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AUGUST 14, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Business Wire
Warner Bros. has just announced
that the release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back and will be released on July 17, 2009 instead of this coming November. This news has been confirmed to HPANA by Warner Bros.
Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. 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.
While producer David Heyman 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.
UPDATE: The official Potter site has been updated with the new release date.
UPDATE II: We don't normally do this, but fan reaction to this news is understandably heated (to put it mildly) and we thought it would be fun to post links to petitions that will try to convince WB to rethink their decision. (No offense, but it will have no effect whatsoever except to make them feel bad -- momentarily -- before going back to counting money --Ed., Cheeser.) Feel free to send links to any petitions you find!
UPDATE III: IMAX was apparently caught by surprise. They've just released a very short statement concerning the change:
Reflecting today's announcement that the release date of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has moved to July 2009, IMAX Corporation confirmed it is already exploring alternative titles for this year's holiday season and is confident it will secure a solid film for the IMAX(R) theatre network.
UPDATE IV: Hold on to your hats, folks. Studio head Alan Horn told the Associated Press today after the announcement:
"The picture is completely, absolutely, 100 percent on schedule, on time. There were no delays. I've seen the movie. It is fabulous. We would have been perfectly able to have it out in November."
UPDATE V: 16-year-old explodes due to delay of 'Harry Potter 6'
Reader Comments (289)
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Heir of Gryffindor
Points: 5731
Gryffindor Lord says:
I'm in love with that fourth update. It just proves that WB is in it for the money. Bunch of losers.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:08 AM EST
Witch
Points: 716
Secret Keeper says:
(No offense, but it will have no effect whatsoever except to make them feel bad -- momentarily -- before going back to counting money --Ed., Cheeser.)
I agree with you Cheeser, they aren't going to move the release date back to July even if we get a billion signatures, all WB cares about is the money. Doesn't stop me from signing though! *tries to smile but fails miserably*
Good Heavens than LETS hit them where it hurts, I think it is an insult to the fans for WB to do this, they came right out and said it was nothing but the money they could make that drove this decision, nothing but pure greed. Well we as fans do not have to cater to the money hogs. Make a stand REFUSE to see the movie in the theaters. This is ridiculous, I was very looking forward to seeing this movie in Nov, now I wouldn't go see it if you paid me too.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:22 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 11
RonWeasley'sImprint says:
This new release date is soooooooo ridiculous!!!
I seriously started crying when I ready this...I didn't believe this.
We've already waited soooo long for this movie to come out and now we have to wait ALMOST A WHOLE OTHER YEAR!
Warner Brothers is making one of the biggest mistakes switching this release date. It's Harry Potter for crying out loud!!! The fan base has always been the same, and therefore keeping it in November would have NO IMPACT ON SALES!
Besides, do they really think they are going to get a new audience?
YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND THE MOVIE UNLESS YOU'VE SEEN THE 5 OF THEM BEFORE IT!
I'm sooo angry right now!
UGH!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:52 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 11
RonWeasley'sImprint says:
Like serioulsy...Warner Brothers needs to get off of their high greedy money obsessed horse and actually stick to thelr decision to release it in November!
Plus...I was looking forward to the friendly competition against the Twilight movie ;)...WHICH I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR TOO!...but this just makes me really really upsent :(
sorry for the second rant :/
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 12:58 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 472
Squims says:
This is just terrible. I can't even express how angry I am right now. I lost all respect for Warner Brothers. This is just the ultimate example of how they don't care even a bit about the fans and all they want is to just make as much cash from us as possible. Can't believe they'd do this.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 1:06 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 335
HarryPotter731 says:
I want to jump off a cliff right now! I don't think I've ever been this angry before. Warner Bros is greedy and selfish. Clearly, they do not care about the millions of loyal and devoted Harry Potter fans across the world. The movie will be just as successful regardless of the release date. We were given that November release date nearly two years ago. Bull, and how dare they make it look like they are doing this for the fans!!!
They may say this won't interfere with the release of Deathly Hallows but if they would do this why wouldn't they postpone the first part of DH to the following summer. I wouldn't be surprised if the remainder of the movies were released in a timeline similar to this:
HBP: July 17, 2009
DH1: Summer 2011
DH2: Summer 2012
Hopefully, WB will come to their senses. They just initiated an uproar from fans.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 1:18 AM EST
Student
Points: 289
momo79 says:
SERIOUSLY IF IT IS DONE AS THEY SAY KEEP THE RELEASE DATE THE SAME. No MATTER WHAT THIS MOVIE WILL KILL AT THE BOX OFFICE AND ITS AROUND THANKSGIVING ALSO SO THAT SHOULD MEAN SOMETHING.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 1:30 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 402
Harry_4_ever says:
That really sucks that it was pushed so far back!
But on the bright side, that's my 18th birthday!
So now I can go see HP on my birthday!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 1:32 AM EST
Witch
Points: 549
zoppieus says:
This is such a pile of BS. They owe us (the fans)to deliver a show , not their pockets. Greedy SOB's This is complete bollox.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 1:37 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 59
lumos08 says:
Unbelievable...we (the fans) cant wait that long WB!
Please reconsider...please...
