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
I love how it says how they are still feeling repercussions from the writers strike... how hard is it to write a harry potter movie. i would have written the script for free during the writers strike if it meant the movie would be released earlier. it doesn't take much to write a script that's basic plot has already been created in the books. And they're just being greedy. Most HP fans will come to see the movie anyway. No matter when its released. BS.
This is an outrage! WHy would they do so much promoting of the film, then push the release back 8 months for schedule. I understand that a summer release would probably make more money, but the fans who have been waiting for this will be devastated. This is a VERY BIG MISTAKE!!!! And will anger, and upset fan rather than encourage them to take there families to the movies. I hope there wiLL be some kind of appeal petition to this...... {if there is my name wiLL be on it} -Shocked and Sadden- -MEg_
OMG. I AM SO PISSED RIGHT NOW. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRR.
Warner Brothers you capitalists money grabbing Bastards! You only care about money and ratings and not the fans or the film. You are a disgrace to the film industry.
This is sooo BS! They can do just as much revenue with a Nov release as a July release! The holiday season???? Hellooooo Warner Brothers!!! Thsi is not right. A whole other YEAR?!?!?!?! This is sooooo stupid! I'm seriously going to cry, and I'm 44 years old! So does this mean that the Deathly Hallows will be rleased alter, too? The writer's strike couldn't have impacted this movie that much, because the script was already written and they were already filming. Total BS. Thanks WB.
http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=3tXUH5FUIl4--I love you andrew
COME ON MUGGLECAST! LIVE SHOW! WB CANT DO THIS TO US! THEY ARE TOTAL LIERS WHEN THEY SAY THEY WANT TO PLEASE US! I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT WHO THE HELL DOES THIS PLEASE!they already did the release dates this totally does not make sense! i swear they better change this back! unless they have a death wish they have NO reason to do this! bloody hipocrits! THEY SAY THEY DONT SPLIT A MOVIE FOR MONEY NO THEY ONLY MOVE ONE BACK A YEAR!!!!!!
omgg how could they do this to us ? they must have death wishes i am totaly about to kill somebody. Here's the petition.... http://www. petitionspot.com/petition s/harrypotter6 Everyon e, please contact these individuals to complain. Make your voices heard. 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 susa ns person pissed me off thoughh .... omg i was crying when i found out i hate them B@$)3
if they dicide to put it back in novemember let go to the movies everyday and see how much they make it going to make more than titanic ever did
what the hell this is the most stupid thing i have ever heard of the LOL the video game and all the merchindese is still going to come out and november
sfgdfgdfgdfgd way to go for the money instead of the fans!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H!!! I HATE MOVIE 6'S LUCK. III AAAAAMMMMMMMMMM SSSSSSSSSSOOOOO MMMMMMAA AAAAAAADDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! AND BOOK 6 IS MY FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
ROFL! Guys, check out Mugglecast's reaction to the news on youtube! Soooooo funny!!! *is still pissed at WB*
OMG ARE YOU EFFING SIRIUS!!?? I was counting down to that day too!!!! & now they move it to 8 months later!!!??? WTF? Honestly! That is the stupidest thing Warner Brothers could ever do! They're going to be like shot by a rabid harry potter fan!
I suppose they will have to remove the countdown thing now, and put it back next year :(
It is hailing hard where I live right now. Funny, because that is a very good metaphor for my feelings!
I actually singed up to comment on this... I am very upset about this. When I first read the news, I was utterly shocked and thought I misread it and they were talking about Deathly Hallows or something....alas, I did not misread. It does seem very, very selfish for them to push it back that long and although I *can* wait till July, I *really* don't want to. My mother and I were driving home before I read the news and we drove past the movie theatre. I said, "I guess the next time I'll be in this theatre is in November when I see Half Blood Prince!" Then I get home...I guess I jinxed it. -_- I guess I'll have to find something to satisfy my Harry Potter cravings....*goes to find good looong fan fiction* Thanks a lot Warner Brothers. *very angry face*
delaying a month is already capable of causing an uproar, but delaying for about a year?
