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
They are using the writer's strike as part of their excuse, but of course they knew months ago that it would affect next year's movie releases. Why did they decide to wait until we only had 3 MONTHS left before the movie to spring this on us!?!?!?!? It would have still been dissapointing if they had told us months ago, but a little easier to take. They waited until the trailer and many pictures had been released. Now we feel like they have dangled a treat in front of our faces and just when we reach out for it, they snatch it away! Now many people have bought tickets to out of town premiers and events. This was just so wrong of WB to do this! I'm still so angry and still believe that someone at WB deserves Crucio! I HATE WB!!!
this is really depressing. but hey, at least people are commenting again! maybe this was a huge ploy to rally the potter fans together again :] it still sucks.
UGH I've been saying to my friends all along there was something suspicious about the lack of material!! This is INFURIATING. I really think this calls for another live Mugglecast; I know they're supposed to be ending, but isn't this one of those times they said they'd have another one? "Big news"? This qualifies! Maybe there's no live show because there's already a prerecorded one (the LAST, supposedly, prerecorded weekly one) coming out tomorrow. At the very least, I hope they push back the end of weekly prerecorded episodes another week so they can do a show on this. I REALLY want to hear them talk about this. Especially Laura, she'll be funny to hear. I am not happy about this and I know they won't be either! They can't ignore this, I mean, come on, people!!
OMG. i don't even know what to say! i'm beyond pissed off. i mean, we've been looking forward to this for ages, and we get so close and they just change the release date to NEXT JULY?! i could cry i'm so upset.
I too am shocked and appalled! The movie is already wrapped up! The only reason they're doing this is simply and superficially due to financial motivations...and possibly Oscar motivations. They think they have a better market and less competition--they even admitted that this is the reason. I'm sickened that they would be so blantantly greedy. This epitomizes everything that's wrong with the Hollywood studio system. Who is the movie for? The current fans that are eagerly awaiting it and the possible new fans that will discover it and love it just as much? Or does it exist only to provide the fat cat studio execs more money in their pocket? This decision to move the release date tells us what they consider the answer to be! That's what sickens me.
Make sure to check out an OFFICIAL PETITION on Facebook. There's a new Facebook group called "HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE SHOULD BE RELEASED ON 11-21-08" This is one of the ways we can all cooperate and make Warner Brothers know that we are not okay with their decision. SO MAKE SURE TO JOIN THAT FACEBOOK GROUP!!!!! Here's the webpage where you'll be able to find it: http://www.facebook. com/group.php?gid=3478819 5154 Please take out the spaces! If we all join, there might be some way to make this change!
what???... but....what!!!!! what on earth made them do this!!! god i feel so let down =[
Honestly, this isn't a shock. They're feeling threatened by the release of the Twilight movie (which is getting WAY more press and attention than HBP), and they know that they might lose money on ticket sales. Screw them, this is total bull. I don't see Twilight getting delayed because of the writer's strike. This is all about marketing and making money.
THAT IS NOT EVEN FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! i only have 1 question... WHAT THE HELL????????????????????? ??????????????...
im just so disapointed and feel let down by W/B . i feel so mad now that i don't think i want to wait to see the film i might as well wait for DVD :(
This just SUCKS! I ws SO disappointed. And mad. I even cried. that's like, almost a year to go. I was looking forward for this SO much. WOW, at least we've got a lot of posts...
THIS NEWS S-U-C-K-S!!!! now we'll hav movie 6 in 2009,movie 7 part 1 in 2010 n part 2 in 2011....AND ALL THE POTTER FANS WILL D-I-E by then!! WHO'S THE MENTAL BEHIND ALL THIS!!!! I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT!!
Voldamort is tightening his grip on WB!!!!!!!!!! why, oh why, did they release the Teaser trailer 2 weeks ago? they must have known this was in the wind! they could have put a holt to ot going out.................. after all we did not know it was caoming until the last minute! How dare they site the writers strike as the reason! if that was the reason they would have known ages ago!! this is a whole load of bulloney!!! pehaps we should strike or better still picket WB....................... like the little teaser at the end about DH that everthing is on track and nothing will change! if it is to plasidate us it didn't work!!!
They gave three reasons. 1. Better release time. 2. Getting the prime spot because the movies that were supposed to come out then are delayed by the writer's strike. 3. They wanted to put it out on the same weekend as the Dark Knight came out this year. 1. MONEY. 2. MONEY. 3. MONEY.