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 2:50 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1255
TheSeventhHorcrux says:
Does it seem suspicious to anyone that this decision happened so suddenly without any prior whispers or speculation? I mean, look at it this way:
->EW had the fall previews magazine with HBP published and everything.
->The release dates for HBP in other countries came out just days ago - all with dates in and around November.
->WB released the teaser trailer only a few weeks ago, in which it specifically says the movie is set for release in November. And it wasn't just online - it's been in theaters as well.
It seems to me that if WB had planned this release date switch-up in advance, none of these things would have happened, at least not the trailer. This is a decision that had to have been made rather suddenly... and it's for that reason that I believe there is something they are not telling us.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 2:52 AM EST
Weaselette
Points: 3176
WickedLoz says:
It's the best film merchandise ever recorded.
And their lame excuse is that they want MORE audience exposure?!
.. Well if they're going for the summer angle, can Australia still get it this December?! Movies during winter sucked..
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 3:17 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1670
DumbledoresArmy says:
I am okay with it. It is understandable that they need to reach out to more people. I am just upset about waiting longer, but at least the last two movies will be closer.
Also the do need to work on the script sense the writers strike. They might add some.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 3:33 AM EST
Student
Points: 211
HogwartsCherri says:
Oh my GOD. Are you INSANE WB? Are you out of your minds? I've been waiting blooming ages for this movie and now i've got to wait a WHOLE year? It was bad enough waiting for November, but JULY?
*goes back to bed, hoping i'll wake up and it was a bad dream*
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 3:38 AM EST
Rickmaniac to the Core
Points: 2564
snaily says:
How greedy can they get? I've signed all the petitions and I hope they go back on their ridiculous decision!
Has anyone wondered when we'll get to see DH if HBP itself will release in 2009? *fumes*
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 3:48 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2424
bonniewrightrulz says:
WHAT THE HELL???I cant belive this,what in the name of Merlin is wrong with Warner Bros,ill kill the whole lot of them!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 3:49 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2292
Phoebe Gilmore says:
Have they lost their minds? More fans? That's ridiculous. (Reminds herself not to swear) Harry Potter has such a large fanbase they would watch it whenever it would come out. but this dissapoints me. I'm even considering not going at all. but I want to watch it... We should all just watch it online. Wouldn't it be amazing if millions of fans only watched it online and they wouldn't get any money?
*Off to sign petitions*
Phoebe
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 4:11 AM EST
Head Boy
Points: 401
Akademy says:
I can't believe it...
No wait, I CAN Believe it. This is just another ploy (remember splitting the last movie into two) to milk as much money as possible from ME, YOU and ALL Harry Potter fans.
Then they have the audacity to blame it on the writers strike... If anyone believes that and that it's not just about the money then the world is far more gullible then I imagined...
Harry Potter would not have been impressed, but then if you do have a board of Death Eaters, what can you expect?
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 4:11 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 435
Scarlet Snow says:
I almost had a heart attack just then. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well we're all flipping out right now, but I know we don't really have much of a choice, so we're going to deal. But they better not waste so much time on the next movie. This one's having me rip out my hair.
This at least gives me some more time to find a date to go to the movie with me =]
...in accordance with the prophecy.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 4:17 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 737
lordvoldemort1926 says:
Thats the most dumbest thing i've heard.Releasing in July to make more profit,come on you can release HP anytime of year & you can make profit.Please someone send death eaters to WB.With teaser trailer out there is no reason not to release it in Nov.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 4:38 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2394
KissingDraco says:
Waaahhh...*enter major swear words here*!!!!! I am soooo MAD at them!!!!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:05 AM EST
Witch
Points: 531
ronNhermione4evr says:
Nothing can stop me from seeing Harry Potter in theaters but other than that I will rufuse to see any other wb movies in theaters. Those greedy SOBS!!!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:13 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2860
mad_eye muggle says:
When I first saw the headline,I was definitely dissapointed.I'm marking my calendars and I literaly declared November as my favorite month,but now I have to add another 11 months.Man.....their driving me crazy.However,after reading WB's reasons,I kinda think well their doing a lot of stuff to make this film amazing.So I'm expecting it to be twice as awesome as the last one also I least the gap between HBP and DH won't be that long.But I'm still a bit dissapointed.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:16 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2394
KissingDraco says:
Ok I have made up my mind stupid, stinking, GREEDY WB, I WON`T WATCH THIS MOVIE!!! *cackles eviliy* And you know what else I will do? I will personally see to it that many, many other fans wont see it either! So that is going to be less money for you *enter insulting animals name here, hint its pink* We will how you like that you greedy gits!
Uh and just by the way I will NEVER ever again watch any other film produced by WB!!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:18 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1941
tsvety says:
Wow... Huge disappointment WB. I just don't know what to say! They were going to make so much money even if the movie was in November. What the hell is the big difference? Greedy much...
Lina
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:20 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1494
~*WitherWings*~ says:
Oh my god, what the hell?!?! July 2009?? How can they move it so far ahead! The movie will be ready for Nov but they're gonna release it in July?? How does that make sense? GRR *is so angry*
I can't believe WB are doing this! We have to wait a whole year for HBP >:|
I hope they change their decision, this is just rediculous.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 5:21 AM EST
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