*dies* WHYYY GOD HAVE YOU FORSAKEN MEEEE
i wonder if they delayed the game too
i just visited wb site the hbp trailer now has the july 09 date it cant be a h hoax those motherfuckiers
OMG! this SUCKS!!!?? That's ANOTHER whole year!? First the trailer is DELAYED FOREVER and NOW THIS? URGH! This is just REALLY annoying.
kluke2- It doesn't matter what we could have done. They wouldn't have listened to us. We are just the people that pay for their houses and cars. They wouldn't have changed directors or time fraces to suit our prefreces.
Omg nooooooooooooo :[
~~~~CALL AND COMPLAIN!!!!~~~~~~ US: 818-954-1919 International 020 7984 5222 ~~~~CALL AND COMPLAIN!!!!~~~~~~ US: 818-954-1919 International 020 7984 5222 ~~~~CALL AND COMPLAIN!!!!~~~~~~ US: 818-954-1919 International 020 7984 5222 ~~~~CALL AND COMPLAIN!!!!~~~~~~ US: 818-954-1919 International 020 7984 5222 ~~~~CALL AND COMPLAIN!!!!~~~~~~ US: 818-954-1919 International 020 7984 5222 ~~~~CALL AND COMPLAIN!!!!~~~~~~ US: 818-954-1919 International 020 7984 5222
I HATE YOU WB OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IF FRIKIN MONEY YOU COULDNT CARE LESS ABOUT US FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAWD FIRST I WAS CRYING, NOW IM FURIOUS, AND IM ABOUT TO GO INTO DEPRESSION. THIS IS SO TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!
This has got to be some stupid, cruel joke. Who the hell postpones a movie for a year? This is Harry Potter, it will be the most popular darn movie no matter what season it is! I cannot believe how stupid the WB is being.
I'm going to see the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants tomorrow...and if the Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer is on their I swear I'm gonna stand up and yell, "DON'T GET ALL EXCITED FOR THAT MOVIE CAUSE NOW WE ALL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR." And I will throw popcorn onto the screen. Siriusly WB, are you that greedy? You've made millions of dollars off this series. Losing money isn't going to kill you, believe it or not. =[
CLog this lady's inbox! vanessa@hpfilms .co.uk Make your subject line "Harry Potter release date" or something... it doesnt matter what the email says! oh! random quotes from the 6th book! who cares just clog her inbox!!!
This is really upsetting...I was really looking forward to November...what are WB going to to do for 12 months? Must be the CGI or something.... What are we going to do 'till July '09?
OMG OMG OMG OMG! MUGGLECAST WERE RIGHT THEY NEVER BELIEVED THE FILM EXSISTED NOW HERES THE PROOF! THE TRAILER TOOK AGES TO COME OUT THE TEASER TEASER TRAILER WAS AWFUL! AND WHEN THE TRAILER DID COME OUT IT WAS ALL TOM RIDDLE! AND NO HARRY POTTER AND THE OTHER MAIN CHARACTERS! WHICH ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT! i am so annoyed! I was actually counting down the days REALLY GETTING EXCITED ABOUT THIS FILM! And i am not normally that bothered! how can they do this to us! I really HATE WB now! Mugglecast isnt showing as much any more which REALLY UPSET ME but to top that there isnt even gna be a film this year! HAVE THEY EVEN FILMED IT ???? oohhhhhhhhhhhhhh now this annoying :[ I know its only a film but still i have waited all year well since the book was release! atleast Beedle and Bard is coming out thats 1 thing to look forward to! so thank you JK for that but no thanks to WB! THE JOKER
You've got to be f-ing kidding me. JULY?! OF NEXT YEAR?! Tell me you're kidding, Warner Brothers (or Mugglenet). If you're not, you can guarentee you'll have millions of fans' letters in your mailbox by tomorrow (or even in the next hour). One of which, from me. Grr.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! * sob* I can't believe they are doing this!!
When the hell did they decide this? I think they were just waiting to make the announcement, thats why the pictures and teaser trailer were so late, obviously. I guess the trailer came out a bit early now.
i think that the twilight movie coming out two weeks later is also a reason why they are moving the date....too much competition. aaaand also this is soooooooooooo lame! HBP looks like it is going to be incredibly good and now we have to wait another 11 months? RUBBISH!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I HATE YOU WB.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I HATE YOU WB.
