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
lkay i have a serious problem with this. WTF. it goes from 98 days to 564378290345968y754356i this is not okay. if i ever meet the man who changed this for us, his life might end.
I cannot believe they would make this decision without discussing it with Ms JK Rowling. Did she agree to this? Will she remain silent? This is all about money and she has made plenty. She has used her position to do good and therefore has maintained her integrity with fans, but this is something else. She must voice her disapproval immediately and loudly. She must speak for us.
This is so unfair!I still can't believe this is real.This sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NNNNNNNNNN000000000000000 000000!!!!!!!!!!! How brutally unfair!!! I will definitely NOT be seeing ANY WB movies this year. If we all commit to that, WB will be sorry. Their reasons are unfair to the fandom, and worse, they DON'T CARE! -jky "unhappy in Kentucky"
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! this is siriously and utterly UNFARE !!!!how could they change the relise date just like that?!?!?!?!?!
I have been re-reading HBP so it would be fresh in my mind for this release. (Actually, I've just re-read the whole saga for the past 6 weeks) THIS JUST PLAIN HURTS.
Ridiculous...absolutely ridiculous. Riot anyone ?
I wonder what JK Rowling and Evanna Lynch think..
Its obvious now.They want to repeat the success of the Dark Knight and dont want their top movies to be released in the same year!There will be little or no competition for HBP in 2009 and will easily become the highest grossing film of the year.And they'll get more money out of this as well but im not seeing HBP in the cinema...
We were all so set on it. They are just dangling it in front of our faces and now we have to wait until next year!!!!!!!!!!!THIS IS AGGRAVATING!!!!!
Now, I'm kindoff glad I haen't seen TDk....
UGHHHHHHHH ive been rereading the whole hp series also and im on OOTP now and i was plannin on having HBP done by november AND NOW THERES NO MOVIE! wtf im pissed
The thing that really is bad about this is that we will all still go see harry potter next July no matter how mad we are. Maybe we should boycott all warner brothers movies until Harry Potter is out. Imagine the economical impact to wb is no one went to one of their movies til next July.
I am SO pissed right now, how could they do such a thing!? WHAT. THE. HELL?!?!? darn you WarnerBros!!!!
@#%#$^&#@$%!$@*%^&#@%$%!# %^$&$%&*$%^&$%^*%^&*(%^(& SOOOOO FREAKING UBERLY PISSED RIGHT NOWWWWWWW!!!!! UGH!! !!!!!!!!! MADDDDDDDD!!!! !!!! ^&*($$^@#$^$&)^&* $ GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS SOOOO STUPID! UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHH!!!!! u just ruined my year WB!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRU GHHHHHHHH!!!!
oh my goddddd. im beyond pissed!! how could they do that?? harry potter already makes enough money as it is, do they have to be that greedy? the movie is already finished, and the trailer is already in theaters!! thats just ridiculous. thats so stupid and im so mad. wb sucks!
This IS the worst year! I can't believe they did this! It is completely unfair. I was already planning to see it in November but now another whole year? I can't go another year without Harry Potter! Please please please tell me they're going to reconsider!
I hope WB get what they deserve.
OH MY GOSH!!!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! !!!!!!!! This is so unfair! WB is just milking "the franchise" dry. Of course, its all about the money. They don't care one little bit about the devoted fans who have been counting down the days for this movie. You can't give something and then just yank it back!
Keep callling and emailing the WB directly, as well as signing the petitions. Together we can show them how important it is to keep the original release date!
This is absolutely "riddikulus"!!!!! I so had plans for the day! Like... huge ones. It says that the gap between DH and HBP will be shorter, but are they going to release it on the planned dates or are the pushing that back a little, too? I can't believe that they are doing this!!!!!!
WHAT THE FUP!!!!!?????? This is disgraceful, I am outraged, its like their messing with our minds, how in Gods name can they give one release date and then change their minds and put it back 8 months!!!????? grrrrrrrrr
and their excuse is lame, they just want more money (like they dont have enough already) and they dont give a darn about any fans. 'we love our fans'? yeah right, what a load of bull
This is just completely and utterly unfair to those of us who are such devoted fans! I am so sad right now, and despite how much I love the HP films I'm now seriously considering not seeing The Half Blood Prince in theaters at all. I have seen each of the films at least twice in the theaters, and now I truly do not want to contribute any more of my hard-earned money to Warner Bros. I'm also very glad now that I have not seen The Dark Knight, as that would just be padding WB's pockets more. I am completely disgusted with how money-hungry WB has become concerning the Harry Potter films. Absolutely inexcusable.
My favorite part is when they say this decision won't impact the release of the final two films. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice... if it serves them financially, they'll do whatever the hell they want. Their credibility is shot. It kills me that I have to put money in WB's pockets to see Harry Potter at all. But I will boycott WB films before and after. We could all start by boycotting the Clone Wars. Once they lose money, they'll listen. It's the only language they speak these days.
