Half-Blood Prince delayed until July 17th, 2009
Warner Brothers has just announced that Half-Blood Prince will be delayed. The film will instead be released on July 17th, 2009. From the press release:In making the announcement, Mr. Horn stated, “Our reasons for shifting ‘Half-Blood Prince’ to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers’ strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films—changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move ‘Half-Blood Prince’ to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer.”
Read the full release at the link below.
Press Release:
BURBANK, CA, August 14, 2008 – Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that it has moved back the release date of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” to Summer 2009. The sixth installment of the blockbuster Harry Potter franchise will now open day-and-date domestically and in the major international markets on July 17, 2009. The announcement was made by Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.
In making the announcement, Mr. Horn stated, “Our reasons for shifting ‘Half-Blood Prince’ to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers’ strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films—changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move ‘Half-Blood Prince’ to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer.”
Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, confirmed, “The release date change does not alter the production schedule for this or future Harry Potter films. Post-production on ‘Half-Blood Prince’ was completed on time, and the studio’s release plans for the two-part ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ will not be affected by this change. We know Harry Potter fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the final chapters unfold onscreen. In fact, the good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between ‘Half-Blood Prince’ and the first part of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.’”
Commenting on the release date change for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” David Heyman, the producer of all the Harry Potter films, offered, “When Jeff Robinov explained the rationale behind moving the release date of ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ to July 2009, it was immediately apparent that this offered us the potential to reach the widest possible audience. I am extremely proud of this latest film and of the work of David Yates and our incomparable cast; I believe we have developed and pushed the series further still. We are all looking forward to sharing it with Harry Potter fans around the world, even if we have to wait just a bit longer.”
David Yates, the director of both “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and who will also helm “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” added, “It has been a joy to work on ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.’ Dan, Rupert and Emma and all our returning young cast continue to blossom, and our new cast members bring fresh color and life to Hogwarts. Even as we put the finishing touches on this latest film, we are already beginning preparations on the final two films—we start filming in February—and I am excited to bring this remarkable series to the exciting and moving conclusion its loyal fans deserve.”
In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David Yates, who directed last year’s summer blockbuster “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” returns to direct “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David Heyman and David Barron are the producers, with Lionel Wigram serving as executive producer. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, based on the book by J.K. Rowling.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are reprising their roles as young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film also stars Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis and Julie Walters. The cast also features David Bradley, Jessie Cave, Frank Dillane, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Helen McCrory, Natalia Tena, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Bonnie Wright.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
BURBANK, CA, August 14, 2008 – Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that it has moved back the release date of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” to Summer 2009. The sixth installment of the blockbuster Harry Potter franchise will now open day-and-date domestically and in the major international markets on July 17, 2009. The announcement was made by Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.
In making the announcement, Mr. Horn stated, “Our reasons for shifting ‘Half-Blood Prince’ to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers’ strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films—changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move ‘Half-Blood Prince’ to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer.”
Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, confirmed, “The release date change does not alter the production schedule for this or future Harry Potter films. Post-production on ‘Half-Blood Prince’ was completed on time, and the studio’s release plans for the two-part ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ will not be affected by this change. We know Harry Potter fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the final chapters unfold onscreen. In fact, the good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between ‘Half-Blood Prince’ and the first part of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.’”
Commenting on the release date change for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” David Heyman, the producer of all the Harry Potter films, offered, “When Jeff Robinov explained the rationale behind moving the release date of ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ to July 2009, it was immediately apparent that this offered us the potential to reach the widest possible audience. I am extremely proud of this latest film and of the work of David Yates and our incomparable cast; I believe we have developed and pushed the series further still. We are all looking forward to sharing it with Harry Potter fans around the world, even if we have to wait just a bit longer.”
David Yates, the director of both “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and who will also helm “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” added, “It has been a joy to work on ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.’ Dan, Rupert and Emma and all our returning young cast continue to blossom, and our new cast members bring fresh color and life to Hogwarts. Even as we put the finishing touches on this latest film, we are already beginning preparations on the final two films—we start filming in February—and I am excited to bring this remarkable series to the exciting and moving conclusion its loyal fans deserve.”
