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
it cant be true it just cant!
Warners bros is so stupid to change the release date when they had the november date past around all around. It makes no sense why they would do it. I want to hear what jo has to say about this. I hope she can have some powers and get it changed back.
Online petitions don't do much, but I think that the Howler thing is a really good idea. A bunch of red-enveloped letters from angry, rabid fans are going to send a more powerful message than an online petition.
something's up! its ridiculous pushing it back almost a whole year...why even put out a trailer....i am soo pissed
WHY WHY WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!?!? AHHHHHH! I WILL BE IN THE FREAKING MOUNTAINS IN THE SUMMER AND WON'T GET TO GO TO A RELEASE PARTY! I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ONE LAST HP MIDNIGHT PARTY IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH MY FRIENDS. FREAKING WB SUCKS SOOOO MUCH. TO TEASE US WITH A TRAILER AND THEN BACK SLAP US LIKE THIS. WHYYYYYYYYYY?!? I AM SOOOO PISSED!
http://hbpnojuly.blogspo t.com/ Visit this site ^ (remove the spaces) It's a campaign to mail Howlers directly to WB. WB won't care about online petitions. They probably don't even really notice them. They can't, however, ignore masses of red envelopes coming in to them every day!!!!
I still can't believe this. I posted a statement almost 12 hours ago & I still haven't gotten over this. I would say let 's send letters & call wb - contact info:Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522 CA Tel. 818-562-3062, but it probably won't do anything for the release date to change...especially since Twilight is no opening November 21st. However, let's do it anyway...maybe they will push the movie before July. We all have to stand together on this. We can't go see WB films. If one person calls we all have to call...if one person sends a letter we all have to send one... and we all have to pray that there is someone at WB who is really pissed at this decision & gets the movie onto the internet. Imagine that Alan Horn...nobody going to see the movie in the theatre because it was leaked onto the internet. Justice! Let's do it!
I still can't believe this. I posted a statement almost 12 hours ago & I still haven't gotten over this. I would say let 's send letters & call wb - contact info:Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522 CA Tel. 818-562-3062, but it probably won't do anything for the release date to change...especially since Twilight is no opening November 21st. However, let's do it anyway...maybe they will push the movie before July. We all have to stand together on this. We can't go see WB films. If one person calls we all have to call...if one person sends a letter we all have to send one... and we all have to pray that there is someone at WB who is really pissed at this decision & gets the movie onto the internet. Imagine that Alan Horn...nobody going to see the movie in the theatre because it was leaked onto the internet. Justice! Let's do it!
How seriously revolting. They blatantly admitted they're just doing this for the money. I want to revolt and not see the movie now, just because they're being so greedy. But alas JKR's amazing work has us all hooked and there's nothing we can do about it now. I just can't believe how selfish they would be. It's kind of a reality kick; they didn't want to do the HP movies because they thought it would be fun or because they like HP, just cause they wanted to make lots of money. What bull shizzle. I'm so disappointed.
This is a total OUTRAGE! I could say a LOT more about this, but it would probably be censored!
I just found out and i agree thats a load of crap. I mean what the hell is taking so long? All I know THIS BETTER BE THE BEST darn MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!!!!!!
JERKS! I just told my dad about it and he said it was a stupid decision on the WB`s part and I agree ten-fold. Now I have to see it in 3-D .... ridiculas.....stupi d....oafs...suck....GRRRR ! die WB! -wontongirl
those hoping its gonna be changed back to november, i dont think it will :( its just revealed that twilight has been put forward to november 21st and even though harry potter would win, they still wont do it this sucks -.-
Oh...Now there's still looking forward for the Twilight film then...But that's just too weird. As much as I love Twiloght, HP comes first for me.
YOU ARE fudge KIDDING ME RIGHT?????? I STAY OF THE NET FOR ONE FREAKING DAY AND THIS shhh HAPPENS?????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT 11 FREAKING MONTHS FOR THE FILM!!!!!!!! THIS IS A JOKE RIGHT???????????????? c'MON WE WAIT MONTHS FOR EFFING TRAILER AND NOW A WHOLE YEAR FOR THGE FILM????? ARE THE INSANE AT WB????????????????
what the! after all the hype and anticipation, they're just putting it off! i can't see the point! it's a Harry Potter film! of course it will be huge whether it comes out summer or fall! this pisses me off! good thing twilight will replace the screening date! go twilight!
I can't darn belive they are doing this to us!!! Grrrr...
SIGN THIS PETITION http://www.petitionspot.c om/petitions/harrypotter6
this is stupid. and such a disappointment. it shows that warner bros. only care about how much money they make, and not for their fans. the most loyal hp fans would go see it anytime. i think perhaps they feel a bit threatened by the twilight film?
Now we have nothing to look forward to during this year. I was fooled. I thought WB cared about the fans! This is the last straw of money-making scumbag actions. The biggest joke though is that next July no non-fans will see the movie. The gap between movies 5 and 6 will prove too large. I can't believe they announced this right after the teaser trailer. Totally idiotic and insane.
