Release Date for Some IMAX Editions of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Delayed

The Wall Street Journal is reporting today they have confirmed with the Chief Executive of Imax reports that there will be a delay in the release of the IMAX and IMAX 3D versions of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince here in the US. When WB first delayed the HBP film last fall, among the many problems it created was a scheduling problem for IMAX and the new Transformers film, thereby forcing Harry Potter fans to wait and see the sixth Harry Potter fans two weeks after the general release of the film. Fans can now see Half-Blood Prince in IMAX July 29. The paper reports this scheduling “means most Imax theaters will show “Harry Potter” starting July 29,
two weeks after its July 14 opening in conventional theaters, the
company confirmed. Richard Gelfond, Imax chief executive, said at least one Imax
theater in New York and another in Los Angeles are scheduled to play
“Harry Potter” starting July 14; the dates for international theaters
are still being negotiated.

He added that it’s a “high-class” problem to have, given that the
first 12 minutes of “Harry Potter” will be exclusively in Imax 3D and a
few scenes of “Transformers” were shot with Imax cameras, and those are
features that have been popular with audiences in the past.

Thanks to Jeff Dodge from TV Watch Online who emailed TLC and all the Harry Potter sites with this news. We are still awaiting word from WB as well and will update with that when we can.