In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David Yates, who directed last year’s summer blockbuster “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” returns to direct “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David Heyman and David Barron are the producers, with Lionel Wigram serving as executive producer. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, based on the book by J.K. Rowling.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are reprising their roles as young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film also stars Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis and Julie Walters. The cast also features David Bradley, Jessie Cave, Frank Dillane, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, Helen McCrory, Natalia Tena, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Bonnie Wright.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
Posted by Andrew on Aug 14th |
1478 Comments
Visitor Comments
I'm so mad right now....what is wrong with WB why do they insist on making us wait so much longer they should never have given a release date until they were sure that it was the right one !!!!GOD get it together people. Its all about MONEY and nothing to do with the writers strike since the script has been done way before the strike. Man July seems so far away!!!!!!!!!
I work at a movie theatre and my boss was confirming this and all I thought of was omg noooooooooooo I have to wait a year???? And now we have to pull all the trailers because they say november. way-to-go WB. making peoples lives miserable world-wide.
Join this Facebook Group!! Boycott the WB!! Bring Half-Blood Prince back to November! http://www.facebook.com/g roup.php?gid=48223856240 (remove spaces in URL)
oh and they say its because of the strike. The strike has been going on for months now. If it was the strike, they would have delayed it before now. they're just making excuses!!! I HATE WB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, I post my first reaction above, but now i'm about to vomit in disgust. I just read the whole statement; they're worried about not making enough money?! This is another remind that all they care about is wiping their greedy asses with our money, they do NOT have the fans' oppinions at heart.. "At least there's a smaller gap between HBP and DH!", this is utter bullshit, i'd rather HBP to be released sooner rather than later and i'm sure many people will agree with me. I think we shouldn't go and see the movie, and resort to movie piracy because these greedy bastards don't deserve our money. PS: I have to decide to shoot some puppies whether is is a sick, twisted, horrible joke or not.
I just checked yahoo.com and this story made their top news in the entertainment section. of course it would. UGHHHHHHH THIS IS STUPID! "There were no delays," Horn told The Associated Press. "I've seen the movie. It is fabulous. We would have been perfectly able to have it out in November." --- THEN RELEASE IT IN NOVEMBER! IS THAT SO HARD TO DO? http://news.yahoo.com/s/a p/20080814/ap_on_en_mo/fi lm_harry_potter
lol Phoenix117 I saw that too. Made me fricking mad b/c I doubt they'll listen to any of our feedback. Their money is too important to them.
Hey, I know everyone's mad, but dont shoot puppies!!!!!!! It's not their fault!!!! Shoot someone that's involved in this!!!!!! I HATE WB TOO!!!!! But i'm not going to hurt the innocent!!!!! Hurt WB!!!!!
This makes no sense to me! They claim that the writer's strike is pushing them back, but HBP has been finished filming since around April now, and the trailer is out! There can't be much more film editing to complete if the trailer i s released, can there? It would be okay if they were going to delay it for 1-2 months, but 9!!!! That is REALLY annoying!!!!!!! :(
It infuriates me that when you watch the trailer it still says november.
Wow. All for money. And people have accused JKR of being greedy. Cripes. It's a LITTLE late to be pulling this one the fans, isn't it? There's no way we'll benefit from having it pushed back. None. Wow, greed. HP movies make money anyways! They just want more. Well, I'm SURE they're just hurting for money. Oh gee, now HBP and DH are closer together. I don't care! We're Harry Potter fans! We had to wait YEARS for OotP, BUT Rowling never pulled anything like delaying it for 7 months after announcing an official date! We'd have been happier waiting for DH than having our official release date (which has been around for a LONG time) ripped away from us.
Disgraceful to say the least :@
What? they're pushing it back? OH shhh! seriously, can't they just do another block buster movie next year and post HBP THIS year! another 8 months of torture and after they posted the darn trailer!