I agree with heronxobsessed74 WB YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
I just let WB know exactly how I feel about this decision via the feedback option on their web site -- thanks for pointing that out, GrangerLaughs! Now, if we were to be really eeeeevil, we could also fill out the survey (link appears at the bottom of the WB home page), and give them a poor review for their web site. And write Harry Potter in every comment box. ;-)
lets hope we can get a copy of the half blood prince and screw you W/B
I really have never understood before why everyone hated WB so much. Now I certainly am at least beginning to see what they mean. I was so mad I didn't bother finishing the release and I just saw that DH was still coming out at the same time as planned. If this remains true, it's a relief, but who's to say we should trust WB at the moment?
At first I thought this was another one of Mugglenet's April Fool's jokes or something. Completely shocking news. Now what am I supposed to look forward to this November? And as far as the petitions go, it's not going to help anything. WB is too money-hungry to care what any of us think. (I'm trying not to get my hopes up that they might change it back.)
I HOPED THEY CAN HEAR THE BLOODY SCREAM THAT CAME FROM MY MOUTH AS I HEARD THIS NEWS.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!
How do you keep a HP fan in suspense? I'll tell you tomorrow, no--scratch that-- next week, umm.....actually, i'll tell you in two months --whoops! my bad!-- i meant four months....yeah.....
LOL the_shrieking_snack!!!!
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 just wanna make more money. at least we'll have the tales of beedle the bard
O M G !!! WARNER you gotta be freakin' kidding me how is it possible to delay a movie half year and make us wait 11 months !! it
I DEMAND A LIVE MUGGLECAST NOW!
i can only say this...what a big dissapointment
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGG GGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!! wot the hell? why have they done this? this is the worst news EVER
I was so excited that we'd got below the 100 day mark, and now this! I'd just been with all my friends n we were deciding what we were going to wear to the premier. We were go goig to the premier to celebrate my 18th birthday. i actually cried when i found out! i've now got to finish my a-levels b4 the film goes out, this is soooooo unfair!!!!! i cant wait any longer :( :( :( :(
Hm...Thanks for telling about the feedback/survey on the WB homepage....:P*evil grin*
If you wanna stick it to WB's pockets don't see the movie opening weekend. Sign this petition. http://www.p etitionspot.com/petitions /BoycottWB
If you wanna stick it to WB's pockets don't see the movie opening weekend. Sign this petition. http://www.p etitionspot.com/petitions /BoycottWB
The countdown IS depressing. Over 300? Groan times twelve. I kind of feel bad for whoever has to deal with all the hate mail because they're not the one who's important enough to make the actual decision, obviously. I wonder if these petitions will work. I mean, it would be one thing if the movie wasn't READY. But it's not even about that!
WHAT!!! I HAVE TO GO ELEVEN MORE MONTHS!!! I CAN'T DO IT!!!
im getting sick of wb .
im getting sick of wb .
im getting sick of wb .
im getting sick of wb .
im getting sick of wb .
How about everyone posting a feedback to Warner Bros. at the same time?
Ohh...Yeah, live MuggleCast would make this a little bit better..
I think this movie had, and still has, the potential to be very good. Let's just think of it this way. It's a longer wait, but we're still getting the movie, and, as of now, I haven't seen any material, photos, or footage that has yet discouraged me thinking that this could be the best one so far. This could change, but as of right now that's how I wish to think of it; HBP, the movie that (was postponed and still) has the potential to be the best Harry Potter film we have seen.
How about everyone posting a feedback to Warner Bros. at the same time? ___I already did the survey. And the feedback.
Just found this in the latest petition entries - 11849 Danielle Kirkland 2008-08-15 12:51:56 "ok so i pretty much think that warner brothers is really extremely GAY!!!! i bought a plane ticket for the prmier and eveything and now i cant get that money back i wasted 1000 dollars beause of warner brothers i am going going to sue for faulty advertisement and you owe me my freakin 1000 dollars back uuuuggggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!! you ruined my life. my boyfriends birthday is on november 21st, so him and I bought tickets to london for the premiere! he is obsessed with harry potter and i was planning on suprising him with the tickets! i got a job and worked ALLLLLL SUMMER LONG to get money for those plane tickets. WOWOWWWWWWW" Now that's just terrible, have WB even considered people may had hlidays and things booked for this. Me and my wife booked holidays from work for the films release too. WB sucks for doing this to people like this poor woman here.
HOW I WISH POTTER FILM RIGHTS WERE GIVEN TO ANOTHER PRODUCTION COMPANY AND NOT WB!!!!!
How about everyone posting a feedback to Warner Bros. at the same time? ___I already did the survey. And the feedback. do it again
darn IT!!!! the REAL reason they post-poned it is because they dont want compition from the Twilight movie!! They're paranoid because people are calling Stephenie Meyer the next JK Rowling!!
What the hell do they think they're doing. It's not like they won't make enough money on HBP. Greedy a..holes.
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)
Uber failure
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