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 can't do this to us, we dont deserve !! Crucio, Avada Kedavra on WB... They only want more and more money... Im about to cross the entire ocean and kill the person who have this brillant idea i mean why on earth they just tell this now, they have pleasure in torture us, Im not waiting another freaking year to see this movie. I can't even tell how pissed off i am. Is WB stupid?! this way they will loose all the millions of HP fans... This way they will finished the next movie and HP6 is still to be released -_- HARRY POTTER FANS... "WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER"
...hm. I definitely didn't see that coming. But, hey, I wouldn't put it past WB to do this. All I can say is that I'm really disappointed. I don't know about you guys, but it seems like "We love our fans" is becoming less and less truthful every minute... but hopefully, the movie will be even better now that it's coming out later? They'll have more time on it, right? *thinks optimistic thoughts*
To those of you who don't believe that boycotting can change anything: IT CAN. Since Warner Bros is so eager to make some extra millions, let's spend as little as possible on this movie and they get just the opposite of what they wanted. They probably won't change the date anymore, but it'll teach them a good painful lesson for the future. By the way, if you don't feel able to see the movie on DVD only the go to the theatre later. The later you go the less money WB gets, the more goes to your local cinema. Or pay for another film and watch Harry Potter instead. Or, even better would be to boycott other Warner movies, but then you must let them know that you are doing it - write to the morons.
this is depressing. .___. i was so excited! but noooo.... they had to go on and change the date! I had a feeling they would delay it. but not that much! 11 months. T_T
Well, we should all be used to being treated like this by WB! They haven't exactly acted like they cared about the opinions of the fans in the past. And just because they are moving the date back, it doesn't mean that they will make it better. They have said that it's finished. They're just gonna sit on it for 8 more months and watch all the fans squirm with anticipation! I would love to be able to have optimistic thoughts and think that they are doing it to make it a much better film for the fans. But we all know its all about the $$$. I had actually started to get really excited for this film because it does really look like it will be very good. That is, if they ever actually release it. Someone at WB definitely deserves Crucio!
I can't believe this! now i have to wait 11 more months!!!! NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the release was so close.... why did it have to be next SUMMER???
Plz sign my petiotion!!!! we the fans can stope Wb!!!!!! http://www.ipet itions.com/petition/hbp6r eleasedate/
You know what makes this worse? I read on a website that WB had planned for the theatrical trailer to be with Clone Wars but wasn't because of the release date!
Grrrr. That's all I have to say.
So, yesterday is the obviously the worst day of the summer for us Potter fans. Even worse than the wait for the HBP teaser trailer, which I have to say for me, was worth the wait ! Today, is also the day the WB sunk lower than low. Today Warner Brothers has basically called us a bunch of Idiots to our faces !!! They have basically said we are such stupid fangirls/fanboys that we will flock to a movie no matter when then decide to release. They said we'll give a press release to them that basically tells ays we are movie the Harry Potter movie back til July ,so our already billion dollar company can make even more money. And OH! This will work because you know those kids that love the series, the characters, the plot, and the author whole- heartdly will come no matter when its released !!!! (And Ive even heard from a friend, there doing this to make room for the Dark Knight so it can continue to earn the big bucks, through November and maybe earn more than Titanic, but thats just a rumor !) To me, this is UNFORGIVEABLE !!!!!!!!!! The movie is done, finished, post production has been completed as scheduled. Thats what makes this even more annoying... the movie is COMPLETELY done, yet their sitting on it for 9 months. They're not editing it, fixing it, buffing it up, nothing. The movie they have now is the same thing we"ll be watching nearly a year from now. That is most disturbing part !! So because of blatant attempt by WB to make us look like fools,I purpose we as fans show the WB we are not pushovers and hit them where it hurts !!! The box office !!!! I will sign these petition floating around, even though we all know from years of experience this will go nowhere, and I wont boycott the WB because we also all know if we stop buying there merchandise it also wont help. So I say we dont see the movie !!! Before you turn a deaf ear!!! Please hear me out !!!!! Because I know all of us as Potter fans will still go and see the movie , but I pu...
I purpose not one fan but a ticket for opening night of the movie !!!!! We Have, i believe 355 more days whats one more ???? That means no midnight releases and NO FRIDAY SHOWS AT ALL !!!!! Because if you think about it opening night is one of the most important nights of opening weekend !!! We would be proving a point to the WB that we, the fans and customer, should have a say in the movies !!!! (Also, I feel instead of these petitons how bout we righ letters to Leavenden Studios and WB, fill there mailboxs with mail like the Dursleys House, make rants on Youtube, make videos and send them to the WB, write to entertainment magazines and Newspapers something that will get us heard !!!! ) So, I say all this to say, lets finally be heard as fans and the co-creaters of this franchise like we actually are and not be patient and fight for our right to be HEARD !!!! If your older sibling told you to wait while they opened your christmas presents and then told you to wait 8 months until they would give it to you would you wait or would you fight for was rightfully yours. I hope you guys would take the ladder !! So, I opened this topic to see how you guys would feel about this and to hear how you reacted when you heard. - Sophie P.s. - sry for any typos or grammatical errors, just started ranting and got a little into it !!