I'm soooo mad about this. I was looking forward to it so much and I can't believe we have to wait 11 MONTHS to see it. The worst part is that I'm pretty sure why they're doing it, and I don't think it's been explained here yet. The thing is, they were right when they talked about the writer's stirke affecting it. It didn't touch HBP, but it stopped production on WB's other movies that were scheduled to be released in 2009. Now they have a "problem": They already had a mega hit with The Dark Knight, and had HBP scheduled to be released the same year. On paper, they don't want their revenue for 2008 to be beyond-incredible, with 2009 not having anything, since the writer's strike pushed back any potential blockbusters for next year. Shareholders don't like that. They'd rather have both years be amazing. So by pushing HBP to 2009, they make sure that both years do really well, and still sell just as many (if not a bit more) tickets. In the end, WB is a company and is trying to please their shareholders, not the fans of the book series a movie they're making is based on. it SUCKS. but sadly, it's true, and the worst part is that I know I'm still gonna see it next July.
im totally outraged can someone contact J.K. please!!!!!!!! This is not right to do to true Harry Potter fans that read the books and watch the movies over and over again!!!!! I just dont understand why this would happen and I beleive the movie would be more dark in the winter anyways this is just awful.
Oh god, people people PEOPLE, get a grip! You know you'll still all go watch the movie in droves come July, so calm down. WB's getting a lot of unwarranted hate, and why? For giving us some decent Potter movies? For giving us two Batman movies that people aren't ashamed of for liking? For giving us a freakin' Watchmen movie that we deserve? Personally, I can wait. I mean, look at the 2009 Summer schedule anyway. Aside from Terminator 4, there's NOTHING!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOO sad!!!!!
Its ironic if what people are saying about 'Twilight' is true, since Robert Patterson is in it, and WAS in 'Harry Potter'...
I have been a HP fan since i was 10 and i am now 21.. i completely understand that everyone is disapointed and upset (trust me i know how everyone feels, i cried when i found out). What I think we should do is band together.. individually we have no power.. but as a team and a group.. we can pull together and get through this. I am looking forward to the mugglecast on the 16th.. I have to say that i do not think that signing a petition will do anything.. they have already made their decision... what i think will help make us feel better is what we are doing.. venting out our frustrations and we will have to be pacient. I hope this post will make some people a little less upset. In the end we all love hp and we will get through this.. think about Harry and how strong he is.. if he can face death head on we can get through this!!!!
I'm not blaming JK!! I HATE WB!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love JK!!!! Did she have any say so in this though???? DId the cast Have a Say So too??? IDK
wat the heck!!!!! that is like the stupidest reson to move it so far away!! they have already made freaken billions of dollars! the same ppl r gonna go to the midnight release in the summer that would go to it in november! it doesnt matter. that just makes me SOOO FREAKEN MAD!!!!!
WB is so screwed and I'm glad. When everyone goes and sees the Star Wars movie and it says November 2008 at the end of the HBP trailer, everyone(non hardcore HP fans) will be like "where is that Harry Potter movie?" when Nov comes around. I'm glad that they are getting swamped with voicemails and e-mails. They deserve every last one of them.
this is bull warner brothers must be having suicidal thoughts at the moment because they are going to be rampaged by hoards of infuriated harry potter fans!!
To add insult to injury, tomorrow will still be the last weekly recorded episode of MuggleCast. Aww poo Andy. Can't you cut us a little slack in our time of despair? Its like adding a bat bogey hex to a person whose been crucio-ed for an hour straight.
J.K. should be able to change the decision HARRY POTTER IS J.K. ROWLING I just thought this was a sick joke and what can i do till that read that beatle and the bard baloney psst off Warner Brothers psst off
Phoenix117, I believe they mean "you believing your feedback is important to us" is important to them. We can write angry letters all we want. They want money. They must have predicted this angry response and thought the extra profit would be worth it. BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME ANY LESS ANGRY WITH THEM. And you know what bothers me most? The fact that they know everyone will still go and see it anyways. We can scream and cry and curse them all we want; speak of boycotting the movie and all. But you know we can't stay away. And they know we can't stay away. And that just gives them some kind of sick power of us, like "Moody" had over that first spider in GoF. Those who are really strong can resist, but most just succumb.
Well, the good news: At least we've got something to look forward to in '09. Bad news: ELEVEN FREAKING MONTHS! So pissed. I really don't get why they're doing this.
Join this Facebook Group!! Boycott the WB!! Bring Half-Blood Prince back to November! http://www.facebook.com/g roup.php?gid=48223856240 (remove spaces in URL)
They want to delay it cause they did make too much money on the Dark Knight. If they did put out HBP this year, they would make even MORE money. They won't make any money next year cause they don't have anything good next year. They just want to offset the Dark Knight. They're taxes would be crazy and "no money" to pay next year. They want to have a cushion and , unfortunatly, Harry is there pillow. darn greedy bastards.