WHAT?! thats insane i already planned to go c it i had money saved just n case and everything and i agree with hermione931 it will b leaked b4 we get to c it this sux
"We know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release..." Are they seriously going to be stupid enough to market this as a family film? Didn't David Heyman describe this movie as having a "sex, drugs, and rock n roll" kind of feel? That doesn't sound like a family film to me.
WB is full of it. I WILL NOT bend to their commercial incentive. I WILL NOT GO TO SEE THE MOVIE, if they postpone it. END OF STORY.... I say sign the petition and email them to let them know we will boycott the movie they postpone it. Who's with me...
If I may, I will use Harry's CAPSLOCK OF DOOM to express my feelings. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO LOOK FORWARD TO NOW???????!!! Anyways... .yes. Highly disappointed. Pretty much the only movie I've been wanting to see this coming winter. Ughh....I'm going to paint my fingernails black and write poetry in a dark corner now.... ...probably whine to my mom too.
On an unrelated note (and this is directed at a comment regarding sneaking into the movie), last year, when I went and saw the midnight premier of OotP, they were literally guarding the door. We had to stand outside the movie entrance in a line for a good while and wait for them to let us in, which I found very odd; I'd gotten there early in order to get a decent seat...>.o On the other hand, it probably won't be the same the day after or whatever.
AHHHHHHHHhhhhh!!!!!!!! i am sooo angry! i CANT wait that longg! >=o
SIGN THE PETITION. http://www.petitionspot.c om/petitions/harrypotter6 (take off spaces) WRITE IN HATE MAIL TO THESE PPL Domestic Contact: Susan Fleishman, 818-954-1919 susan.fleis hman@warnerbros.com or International Contacts: Jayne Trotman, 020 7984 5222 jayne.trotman@warne rbros.com Desiree Finnegan, 818-954-3397 desiree.fin negan@warnerbros.com or Head of Harry Potter Production Publicity: Vanessa Davies, 011-44-192-368-5131 vane ssa@hpfilms.co.uk no spaces in the emails. if everyone here emails each of these ppl then we can make our voices heard. i will email each once a week until something is changed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
BOYCOTT WB!!!!!!!!! Write howlers to them Warner Bros. Studios 4000 Warner Blvd Burbank CA 91522, threaten a boycott of all their movies until this is fixed!
I have no plan to go see this in theatres anymore. And if I do, it won't be on opening night.
Frist of, I plan to write a angery howlers, Second, the only way that he boycotting the movie will work, is if everyone here agrees to pay money towards another movie and somehow sneeks in to the hp theather. If anyone decides to show up at the midnight premire of the hp movie, it will be hard for the rest of us, hp fans to sneek in and last but not least, the more I watch, learn and read more of twilight series, the more I can't get my eyes off of wanting to see the movie, or read the next book. So if we, hp f ans are going to make our statement, we need to make our voices heared and heared clearly, or twilight series will win over the hp series, and I don't know about you guys, but I for one don't want that to happen!!!
ok so i was just reading this BS and realized that they are going to start filming Deathly Hollows in February and that means we'll be getting news on deathly hollows before we have seen half blood prince! i dk what WB is thinking but overlaping two different storylines is rubish. this could get confusing fellow fans of Harry Potter.
Oh. No. They. Did. NOT. TWILIGHT TOOK HP'S SPOT? I can't EVEN express my anger here, okay? I mean, this is totally symbolic of what is going on in the world right now and I am SO SO SO SO SO MAD like you have NO idea.
I don't even think the Twilight movie is going to be GOOD, apart from Kristen, so this is SO aggravating for me! I can't believe how obvious they're being, just taking HP's spot, the way they're taking its spot in the hearts of all those new Twilight fans who used to love HP.
Way to go case!! Yes guys honestly this is BS. ITS GREEED PURE GREED!!!! Now these peole have got to deal with us. WHOS UP FOR A PEACEFUL RIOT!!!
this is rediculous! i was so excited all summer to see this movie when i go back to school in the fall. now i have to wait till next summer! this was a bad move by warner bros. they are probably getting a lot of crap for it. and i agree with one of the other comments...now that they postponed it so far back, half the movie will be leaked and/or bootlegged by the time it comes out! this sucks
If only wb know what they just got theirselves into. With moving the hp6 movie to the summer time of 09, twilight took the opening and is now has a bigger chance than ever to bring down the hp series, with out a single fight!!! HP WILL SOON BE DEFEATED AND FALL, AND I WON'T STAND FOR THAT!!! ETHER WB DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS OR THEY WILL FEEL MORE THAN THE POWER OF EVIL!!!
Everyone go to Petitionspot.com and sign the biggest HP petition on the main page! It has 21,000 signatures and counting! If there's a petition to sign it's this one! It's been featured in newspapers too. WB WON'T get away with this!
