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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'
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Wizard
Points: 783
Rudeboy2025 says:
It's all about the Benjamins. Those greedy...you know what I wanted to say right there.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 6:45 PM EST
Points: 37
Melede says:
Everyone sign the petitions! The second one alreayd has almost 16,000 signatures! If we can get enough than we can actually make a difference. We need to keep calling and e-mailing them as well. Everyone needs to be determined to help release Harry Potter at the RIGHT date.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 8:07 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 38
<3Loony<3 says:
I have an idea. Why don't we write warner bros, and tell them we are willing to pay EXTRA to see the movie in november? I mean its worth a shot!!! i'm going to go on their website and tell them. If you agree, tell them too! We have to be united, if we want to see it before next July!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 8:46 PM EST
Rupert's TRU 1 N'Only
Points: 4419
ImRupertsGurl4Lyfe says:
<3Loony<3, there's no way in hell I'm paying extra to see this movie. They should have sense enough to be considerate of the loyal fans. The fact that they're making this move to make more money... why should it be rewarded with MORE money?!
They're lucky if I go to see it at all. I'll wait for the freaking DVD, before I go to see it.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 8:51 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2852
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Now I realy dont know what to believe anymore. Hopefully this Alan Horn is right and the movie will come out on its original date.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 8:54 PM EST
Points: 217
Theo Murpse says:
H/HrShipper4Ever: I think you misunderstand. When Horn said "We would have been perfectly able to have it out in November" he is saying that it /would/ have been ready in November, but they're choosing to release it later.
All I can suggest is to sign the petition and call WB. My choice is that I won't see another WB movie until HP comes out. That way my threat is believable and achievable. I can go until July without seeing a WB movie, even though I'd rather not.
However, if the movie comes out in November, then WB will still get my money for their other films from Nov through July.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 9:26 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2852
H/HrShipper4Ever says:
Dont they realize that people have things planned for the summer. I was realy looking forward to the release in November because it would help me in my usual first semester school slump and get me ready for the holiday season. But now I lost total respect for the people of WB and see them only as greedy goblins who dont care if they're hurting millons of peoples feeling and crushing the thing they were realy looking forward to. I hope that JK speaks out against this and so do the actors and then maybe they would change the date back. I mean it's been in post-production for so long. It should be nearly finished. And if they leave a movie to lie around done for 8 months its very likley it will end up on the internet by Feburary or March. I've cooled down a little since I first heard the news, but I'm still VERY angry, and dissapointed.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 9:28 PM EST
Squib
Points: 142
hungarianhorntail1 says:
That is crazy!! THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE FRIGGEN RELEASE DATE TOOO!!!WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS!!!???THE HARRY POTTER FANS ARE GOING TO GO SEE IT ANYWAY WHETHER IT COMES OUT IN NOVEMBER OR JULY IF IT'S DONE THAN STOP MAKING US WAIT AND PUT OUT THE FRIGGEN MOVIE. WARNER BROTHERS REALLY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED AT HOW GREEDY THEY CAN BE THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE LIKE A GEZZILLION DOLLARS ON THE FRANCHISE THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE FANS BY DOING THIS!!!PUT IT OUT IN NOVEMBER OR I AM NEVER GOING TO WATCH ANOTHER WARNER BROTHERS MOVIE AGAIN!!!(except for the remaining harry potters of course)I DONT CARE IF THERES A SMALLER GAP BETWEEN THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE AND DEATHLY HALLOWS THEY CAN'T DO THIS CAN THEY?? G-R-E-E-D-Y !!!!!!!!I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO ANGRY IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THIS IS TERRIBE!
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 10:35 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 306
TooOldForHogwarts says:
Don't they realize there are ways for us to see it for FREE? If they think I am going to pay to see it in July, they are WRONG. Even waiting and buying the DVD gives them money they do not deserve. If just one person buys the movie and then passes it around to 10 friends, they lose out on money. Screw them, pass it to 100 people!
I wonder what Rowling thinks of this.
Posted Aug 15, 2008 at 11:55 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 300
witch_in_muggle_clothing says:
As with the last movie, I had planned on watching it with my oldest and then deciding whether my younger two kids would be too scared and then see it with them. This time around I will just wait for dvd--my kids will be too busy with camp and other summer activities to notice the movie is out. Signing petitions and complaining isn't enough. But unfortunately WB couldn't care less about fans--only our money, and I doubt many will be able to keep themselves from chucking over the $8-$10 at the theater. Big business wins again!
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 12:33 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4247
gryfgirl says:
You know, when I first saw this news last night I was... shocked, mad, in denial, then disgusted - and after a night & day to calm down a little, it boiled down into merely a seething & slow-stewing state of P*SSED. That, and wondering which would be better to send the PTB at Warner: howlers, Fred & George's puking pastilles or (my personal favorite) some wildfire whiz-bangs.
Then about an hour ago I see the announcement from Summit Entertainment stating that thanks to WB's decision to push Harry back to next summer, they'll be releasing TWILIGHT in the newly vacated date.