We don't need to 'calm down' like some have suggested. We're free to rant all we want here, because we have EVERY reason too. No, I will not sing WB's praises for giving us 5 'great' HP films. I won't praise them for greedily, with no consideration for the fans, setting back the date of release SO late. It says November on the friggin' teaser trailers, for pete's sake! No, they don't 'deserve' more money.
I feel like my principle just told me that Umbridge will be teaching at my school!!! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!! I HATE WB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sigh. Is it actually that hard to understand that the writers strike had massive implications for the entertainment business in ways that many hadn't considered? There is a big shortage of 'tent pole' pictures for 2009, that is, big summer movies like The Dark Knight, or Iron Man etc. Pushing this back makes good business sense. It isn't caused by other movie release dates that it would compete with, since honestly it will crush any competition... it's bloody Harry Potter, the most successful film franchise of all time. All this venom directed at WB is quite surprising to be honest. You would think people would be able to see past their nose that this is a decision that is - while disappointing - unfortunately necessary.
I can't believe they did that :( Now we have to wait longer and I was soo looking forward to seeing it in November.
God, that comment Horns made about him seeing the movie and it being fabulous, made me want to vomit. What a jerk.
F*ck this sh*t. Wb can kiss my *ss those mother f*ckers. They're so f*cking greedy! My birthday is on Nov 21 and I wanted to see it on my birthday!!! darn YOU ALL TO HELL!!!!
We could always commit the greatest and most ultimate sacrifice. A band of dedicated fans could go in and destroy all the Half-Blood Prince film stock. Tell them if they don't change the date we will destroy them and they will make no money at all. We will always have the books, but their chance to make money will be gone. I am kind of not joking. If I knew it would teach these greedy idiots a lesson I would do it in a heart beat. I don't need the films, but I do enjoy them. I don't appreciate being jerked around and me as a fan being taken for granted.
Im sure Radcliff Watson Grint and co do not appreciate this much either!
WHAT THE HELL. WHAT. THE. HELL.
I dont think anyone is saying the we need to calm down Susan14.. trust me i have spent thousands and thousands of dollars over the past years on the harry potter franchise and wb merchandise and i am really upset... what the wb did is wrong and they know it.. they mislead all harry potter fans and unfortunatly the truth of the matter is they will get away with it... it is big buisness.. I think its great that websites like mugglenet are here so we can talk to other fans and talk about our feelings.
the guys name is alan F Horn trying to find out how to contact him to tell him he is a loon. If I do I will pass the info on
I won't fully believe it till I hear it from Jo!! I HATE WB!!!!!!!!!
NOOOO!!!! OMG!! WHY WOULD THEY DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, JUST TO MAKE EVERY SINGLE HARRY POTTER FAN HATE THEM? ITS THREE MONTHS TILL IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY CHANGE IT TO ALMOST A YEAR FROM NOW!! I AM SOOO MADD!!!!!!
Why can't they do EARLY 2009 then? Why do we have to wait till July?
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR IM SO PISSED OMG OMG OMG NOOOOO!!!! NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT AN EFFING YEAR!?!? theyre so messed up over there =[ it hurts
WTF??? I thought this was a joke when I first read it!
Think about this. We have already waited about a very long year since OOTP! Now we have to wait ANOTHER WHOLE painfully boreing year till HBP!!! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE WB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, some previous posters have told others to calm down(or the equivalent of it). I'm just saying this is kind of our space to vent, so, allow some of the hysteria since that's just what it is; hysteria (like people taking it to extremes). Especially a mere few hours after it was announced.
GET HORNS NUMBER OR EMAIL HE MUST BE CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY THIS WIZARDING WORLD WOULD NOT STAND FOR THIS SO NEITHER SHOULD WE
I HATE warner bros.!! this SUCKS!!! why should we have to wait another year for HBP to be released !!
WTF!!!! That's retarded. They must have known sooner that it would be delayed. And nice excuse. Blame it on the writers strike! This is horrible. I might just kill myself!!!!!!!!
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