WHY even bother with the countdown timer anymore? At this time it is a joke. Phhhuh!!!
****
I am actually literally in tears right now. They're finished the movie but they're keeping it from us loyal, devoted fans because they know it will earn them some extra money. I hate you, Warner Bros. And for all the people reading the comments, nobody seems to be that upset as I am so i'd just like to take a minute to scream: 'AHHHHHHHHHHH. SCREW YOU, WARNER BROTHERS. YOU SUCK!!!' I have to get through a whole nother year of school before I can see this movie! THIS SUCKS! And like someone else said, I bet half the movie will be leaked before it comes out! It's going to be spoiled! WARNER BROTHERS JUST RUINED THEIR OWN MOVIE! I need someone to rant to: x-funky.socks-x@ hotmail. com
What the Hell?!?!?!? How can they do this?! Doe it really take that long to finish it?! And does this mean that DH is going to be pushed back also?
Ok now what's worse is that Summit Entertainment has now taken over the November 21st spot to release Twilight early now!!!! OMFG!! Farking WB!
GRRR!!! We were fine with waiting 40 months from the time HBP was published till the movie was released, but making us wait 8 more months just so WB can make even more money?!! Then release the movie twice! Nov. 21, 2008 *AND* July 17, 2009. We die hard HP fans will buy tickets to both releases! Trust me! My family, friends and I are die hard HP fans and we always see each movie at least 3 times in theaters (we bring friends to watch too), and buy the DVDs and games for ourselves and as gifts. We take umbrage with the WB decision to push the release date by an additional 8 months due to greed and are so outraged that we're boycotting the next 3 HP movies. That's 70 to 100 theater tickets (they're getting too expensive anyway), 15 to 25 DVDs, and untold buckets of movie popcorn and soda we won't buy. No more revenues to WB and their distributors from us for any more HP movies. WB thinks we'll forget our outrage in a year and cave in and go see the HP movies anyway. No way. In July 2009 we'll download the pirate movie from the Internet to watch and then wait for the DVDs to come out so we can borrow them for free from the public library. (After waiting 48 months, what's another 6 months for DVDs?) Think we'll lose our resolve? Not a chance. My family has been boycotting BofA, Nestle, and the Red Cross since the mid-1980's for unforgiveable decisions they made and WB has now put itself in the same category.
what it comes down to is the bosses at WB don't think HBP can stand up to Twilight, which will be release Dec 12th. So they moved it to a summer release in hopes that it would make more money. It certainly makes you wonder how bad the movie's going to be if the studio exec's don't have any confidence in their film.
WB needs to realize that we are not cattle lined up to be milked for our money whenever it is conveient for them! They think the Harry Potter fans will just go blindly wherever they tell us. We need to make a stand, and let them know that we has fans determine how much money they make, and not their GREEDY, UNDERMINING, DISRESPECTFUL selves. Down with the WB deatheaters!
My first thought was that there was something wrong with the movie; that Yates had done something terribly wrong with this movie which is why the trailers were delayed. Maybe there were fan previews that expressed severe disappointment with what they saw. Maybe HBP was compared to DK and was found sorely lacking. WB will make money whenever the movie comes out, but think of how much was already spent to promote the movie for a November WORLDWIDE release! [Not counting the corresponding marketing like games, toys, clothing that will miss the Christmas season].
OMG!!!!!!! What the heck!!!!! I am SOOOOOOO mad!!!!
I've seen on YouTube where people have called WB and they hung up on them!
I've seen on YouTube where people have called WB and they hung up on them!
Ok, so i didn't find out till today about this STUPID move. I went on to the website and i saw the countdown was up to over 300 and i assumed that mugglenet was having some sort of error, but then i scroll down and find out that WARNER BROTHERS IS ABSOLUTELY OUT OF THEIR MINDS! I have been waiting for fricken EVER for this movie, and now i have to wait almost an entire year for it! Wtf warner bros. wtf. soo long i'v been waiting, soooooo LONG. Thank you Warner Brothers,Thank you VERY MUCH! They don't care about the fans, they care about the money. Harry Potter fans are going to go see the movie no matter when it comes out. i had noooo problem seeing it after school on that Friday, maybe even at midnight the day before. But no, now i have to wait for fricken ever.
im so pissed of also but on the bright side they will get more money towards making the 7 movies
im so pissed of also but on the bright side they will get more money towards making the 7 movies
here you go guys... here is THE list of WB Big Wigs.. email them ALL!!!! on.sanders@war nerbros.com; mark.horak@warnerbros.com ; barry.meyer@warnerbros.co m; jim.noonan@warnerbros.com ; kevin.tsujihara@warnerbro s.com; alan.horn@warnerbros.com; matt.lasorsa@newline.com; steve.einhorn@newline.com ; henry.mcgee@hbo.com; gary.credle@warnerbros.co m; susan.fleishman@warnerbro s.com; richard.fox@warnerbros.co m; jeff.robinov@warnerbros.c om; edward.romano@warnerbros. com; bruce.rosenblum@warnerbro s.com;
i am not seeing any WB films in the theatre until HBP is released. i suggest everyone do the same. we have to stand up.. we all control the major movie companies by what we watch... let's remind them of that.
