The USA Today has posted a preview of the upcoming Harry Potter weekend on ABC Family. During this weekend, the cable channel will be airing ten extra minutes deleted from the theatrical edition of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Potter film producer David Heyman is interviewed for this piece, and said
"There were scenes that got cut in the interest
of keeping the length down that were really fun and good," says
producer David Heyman.
The deleted scenes include extended segments
with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his buddy Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint)
and their respective flirtations, as well as a scene with Mad Eye Moody
(Brendan Gleeson) and Barty Crouch (Sam Hazeldine) following the
underwater sequence of the Tri-Wizard Tournament."
As we reported previously, the weekend ABC Family will be debuting new footage and interview with the cast of the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. David Heyman speaks a bit about the film, as follows:
"It's different than the other films," says
Heyman. "It's not the non-stop action that some of the others are,
although there is some action. It's more of an emotional film. We
follow multiple stories: Harry's relationship with Ginny Weasley, Ron's
relationship with Lavender Brown. … There also is Hermione's discomfort
with Ron's relationship with Lavender. There's Draco Malfoy's story.
And then there's Harry's relationship with (Hogwarts headmaster and
professor) Dumbledore. We're following these multiple stories that
enrich the canvas."
And Ron discovers his newfound Quidditch talents, after thinking he had taken a good-luck potion.
"Ron is scared witless for the game," says
Heyman. " So, Harry pretends to slip him some felix felices, a liquid
luck potion.All of a sudden he's imbued with fresh confidence, and he's
remarkable in the Quidditch match. He's performing miracles. With that
comes incredible delight and maybe a little bit of cockiness."
David Heyman is also the subject of new interview with SCI-FI Wire, where he noted that pre-production on the two films for Deathly Hallows is "going well and that the decision to split the adaptation of J.K. Rowling's final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has allowed the actors to take a break, such as Alan Rickman (Snape).
"Well, yes, everyone's got a break, in a sense," Heyman said in
an interview on Dec. 3 in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he was promoting
the comedy Yes Man. "It's not about breaking them into two.
It's just the schedule is such that I guess it's long. There's more, so
there's a lot of downtime without him. It's going well. It's great. I'm
very, very lucky to be involved with it."
As for the GOF new cut to be shown, the only bit I really dont like is the extended wizard rock concert – it goes on for far too long and would kill the pacing of the film. The scene with Snape catching teen wizards doing something um…well something, is hilarious but shocking! Would be interesting how this plays out in context with the rest of the movie. Sometimes re-instated deleted scenes can be jarring to the flow of a movie hence why they are cut in the first place.
Posted by Professor Potter on December 05, 2008, 06:43 AM
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I won’t be able to watch it );
Hopefully someone posts the HBP sneakpeeks on youtube. if someone doesn’t, i’m going to DIE. D:!
First, Hi, Professor! Good to “see” you again! I would so like to see GoF, on ABC, but, alas, we don’t have TV. I heard about Mr Rickman, doing the Caterpillar, on ‘Alice In Wonderland’…my son keeps up with ALL the Tim Burton stuff. [Helena Bonham Carter is in ‘Alice’, as well…] I would so like to hear the rest of Mr Heyman’s interview. I agree, with you, as well. Sometimes, “deleted” scenes reintroduced to their original movie, can be both jarring and slow the movie…[of course, it DOES give folks an idea of WHY they were cut!] Happy Christmas, everyone, btw!
Posted by Confederate Lady on December 05, 2008, 07:51 AM
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OK, I don’t normally moan about things like this, but now I’m starting to get really hacked off. Why ABC? Why only in America? The rest of the world would like to see these extended versions too!! Why doesn’t WB licence them to other countries and when are the going to get their act together and bring out the extended DVDs we’ve all been crying out for??
I know America is given priority for certain things because it has the largest audience, and probably because WB is an American company, but Mr Heyman is British (just like JK Rowling and Harry) and I fail to see any reason why these things cannot be made available out with the US. It’s not as if airing the extended versions in the UK, Australia, Japan or any other country you care to mention will actually affect ABC’s viewing ratings!!
Come on WB, get a grip!!!
Posted by Neil in Scotland on December 05, 2008, 08:26 AM
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Here in Australia, whenever Philosophers Stone is on TV, they include the cut scenes that are on the DVD (such as when Aunt Petunia’s breaking the eggs with the letters inside, and Neville’s stuck in the leglocker curse). I wish there was some way of watching the DVD like that!
Good to “see” you too C.L :) But good grief, no TV?!? I recall you saying it before but no pressure to explain, I’m just Skeeterishly curious ;)
One more thing about the additional scenes is it can give more clarity to certain subplots and is enjoyable to watch in an extended version but only after watching the original intended cut. Lord of the Rings extended trilogy is a great example. For pure theatrical entertainment, the originals are the ones to see. The extended versions really do drag film’s pacing but at the same time it is wonderful to see the sub plots play out in richer detail.
Posted by Professor Potter on December 05, 2008, 08:43 AM
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Though they aren’t the extended cuts, the Zigfeild theater in NYC (was once the largest screen in the world; before all this imax stuff) is showing all the Potter movies from December 19-24.
Posted by Leif Longbottom on December 05, 2008, 09:55 AM
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Ahh, the Zigfield theater. Wonderful venue. I came all the way from London to watch Phanton Menace premiere (yeah, I know, pretty nuts huh!). Their sound system had a bit too much echo if I remember but it sure as hell had atmosphere and character. I hope our London Empire cinema will do such a HP marathon one day as they have done for both Star Wars and Star trek franchises in the past. Imax have also done such marathons for batman, Lord of the Rings etc.
Posted by Professor Potter on December 05, 2008, 10:42 AM
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uhhh i cant wait!!