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
The news is so devastating...The worst thing that happened to Harry Potter books is Warner he Bros.
kluke2... completely agree with you about OotP and David Yates. Not our fault though, if it was us, we'd be releasing it now. At first i though, well it better be a good movie if i have to wait. now i realise, they're just too scared that the movie's so crap it wont be alble to compete with Twilight, and above all...Dark Knight.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH HHHHHHH!!!!!! It's too bad I love HP, or else I'd boycott.
OMG .......... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOO
Okay... I'm lost... just went to the WB website and it says 07/17/09 but the trailer they put up with it still says 'November' in the end... why haven't they changed it? go check it out...
This is some BULLSHIT!!!!!
this makes sense now why the teaser was so late. but ahhh warner bros, i'm not happy with you.
Seriously, mugglecast would get points back points after that stephanie meyer setback if we got a show out in the next 36 hours. I think this sort of thing calls for a bit of discussion, since it'll probably be the biggest news to talk about until, heh MAY OF NEXT YEAR! Holy ish, I feel like I'm going to cry (I canNOT cry...) This is ridiculous though. I am just at a loss of words.... is Twilight really that daunting?
WHAT??? Less than 100 days away and they pull this??? All they're going to do is make fans mad. Mugglcast!!! I want to hear you guys whine. Live show!!!!!
This is not right! How can they do this to us? If Warner Bros. thinks this will bump up their sales, boy, are they wrong. They do realize that this will infuriate all the Harry Potter fans, and make them possibly not want to go see it, don't they? Jeez, I'm about to cry, I'm so angry. I was so excited to see the trailer, I went to see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants just so I could watch it, and then they come and tell us that we'll have to wait practically a whole year for it to come out! That just about ruined my summer! What is wrong with Warner Bros.?!?!?!
I'm calling for a boycott of the movie. We can make a difference if we stick to our guns. Harry Potter fans are the best fans in the world and we don't deserve this treatment. It's time to show WB the power we truly have. They stick to the original date or no true fan will go see the movie. I know it will be hard guys, but we can do it. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!!!
Now I'm seriously pissed off, why would they do that!? I've been looking forward to this for ages and been getting really excited it's almost November, and they go and do this!
There problems with the film & they will have to re do some scenes!!! Moving for a tent pole my ass!!
GUYS THERE ARE NOW TWO PETITONS! WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE AREN'T SPLITTING OURSELVES! http://www. petitionspot.com/petition s/harrypotter6 this wasas created a bit later: http://www .ipetitions.com/petition/ HPHBPNov21/signatures-3.h tml
I got this off of someone form veritaserum.com Do mestic 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 o r Head of Harry Potter Production Publicity: Vanessa Davies, 011-44-192-368-5131 vane ssa@hpfilms.co.uk
Guys, dont take this sitting down! True, we may not be able to do anything about this RIDICULOUS release date change, but we sure can tell WB how we feel! MAKE THE BIGGEST FUSS ABOUT THIS! Go through with all of your petitions, make plans to boycott them, do whatever you want! It probably wont work but it'll show WB that you DO NOT mess with the Harry Potter fandom. Do all that you can to show them what theyre dealing with and let it be known that they can NEVER do anything like this to us again! So grab your wands and REBEL!
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS COMPLETE BULLSH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!! r YOU F***ING SERIOUS! WTF!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE STUPID AND PEOPLE ARE SO BEYOND GONNA BE PISSED!!!!!!! WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!!!!!!!
send WB your complaints here: 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 o r Head of Harry Potter Production Publicity: Vanessa Davies, 011-44-192-368-5131 vane ssa@hpfilms.co.uk
I AM SO ANGRY!! I am outraged at WB!! discusted to be honest... it all boils down to them thinking they can get a little more money, which isnt true you'll probs get less beacause people are so pissed off...they will probs lose money on merchandise also cos of this arent they already allienating people enough by bleeding us dry witht the two seperate deathly hallows films??!
luna lovegood would say somethin like-"oooooo, did they change april fools to august?"
WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? At first I thought that this was some stupid joke. Like when MuggleNet had those April Fools Day jokes. BUT THIS IS NOT A JOKE. IT IS REAL. WHAT THE HECK! THIS IS HORRIBLE! I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS MOVIE!!!!!! AHHHHH!
If I was stronger I wouldn't go see the movie as protest. I'm not that strong though and I, of course, will have to see it at the movies multiple times. Even though I have NO IDEA where I will be in a years time. This majorly sucks. I'm still fuming and I heard about it an hour ago. Only upside is that we don't have to deal with all the Harry Potter vs. Twilight crap anymore. Coz that's a serious joke, I mean I like Twilight, but all the competition between the two makes me super defensive of HP and kinda angry at Twilight. And I don't want to be angry with Twilight!
i only have one thing to say. HEY WARNER BROTHERS: fudge YOU
WHERE ARE YOU MUGGLECAST?!?! WE NEED YOU!!!!!!
I'm going to have a talk with WB about this cuz it's wrong!! I've waited a year juss to see this movie and it's juss bull crap that they changed the date!! So that will probably be my late graduation present thanks to WB!!!