MUGGLECAST NOW
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I HATE YOU WB.
This is my letter to WB, not that great but thought I'd post it. ACH, I'm so freaking pissed right now though, everybody send them emails, WE HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THIS!(I'm always determined when things like this happened, like how I still believe I can make them continue the show Avatar.... HELP THE CAUSE!!!(someone else posted the email adress to use) To whom it may concern in the company of Warner Brothers, You have very recently announced that the HBP movie release date has been movie to July 17th and in doing so alienated an extremely large and significant portion of the fanbase. Harry Potter fans are very loyal and determined fans and we WILL see that movie no matter when it is released. We would all go see it opening day even if that was Christmas! The fanbase is VERY displeased with you, if you do not believe me ( or the hundreds of other emails you are likely receiving ) then go and check the comments on sites like Mugglenet.com about this decision at this link, http://www.mugglenet.com/ app/news/show/1810. It is not the release date that made OOTP high grossing, it was the growing fanbase and increased interest in the films as they grow more mature and the fact that OOTP came out near Deathly Hallows so the fans were in a frenzy. Fans such as myself have been counting down to the November release for an extended period of time and some are talking of strikes and rallies now that this has been announced. I urge Warner Brothers to reconsider this release date, and if they do not want to revert to the original date, then at least make it something more reasonable like December. I for one, am not going to see this movie as many times if it comes out in the summer when I am busy and gone on vacations. Please reconsider this date, you are not building suspense, you are building rage. Sincerely, Kailee, A devoted Harry Potter Fan
Somebody effed something the eff up and now they have to get it fixed. Yates probley did a psst poor job (just a guess) i dont know but its bullsh !!
~~~~CALL AND COMPLAIN!!!!~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~US: 818-954-1919 ~~~~~~~~~ International 020 7984 5222 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is absolutely ridiculous...they have already finished filming the movie, and it's not as if they can go back and film additional scenes to "correct" their supposed "mistakes" (ahem). Do you know how much money that would cost, not to mention change the schedules of everyone involved in the production? The addition of or changes to visual effects will only cost more money, and so the most they would be able to do to the film in post production (which they are clearly in now) and SHOULD be nearing completion) is edit the darn thing....which does NOT by any means take eleven months to do. And I don't care what WB itself or its supporters have to say on the matter...there is no reason whatsoever that the film is being pushed back so far except for financial gain on the company's part. A few months is perfectly acceptable, but eleven months? Come on, WB...are you kidding? We're not that dense; we see through your reasoning.
an hour later and I'm still fuming. I just finished finals. I was planning to spend all day on sims catching up on mugglecast. Now I'm too pissed to even try. Omg I have anger issues
I'm still really angry, but this made me laugh a litte: http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=3tXUH5FUIl4
WHATS THE POINT ANYMORE! A BET THE FILM WILL BE CRAP ANYWAY! OH N BUT THE WAY WB WE ALL HATE YOU! HOW DARE YOU MAKE US WAIT AND DECIDE 90 DAYS B4 THAT YOU WERE GNA DELAY IT 11 MONTHS! WHY NOT TELL US THE REAL REASON WHY YOU CANT SHOW IT! MAYBE COZ U HAVENT MADE IT!
It's very eas for Warner Bros to postpone it since they have already seen the complete and final version. The movie was finished completely on July 29 but now its just going to rot for a year. The reaons are so selfiish. I truly can not believ that they would cause such a riddiculous change for the sake of a more finnancially promising time slot. Warner Bros obviously has no care for the feelings of the thousands of people who will be disappointed by this.
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! I so want it now in in a year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!! I am really pissed off right now.
I HATE WARNER BROTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS TOTAL BULLCRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! THEY EXPECT US TO WAIT 11 MONTHS!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
I have readhed a level of pissed that I didn't think existed. WTF is WB thinking?! You had the movie coming out on Nov. 21 and then the fairy tale book only a week later - it was perfect!!
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