Alan Horn, the president and chief operating officer of Warner Bros., has issued another statement about the move of the Half-Blood Prince movie to July 2009; in this statement he addresses the fans directly (as far as we know, this statement has only been sent to fan sites) and says that the decision to move the film was “not taken lightly” and “never intended to upset Harry Potter fans.” He also says, “We know you have built this series into what it is.”
The full text is below:
‘Many of you have written to me to express your disappointment in our moving “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” to Summer 2009. Please be assured that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything to hurt any of the films. Over the past 10 years, we have nurtured and protected each film, and the integrity of the books upon which they are based, to the best of our ability. The decision to move “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” was not taken lightly, and was never intended to upset our Harry Potter fans. We know you have built this series into what it is, and we thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support. If I may offer a silver lining: there would have been a two-year gap between “Half-Blood Prince” and the much-anticipated first part of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which opens in November 2010. So although we have to wait a little longer for “Half-Blood Prince,” the wait from that film until “Deathly Hallows” will be less than 18 months. I am sorry to have disappointed you now, but if you hold on a little longer, I believe it will be worth the wait.’
It’s time for a WB boycott. Look – we’re all going to see HP6 so it’s not credible for us to boycott that. Let’s boycott other WB films – and tell WB why we’re doing it.
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It’s time for a WB boycott. Look – we’re all going to see HP6 so it’s not credible for us to boycott that. Let’s boycott other WB films – and tell WB why we’re doing it.”
Juan, I’m definitely not going to see HP6 in the cinema at all and it’s perfectly credible for me to boycott it. I am a huge HP fan but WB has crossed the line and I am so firmly opposed to what they have done that I am willing to sacrifice something I really want to give WB a reality check. = )
Whereas you, Esther, have read all these posts when you think the topic is “silly.”
Wasn’t that … er … SILLY … of you?
I agree with Matt. It’s time to give Warner Bros. a reality check. I personally cannot do what Matt is going to do—skip the movie, but I don’t think he’ll be alone.
The heck with the “bright side.” That’s like saying someone punched in the face, but the bright side is he didn’t kick you in the knees.
Warner Bros. doesn’t underatand the concept of “fan base.” Customer loyalty is not to Warner Bros. But to Jo Rowling’s ideas. We would have been just as digusted if the publisher had delayed publishing the last book for 8 months after announcing when it would come out. But they wouldn’t have been that stupid.
There’s a number of things we can do. I’m NOT skipping the HP film, but I will boycott all other Warner Bros. movies until the HP movie comes out. Other people who saw the last one several times will see this one time less. A number of people will see it but wait a week so they don’t have ginormous sales the first week.
A few people have said they just won’t see it at all, but I don’t think it’s ncecessary to do that.
Whatever action a person takes, I hope he or she will email Warner Bros. and let them know what their choice will be. Here’s the email link:
surely it must have been moved forward as Daniel cannot film as is appearing in Equis …
he’s got to do what he’s got to do I guess…
but I am disappointed…
me and the family usually enjoy watching the DVD at Christmastime.
“surely it must have been moved forward as Daniel cannot film as is appearing in Equis … he’s got to do what he’s got to do I guess… but I am disappointed… me and the family usually enjoy watching the DVD at Christmastime.”
“Hermoine,” the film is FINSHED. Radcliffe could not have taken the part in EQUUS if he had a conflict with the film. They scheduled Equus around his Harry Potter schedule, not the other way around.
This is simply a financial decision by Warner Bros. They think they will make more money this way. It’s that simple.
The only way to get them to change the date back would be to show them that we’re unwilling to spend our money if they’re going to jerk us around. Of course, that would mean boycotting the movie and i doubt enough of us are willing to do that, so we’re stuck.
Here is the text of an email I sent to WB in case anyone wants to use it as a template for their own. There have been many circumstances in the past where a fanbase rallied against the production companies when they felt they were being wronged, so hopefully we can take a stand against this and even if we can’t change the date of release at least we can show WB that they are harming themselves.
This is just to let you know that in response to the decision of WB to move the date of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince from Fall 2008 to Summer 2009, a decision based wholly on the greed of the corporation and desire to increase profits at the cost of the fans, I am boycotting all WB movies including the upcoming Harry Potter film. Whereas I usually go to the movies once a week, and I have seen each Harry Potter film several times in the theatre as well as purchasing DVDs, I find that WB is taking advantage of fans of Harry Potter and I am disgusted. I am hoping that the majority of fans will join with me and Warner Brothers will find that by making this decision in the hopes of increasing profits they have in fact harmed themselves and will see their profits declining as proof of the strength of this fanbase.
This is a pathetic attempt to calm the fans by WB. It most definitely about money. They see next summer shying in comparison to this summer after the release of The Dark Knight and just want a guaranteed summer blockbuster lined up for next year. Obviously the WGA strike stirred things up a little bit for them and now they are paying the price so they have decided to manipulate timelines in the interest of only them and not us. Them patronizing us into thinking that “it will be worth the wait” makes me ill. We all know that the film is close to ready, and if you think that they will continue to keep filming into the new year is just silly. There is no way that they could ever make me believe that pushing back 9 months is justified. I could see a couple months, but in no way to the middle of next summer. Bottom line its for their stockholders and money makers, not the fans.
Okay, first of all, ALAN HORN, YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, I was looking forward to seeing that movie. Alan Horn had to ruin it though. The people who also said that he’s a greed I agree with you. He is being a greed. From today, it was a 2-month wait. But NO!!!!!!! Now we all have to wait until July.”Didn’t mean to upset fans…”or whatever he said….I’M A MAJOR FAN AND I AM UPSET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Sure, I can look forward to it in July because most summer movies suck, but I was looking forward to it. The others that say he’s full of B.S? I wholeheartedly agree with you. Thanks to him, I’m really sad now not to mention ticked. And Alan Horn can blame himself for all that.
I agree with most of you – I am so mad that they moved the release date. I’m boycotting WB movies and telling everyone else to as well. I also e-mailed WB to let them know how pissed I am!!!
JOIN THE BOYCOTT OF WB MOVIES. The movie is complete. WB wants more money for the summer 2009. Boycott every upcoming WB movie until the release of the new HP movie. Sign the petition to get the movie moved back to NOVEMBER. The current WB movies are the dark knight, and sisterhood of the traveling pants
As [the door] swung closed behind them, Harry heard Phineas Nigellus's voice.[br]"You know, Minister, I disagree with Dumbledore on many counts... but you cannot deny he's got style..."
It’s time for a WB boycott. Look – we’re all going to see HP6 so it’s not credible for us to boycott that. Let’s boycott other WB films – and tell WB why we’re doing it.