WHAT THE HECK! How do they expect us to wait a year?!?!? First the trailer being delayed and now the movie?!?! I know they have their reasons... but I'm still pissed.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO THIIIISSS CANOTT BE HAPPPENING. THE FANS HAVE WAITED FO RSOO LONG. HOW AN THEY DO THIS TO US!?!?!? JULLLYYYY?? 11 MONTHS????? WHYYYYY? I HATE YOU WARNER BROTHERS. I MEAN WE COULD UNDERSTAND IF YOU MOVE IT LATER BY 2 MONTHS OR SOMETHING BUT JULY????? WTF!? IM SO PISSED. UUUGGHHHHHH!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! F*ckin BULLSH*T! BULL BULL BULL!!!! SCREW IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok this is either a huge hoax our the people at warner brothers are sucidal. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRR
I..honestly can't believe this..
im in denial...this is a LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only bright side: Hopefully Andrew and Matt will post an uncensored video on youtube with their reactions to this news. I think that is the only thing that will make me laugh about this.
SEND COMPLAINTS HERE Susan Fleishman, 818-954-1919 susan.fleis hman@warnerbros.com
WE NEED A LIVE MUGGLECAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! COME ON GUYS... WE NEED TO VENT TOGETHER! :)
WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW PISSED OFF I AM arrrrrrrgh. Bugger. ='(
AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!! NO TH IS WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF NOVEMBER! SOMETIMES I HATE MONEY AND ITS CONCERNS I WILL GO BE MOODY NOW
wow. thank you warner bros. for ruining everybody's summer. we really appreciate it!
I hate WB!!!!! They cant even give us a great reason!!! They are so low and greedy as to get all of us Harry Potter fans excited with our hearts set on seeing it in November, and then delay it 8 months!!! I HATE them. This movie better be a darn good one. If not, I will give up on the Deathly Hallows movies and not see them, so then they would lose $14 of my money, and probably other people's money too. The books are great though. I love Deathly Hallows. But if the Half-Blood Prince movie isn't good after an 8 month delay, I'm not watching Deathly Hallows. 2008 is the worst year ever!!! A WHOLE year. We could all be dead by then! That makes me so mad!!!!!!!! I hate you WB!!!!!! Honestly!!!! They are making a big mistake!!!!!! I'm just wondering what really happened!!! If they really wanted to release it in the summer because of the money, then they would have said from the beginning that it would be released in july 2009. I hate WB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry if I'm spelling anything wrong, I'm just so mad right now!!!!!! They have to change it!!!!!! They just have to!!!!!!! I hate WB!!!!!!!!! I hate WB!!!!!!!! My dad is taking up for WB!!!! He is stupid!!! I still love him, but i'm still mad at him!!!! WHY?????? I HATE WB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They'll see!!!!!!!!! They'll see!!!!!!!!!!! I HATE WB!!!!!!
i think people would like David yates more if he said no to the delay....that would get people to love him....
O.O What!!!!!!! ........ You have to be kidding me.....
TWO YEARS UNTIL ANOTHER HP MOVIE!!! THIS BETTER BE THE BEST FREAKIN' MOVIE IN THE WORLD!!!!! *SCREAMS* CURSE YOU GREEDY WB!!! CURSE YOOOOUUUUUU!!!!!!
I believe that my views on this matter reflect that of the two primary ones amongst Harry Potter fans. They are prolonging the release eight months, that is eight months that the film will just sit, doing nothing. Is that really sensible? Their motive just does not seem sensible enough to support their actions. Do they honestly think the time of the movie's release will affect its audience this late in the game? It's the second to last movie (if you count DH parts I and II as one entity) and the fans are more loyal than ever as we struggle to keep the fandom alive. There are die hard fans, like myself and everyone responding to this comment, who will go to the midnight release and see the movie no matter the time! Having DH Part I immediately after HBP (one or two months, if I'm correct) just doesn't compare to have a reasonable wait between OOTP and HBP with a reasonable wait between HBP and DH Part I. As I stated before, their reason for prolonging this movie an astonishing eight months just does not make it reasonable. WB is making a foolish and selfish move, in my opinion, as the withhold the film from their loyal and diehard fans just for the possibility (no matter how small) of increasing their profits, despite by how little.
http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=3tXUH5FUIl4
HOLY F U C K I N G SHI T. THIS IS ABSOLUTLY AND UTTERLY FUC KING FUC K FUC K FUC K ING BULL SH IT. BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT fu ck DAVID YATES. FUC K IT FUC K IT FUC K IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!BULLLL CRAP
HAARY POTTER FANS UNITE!!!!! http://www.pe titionspot.com/petitions/ harrypotter6
~~~~~~SEND COMPLAINS HERE~ 818-954-1919 susa n.fleishman@warnerbros.co m
im so pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!
i am so unbelievable pissed i can barely type there has to be a way to tell warner bros they are a88holes bloody july 09 i have been waiting and not going to see other films for this movie gawd darn it im so angryl,,,, like they havnt made enuf blasted money or milked the last book wheres the petition
i highly doubt this is what the "Warner brothers" had in mind when they founded the corporation. "Hmm, lets make millions of fans really mad at us! Yeah! That sounds like so fun!" *NOT!!!!!!!!!!* WB is a freaking loserface company of money-grubbing SCUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i--hate--everything--abou t--them....
i highly doubt this is what the "Warner brothers" had in mind when they founded the corporation. "Hmm, lets make millions of fans really mad at us! Yeah! That sounds like so fun!" *NOT!!!!!!!!!!* WB is a freaking loserface company of money-grubbing SCUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i--hate--everything--abou t--them....
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