This IS rather annoying. 8 whole months for the sake of money?
I'm stunned by this. I just took my son to see "Clone Wars" at the local movie theater and they ran the HBP teaser. Since when don't Thanksgiving and Christmas movies do well?? I thought the date was perfect for the release. At least some pictures from HBP are coming in.
WB will pay for their treachery! This is unheard of! Money. It's all about money. We will bring them down! We'll launch the largest and most organized pirating operation this world has ever seen!
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! wait isnt christmas time just as good as summer time for sales !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
did you hear that TWILIGHT is now coming out nov. 21st?? this sucks! twilight is nothing compared to HP.
seriously? twilights coming out nov. 21st? well i love twilight, but fudge YOU WARNER BROS!
wow, i didn't know that mugglenet changes expletives to their more appropriate counterparts when you post.
WB just did themselves in! Way to tick off all the HP fans in the world. Good luck to them on making that money that they delayed this movie for. They won't be getting my money that's for sure. I will just read the book again. WB probably messed up the movie anyway with taking out some of the memories and adding that dumb attack on the burrow. Good job WB...you all can kiss it!
I love HP, but I'm also a twilight fan. It was definitely a smart move for Summit. I'm happy I get to see Twilight a month earlier, but I'm still EXTREMELY angry with WB. For me, its bittersweet...
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)
CURSE YOU WARNER BROTHERS!!!!!! I hate you!! You money-thirsty idiots don't even care about us fans!!! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE ANYONE WATCH THAT MOVIE. What kind of corrupt people do this?! I don't know if anyone buys the whole "delaying it to make it better", but I certainly don't. With this kind of mentality, of releasing it in the summer because it's the best time for families to go watch it, who can believe that they split Deathly Hallows "to make the film justice to please the fans"?!?!? aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh !!!! I hate that these people have so much power when they don't know how to use it right. These news have made me hiperventilate the wrong way... I cannot BELIEVE this.
Come on! Petition!!!!!!! http://www. petitionspot.com/petition s /harrypotter6 Better than doing nothing!!! They may as well know how many lifes the've ruined!!!
I totally just copied and pasted this. I found it in another group and I think it will work really well if we all ban together and do this! Please remember...i didn't write the things below..so any " I"s are not referring to me. "Most people agree that online petitions don't do anything. They can be faked, so WB won't pay attention to them. There is a campaign to send in Howlers to WB: http://hbpnojuly.blogspot .com/ They have the address for Warner Brothers on the link. I think that sending a message by muggle post will be much more effective than signing a petition or even sending them an e-mail. They won't be able to ignore thousands of letters from angry fans. When the tv show Jericho was cancelled, fans sent in loads of peanuts to CBS. Here's an article about it: http://abcnews.go.com/Bus iness/FunMoney/Story?id=3 214156 And guess what? It actually worked! They put the show back on the line up for the next season. If it worked for Jericho, maybe it can work for us. I suggest we all send them Howlers. If we can come up with something cheap and Potter- related to send them, that would be even better! Lets join together as a community and show them what Potter fans are made of! Here is a message that I made to send them: http://i34.tinypic.com/t0 hkch.jpg You all can use it if you want, though some of you may be thinking of sending less... cordial messages."
Go f*ck yourselves WB
WTF were they thinking? This shows so little regard for the fans that it is appalling. We have been waiting more than a year for this movie's release, and just three months before it is to hit theaters, they spring it on us that it has been delayed nearly another ENTIRE YEAR? That is so beyond greedy and self-serving that it is disgusting.
Well, if you are a true Harry Potter fan you wouldn't go to Twilight.. They moved our movie and now will have Twilight open in it's place. Down with Warner Brother's. I have been emailing them. They can only email back 15% offers for my opinon...
http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=VyulwknTCOI
sorry to bust your bubble guys but you are forgetting one important thing that MAY be influencing their decision.... i don't know why exactly they had to postpone it 8 months, but... the TWILIGHT film is set to be released by summit entertainment on december 12th, which is only 2 weeks after HBP's original release date. Warner Bros said themselves "the repercussions of the writers
Oh my @!#!$ GOD!!! I CAN"T BELIEVE THIS!!
after 11 months, i'm not even sure i'll still be interested in seeing it in theatres. i'll just wait for a bootleg copy.
Again, I don't have the time to read all of these comments, but I do think that everyone who has comment on this so far should sign the petition. That way there will be at least 1349 fans complaining!!! Also I for one, will be one of the people who will pay for a movie other than the hp six movie and than sneak in to the hp six movie, without giving credit to wb!!!
it cant be true it just cant!
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