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AUGUST 19, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Warner Bros.
Alan Horn, president of Warner Bros., has issued a statement for fans in direct response to criticism of the company's choice to delay the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until next July.
He says:
Many of you have written to me to express your disappointment in our moving Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to Summer 2009.
Please be assured that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything to hurt any of the films. Over the past 10 years, we have nurtured and protected each film, and the integrity of the books upon which they are based, to the best of our ability.
The decision to move Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was not taken lightly, and was never intended to upset our Harry Potter fans. We know you have built this series into what it is, and we thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support.
If I may offer a silver lining: there would have been a two-year gap between Half-Blood Prince and the much-anticipated first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which opens in November 2010.
So although we have to wait a little longer for Half-Blood Prince, the wait from that film until Deathly Hallows will be less than 18 months. I am sorry to have disappointed you now, but if you hold on a little longer, I believe it will be worth the wait.Alan Horn
President, Chief Operating Officer
Warner Bros.
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Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3836
hermionefan1 says:
All i hear from Alan is blah blah blah...money...blah blah blah...more money...blah blah blah. Just give us the dang movie already!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 3:24 AM EST
Student
Points: 211
HogwartsCherri says:
*Fumes*
..
*Continues sticking stamps onto howlers*
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 3:43 AM EST
Longbottom is My King
Points: 4729
Kelin says:
If any of you actually care about other Warner Brothers projects (most of you probably don't), the movie adaptation for the graphic novel Watchmen is being threatened to either be delayed in its release or not allowed to be released due to some legal problems the studio has with Fox. If it is released, Warner Brothers is probably going to have to give some of the profits to Fox. Since it looks like the studio does not expect another The Dark Knight or HBP next year, the decision to move HBP back may be in part due to the fact that they will lose profits next year when Watchmen is released. Believe me, I doubt Warner Brothers is not going down without a fight because they will have millions of ticked off fanboys and fangirls if the movie is not released, including myself.
I'm not an insider in the business nor do I fully understand what is going on between Fox and Warner Brothers, but it's something to think about.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 3:57 AM EST
Lunarly challenged
Points: 2480
Grayback'sVictim says:
*starts crying*
And now they send us people to get us controled, he said everything we already know he just sugar coated it.
Well it's a bunch of... you know...
Ha! That's very nice... they HAVE TO keep the integrity or JK would be very angry (i supose).
Hey. What does JK think of this?
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 4:46 AM EST
Student
Points: 299
annie101 says:
I reckon we have'nt seen what JK thinks about this because she is not happy about this either, and the last thing WB wants is for that to get out.
I am so mad at Alan Horn or whatever his name is. He should just admit he is greedy and doesn't care about us. Keep up the protests everyone.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 5:19 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1451
leeanne<3ron says:
Oh, i think most people can see through this excuse.
I do wonder what JK thinks about it.
Fair enough he tryed to give us a reason, but it wasnt good enough !.
Im angry and upset, i was really lookng forward to november, now all i have to look forward to filmwise is twilight.
Hmpff.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 5:44 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1763
hufflepuff_babe says:
Apology not accepted.
Over the past 10 years, we have nurtured and protected each film, and the integrity of the books upon which they are based, to the best of our ability.
*giggles*...nurtured and protected!?....
umm sure, whatever you would like to tell yourself. I'll always remember that you have slaughtered my favorite book, PoA. Why was this even brought up? This just makes me more angry.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 6:17 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 25
LemonFaerie says:
I'm glad Mr. Money-grubbing-Horn keeps talking because he keeps the anger fresh. Keep mailing those Howlers, people! Seriously, what an idiot. Did he really think this statement was going to make ANYTHING better?
And does he really think we even believe him about the November 2010 release date for DH now? His stars are not going to be available to promote HBP for July because they will be working on DH. UNLESS they take time off DH to promote HBP, in which case... DH will be pushed back! Did he even think about that when they made this decision?