This is BS! Does this mean that the games will be pushed back too? I hope not! Cuz @ least that's one thing we can look foward to in Nov! I was sooo hoping to go see it the night it came out or the next day, my birthday! curse WB!
fudge
I fully agree with Biff. WB's credibility is shot. Let's boycott other WB movies and write to them and tell them that we are doing it. That way they'll regret what they have done.
Wow...Now this is some straight up bull... What the hell is WB playing at? They are ruining the HP franchise. It makes me wonder if this has anything to do with avoiding competition with another movie...
WERE IS VOLDEMORT WHEN YOU NEED HIM???
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could die!!!!! Well, as long as Scholastic doesn't push back Beedle the Bard... There's SOMETHING to look foward to... :(!!!!!
It IS rather sad; just after we had broken 100!
This is just the way business is done in the US. WB has made the money Horn promised for the year and he knows he will cash in so he now is looking forward to next year. Sorry the young people of the world are being taught such a cruel lesson so young but maybe it is better they learn early in life rather than growing up to believe that money is not the most important thing in the world.
Not again Warner Bros!!! AHHHH! I'M SO MAD!!!!!!
By the time Half-Blood Prince comes out, WB will have given us so many pictures that we could just put them together in a flip book and watch the movie that way. I hate WB.
fudge THAT shhh! fudge Warner Brothers! fudge their profit margins! fudge them For fudge up my B-day movie plans! I will not fudge watch this movie in theatres! I can wait until the freaking dvd comes out, and I won't even buy it right away i'll wait unitl that shhh goes in the bargin bin. fudge you Warner Brothers i was going to see that movie three times in fudge Imax, now i'll get it for 5.99 or even better find an illegal copy a week before and post it on fudge You Tube! fudge Warners! Everyone should boycott and lets see how much fudge money they make then! Bastards! I am so freaking serious! We need to unite people! spread your outrage! No one see this movie in Theatres!
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)
Yes, my friends, WB has done it again; infuriated half the world for the sake of a few more bucks. I do feel bad for everyone saying it came out on their birthdays and such. If only we weren't such avid fans and could stand not to see it. But waiting for the video doesn't solve anything; it all still goes to WB. And I agree with everyone saying to be cautious about trusting WB; I wouldn't go making assumptions that DH is still coming out on schedule just yet. However; let's focus on the other aspect, shall we? Now a whole new crowd of people have a birthday present. Any plans for the release can be held in summer, too, most likely. And it's something to look forward to for next summer. However ... I would recommend not seeing the Clone Wars simply for the sake of watching the trailer in theaters. That's a start. Show them that we're hurt and we will give the HP movie franchise the cold shoulder as much as we can while remaining true to our fanatic sides.
I have to say, I've never known the fandom so united. Oh, and I guess Andrew has his April Fool's joke for next year! "HBP Pushed Back to One Year After Original Date: November 21, 2009." I, too, had plans for when to see this movie and all that jazz, guys; but we can all make new ones- better ones, since it'll be summer then.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?! A SOFHOASDUGH8D9FSIHGOIA\GJ !! GAHHHH!!
Im disgusted by their greed, they have no consideration for all the fans who were looking forward to nov 21. And the people who had made some kind of plans, that must be even more frustrating. From now on I will minimize the cash I use on WB, guess Ill go with a pirat-copy of the dvd, since I have to watch the movie in the cinema.. atleast once.
A few days, sure. 1 month, fine. 8 months? psst off.
LETS UNITE AS A HUGE FANDOM!!!! BOYCOTT WB UNTIL THE CHANGE IT BACK OR UNTIL IT COMES OUT NEXT JULY.... LETS STICK IT TO THEM!!!
I wonder ... does anyone know anything about boycotts and petitions? IS it actually possible for us to change something? I mean, I personally don't hold much store by them ... is my opinion wrong?
You know, now that I think about it, doesn't it seem a bit thoughtless to delay a movie 8 whole months with motivations that have nothing at all to do with the film not being ready? It sounds like post-production is complete, and they could put it out tomorrow if they wanted to. Isn't keeping a full, completed movie unreleased for nearly a full year a bit ... DUMB? There's bound to be floods of leaked footage, pictures, quotes, and any other type of material you can think of by the time this movie actually is released. We're all going to have to be very careful if we want our first time seeing the movie to be next July. Well, we don't want it to be released next July, of course, but, y'know, our first time seeing the movie to be in a theater, AFTER the movie's actually released at long last. You know what I meant.
I'm shocked!!!
I can not believe that WB are just going to sit on this FINISHED movie for almost a year. That is rediculous and I am appalled that they would treat their LOYAL Hp fanbase this way. I plan to boycot the release of this movie when it finally does come out. I mean we are waiting almost a 2 years by the time it comes out that I think I can wait until it comes out on DVD by that time. I am just so pissed!!!!!!
WHAT? so upset
I didn't see that coming. It hit me like the Hogwarts Express... But seriously, November was supposed to be the ace month. This is bull.
Most people are on holiday in July! How is that the best time? GOD! I was so looking forward to that - it would have come out on my 21st birthday if it had stayed november 21st! I had it all planned out! This sucks.
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