So... owing strictly to WB's stupid move, I get to see Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen a whole 3 weeks EARLY? WOW - thanks, Warner! (Still reeeeeally hate you right now & everything, of course, but - thank you thank you THANK YOU!)
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 12:34 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1819
zues says:
I really don't know what to say. It just sucks.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 1:10 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 22
avadakedavratheWB says:
So, today 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 it .
They've said we'll move HBP back to 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.
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 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 !!!!
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 1:52 AM EST
Student
Points: 283
Phoenixsongs says:
I'M GUTTED!! Oh well, roll on next summer! :(
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 2:31 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 304
Dancing Queen says:
VERY disappointing. They say they do it to earn more money, but how come they haven't realised earlier that the summer is the best time to release? How about this summer?
It is so unnecessary to disappoint so many people, especially as the movie has been ready for so long already.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 5:20 AM EST
Witch
Points: 863
Winky:) says:
this is just a REAL bommer! I'm so disappointed that I can't really discribe it in words.. why can't they just realese it this autumn, that would have made me and millions of others very much happier... very well.. suppose there's nothing to do about it.. shame really..
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 5:42 AM EST
Squib
Points: 173
R2krw says:
Well here goes the double post because I'm too much in the craps now. I think we should just spam them with petitions. Oh AND I read that we are are "quick to call foul on the part of Warner Bros." Well, no duh! I don't think anyone cares about this but the fans. I don't see what's wrong with using the allegation that they've only done this for the money. Anybody's grandma can see that this franchise is huge. Well this should all end in vain while WB wipes their butts with our dollars.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 7:31 AM EST
Points: 1
char_ann says:
Tonight, instead of going to the movies and seeing Dark Knight, I have stayed home and saved my household budget from having to pay for four tickets that would otherwise have lined WB precious annual profits. Instead, I have started re-reading the series of which I so greatly admire, and have visited my favourite HP sites to show my outrage. I intend boycotting other WB movies that I'm not as impassioned to watch, so when the next James Bond, and the next Stars Wars and the next latest release that they are hoping will do well WON'T be gaining anything out of my tight budget! I have a brilliant series to support!
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 8:09 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1268
Power of Love says:
I totally agree with the idea of flooding them with petitions! Everyone make sure you sign the main one that has close to 20,000 signatures now. But to really make WB listen, we all need to call, email, and write the WB directly to drive home the message that we want the November 21 release date back!
If we all stand united and express directly to the WB how much we all want this, we just might be able to set this travesty right.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 8:42 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 28
Snapes Gal says:
I totaly agree with a boycott of the opening weekend if WB doesn't budge on this release date. A lot of precedent is set by the studios on opening weekend box office takes. WHAT IF THERE WASN'T ANY, or little to none. Potter fans could take a real stand here. IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
What's a couple more days compared to waiting another year.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 10:31 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
Just so they can make extra money, they're making us wait pretty much a year for the movie. That is really low. Turning DH into 2 movies to make more money (and we know that's why they did), now this. Do they ever think of the fans?
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 10:39 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1392
SiriusFan says:
The rich just keep trying to get richer. This makes me really upset. I really look forward to the fall releases that are considered blockbusters because there are so very few. Every film I know of, waits until the summer to be released, why? I miss my November and December big releases like the first few Harry Potters (Nov) and all of the Lord of the Rings (Dec). It actually gave me something to look forward to during the fall and winter, movie wise.
Now, we're punished yet again because these corporate leeches want to get fatter and fatter. When will it stop? When will someone stick up for us (THE FANS) in these situations? After all, if we're not happy then they're not going to make any money. I hope WB calculated the amount of backlash they're going to receive in their profit margins. This really bites. I signed all three petitions and whined to my cats, but I don't think either will do much good. I'll hold out hope anyway.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 11:16 AM EST
Squib
Points: 103
GryffindorPride1007 says:
What?! I can't believe it?! After all this waiting, we have to wait almost a year to see this movie?! That's just bloody unfair!! I'm very, very upset... I.. I'm appalled by this news! We were so close to seeing it, and then they pull this on us. Way to go, Warner Bros. You have just made millions, maybe even billions, of Harry Potter fans very, very, very, very angry.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 11:20 AM EST
Squib
Points: 101
ThatGingerCat says:
This has to be a joke! They had released a date, they can't suddenly go back on it! I was hoping to get the game for christmas-are these being delayed too? And yes, it might be true that there will be less of a gap between film 6 films 7, but what about the longer gap between films 5 and 6. I am so dissapointed.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 11:24 AM EST
Auror
Points: 3647
Anastasia Popovick says:
Well this BITES! There goes that birthday gift...Guess we'll have to celbrate Christmas in July next year...ggggrrrr...
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 11:46 AM EST
Points: 37
Melede says:
I have personally written to Warner Bros. And I think more people need too as well. I am determined to change the release date back.
Posted Aug 16, 2008 at 11:47 AM EST
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