Better late than never I say, and I’m elated that one of the longer books is now getting the treatment that I think all of them deserved. It’s brilliant news and who cares really if some people are going to make some more money out of it? We get 8 films instead of 7 and proper respect shown to the book – hip hip hooray!!!!
The split should be when they escape from Luna’s father. A very dramatic exit with explosions, bangs & screams, and spells firing east and west. ...and then black screen and the words:
“To be continued …”
A real cliff-hanger! :)
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These past few days i have been in HP HEAVEN! I am soo excited that i feel all jumpy!! So i guess that part 1 will be released almost exactly a year from the release of HBP? Sounds good to me! The less time we have to wait the better!!