How can they freaking do this to us?!?!?! I was SO excited to be going to the Half Blood Prince movie this year! I actually had tickets to go for free at the best movie theatre in my city! And I wanted to go as a group with my Harry Potter fan friends! First the teaser trailer, now this. I can't believe it. I WAS going to watch it as many times as possible to support WB and Harry Potter and now I'm not going to - NOT because I don't like Harry Potter (I LOVE it!), but because I don't like WB anymore. I am so angry at Warner Brothers right now. I am so angry I might just kill someone. The other films came out in November and they did fine! This is all about money! Did they honestly forget that there are people OUTSIDE OF THE USA who do not have their holidays in July?! Don't they realise that keeping it at November is better than the July date? I live in Singapore, and my holidays are in December but start officially in November! And how about the Australians and New Zealanders, eh? WB doesn't seem to care about them either! They actually set the date to Dec 11 instead of the Nov 21 date like for the US and UK! WB, if you're so concerned about making money, why don't you just give them the same date as the US release? They're large English speaking countries too! This is so dumb! HOW STUPID IS THIS? I HATE WB!!!!
Unfortunately they know that their "loyal fan base" is going to be near impossible to make disappear. We're fanatics, they know that we'll still flock to the film in record numbers. Try holding a grudge for almost a year, won't happen and you'll still help fill their pockets. Also, online petitions are worth less than crayon on toilet paper.
i can't believe WB. all about money. money. why should they care when the movie comes out- hp fans will see hbp whenever it comes out, regardless of any other movies in theaters that could be "competition." i don't think i can wait another year. wb is just stupid and greedy. i CAN'T believe this!!!!!!!!
OMG I am still mad and It has been over 24 hours since I've read the awful news. I'm okay with them moving the movie but not frieakin 11 months. I will be okay with February or something but not July. This is so stupid and pathetic. I want to know how the cast members and producers feel about this and most of all J.K Rowling. Urgh I hope they move the movie sooner.
WB ONLY WANTS MONEY OH MY FREAKING GOD ! Sign the petition: http://www. petitionspot.com/petition s/harrypotter6 Take off the spaces in the link and sign... We fans should not see the movie when it's released and only see it in dvd or maybe do some illegal downloads... HP BACK TO NOVEMBER NOW !!!
leighpotter the same thing happened to me i stayed of mugglenet for a day and all of this happend and the reason why i stayed was because of the fact that i went to mugglenet a few times and kept finding the same news so i gave up, i think that mugglenet is punishing me for giving up in the site!!!
"we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release" What? He's actually telling us that it's just for the money! If they wanted to be hated by every HP fan in the world, they have achieved what they wanted...
obviously i'm so super pissed off. screw you warner bros, this is so selfish.
Hmmm.. anyone whos super pissed off and lives in California set up a road block at the studio and force them to change this. I would but I live in NY and Im broke I would get a ticket there in a heartbeat to start a ralley. WHOS UP FOR THE RALLEY!!!???? Bet I spelled that word wrong
I swear to god this is becoming a bit out of control. Im starting a riot. Im dead serious *does the finger pointing to the serious face thing* If anyone would like to get our point across to warner brothers and you live in California were they're offices are (there in cali right?) send howlers and big signs painted in red and oragne and electric yellowto draw attention to yourselfs and show them mugglenet and all the comments by them reading the signs. I would be doign this but, hey new yorker right hurr (ahha ganstur like?) If not force them to understand that by doing this they are going to LOSE money (and they will cry like babys) because your (WB) hurting the core fan base by moving this to July 17th and THEY ARE GOING TO PROTEST. So your fighting a losing battle by doing to us WB. LISTEN TO MY IDEA PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA!! Honestly guys we gotta solve this. I'll lead the movement. *puts on moonys old general hat (hahah if you read this moony)* As it says on my backround here on MN the rebellion begins.
i still cant believe this. i sent worner bros a comment
AND NOW FOR THE WTF moment: http://www.foxnews.com/st ory/0,2933,404681,00.html
I swear to god this is becoming a bit out of control. Im starting a riot. Im dead serious *does the finger pointing to the serious face thing* If anyone would like to get our point across to warner brothers and you live in California were they're offices are (there in cali right?) send howlers and big signs painted in red and oragne and electric yellowto draw attention to yourselfs and show them mugglenet and all the comments by them reading the signs. I would be doign this but, hey new yorker right hurr (ahha ganstur like?) If not force them to understand that by doing this they are going to LOSE money (and they will cry like babys) because your (WB) hurting the core fan base by moving this to July 17th and THEY ARE GOING TO PROTEST. So your fighting a losing battle by doing to us WB. LISTEN TO MY IDEA PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA!! Honestly guys we gotta solve this. I'll lead the movement. *puts on moonys old general hat (hahah if you read this moony)* As it says on my backround here on MN the rebellion begins.
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