I am SO angry I just can't see straight, I can hardly think about anything else. One piece of good news: the email I sent to my local IMAX about the boycott got a personal response saying she is forwarding it to the "right people" so at least I know one email actually got read AND taken seriously. It's a start!
BOYCOTT WB
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 6:20 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2424
bonniewrightrulz says:
Oh yeah,your sorry!And dont give us that excuse for the short wait between HBP and DH,what about the long wait we've got to endure now huh??
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 6:42 AM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4399
ILoveHP! says:
Wow.....still did nothing to ease my disappointment. I mean we have been preparing for the November release for a year now and that is completely different from knowing already that the wait will be 2 years (what was supposed to happen before the move with the 1st DH film)!!!! Argh. This just won't do. WON'T.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 6:50 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 581
Dara_255 says:
I think we all know who Voldemort was based on! *Looks in Alan Horn's direction*
I mean take his last name for example: Horn! He's the true devil!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 7:13 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2157
HogwartsWitch says:
So, we don't have to wait 2 years for DH, but we have to wait 2 years for HBP, a film that is finished? So, what's the difference? He should just try being honest "we are trying to squeeze as much money out of our opening weekend as possible". Does he really think that statement was meant to calm the fans...? And he's the head of a moive studio??
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 7:23 AM EST
Half-Blooded Fooch
Points: 2447
fooch48 says:
What a load of nonsense. This guy said absolutely nothing! He shouldn't have wasted his breath!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 8:06 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 19
Garnie says:
yeah.....thanks for that.
There not gonna care how many petitions we sign, how much we scream or stamp our feet. All they care about is the dollar! we might as well except it! WB has won. the only thing i think that could make the slightest chance of the film being moved back to November is by having a protest outside WB studios. But lets face it.....there still not gonna do it!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 8:11 AM EST
Witch
Points: 504
Livian Silver says:
True politician.
He isn't actually saying anything at all.
But looking at it in another way, its like saying that its okay you lost your most treasured possession because you can go buy a new one!
Stupid really.
Its all just money money money.
And I hate I hate I hate I hate I hate the director Yates. Even worse than what WB has done.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 8:25 AM EST
Witch
Points: 504
Livian Silver says:
What I think is really bad about this sudden move, is all the plans that had been made around the release.
The group I am a member of had organised a HUGE thing for the premiere with a pretty big group (charity?) and it has disappointed so many people.
Not to mention any money tied up with people already booking travel and accommodation for that specific event.
The only consolation, I just hope they actually spend MORE time on fixing the travesty that this film will be, so hopefully it might be something more than a festering pile of flaming dog droppings that movie 5 was.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 8:30 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2536
caroline81 says:
Now I'm totally convinced this film is crap! Thanks, Mr. Horn, you've just confirmed my underlying fear that I always knew to be true!
Man, do I heart, W.B.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:07 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8934
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Pretty pathetic. Not really believable. I think his original words that they would sell more tickets in the summer is the real reason.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:20 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 3
HPSmart says:
He still didn't answer the question! This is really frustrating. He just stated the obvious!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:36 AM EST
Witch
Points: 863
CursedForever says:
I'm sure it will be worth the wait, but what a load of rubbish! Couldn't they think up a better excuse?
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:39 AM EST
Student
Points: 247
Starlight Ollivander says:
This is one movie I'm not going to pay diddly squat to see. Normally, I'm all for going the legal way, but with how WB is playing this out (seriously, aren't they running out of stupid excuses? There are rumors circulating about Daniel Radcliffe's stage career being the cause for the film being moved back now!) they shouldn't be upset when they find out that piracy runs overboard with HBP.
I understand that as a company rep who hasn't been given anything substantial to say you'll have to try and phrase something meaningless as nicely as possible, but at the moment I believe WB is doing more damage than good with their attempts at damage control.
I know there is nothing short of a "so sorry, we miscalculated post-production time" that would appease us fans- what I don't get is why they are still trying.
I have never been the biggest fan of the movies ever, I much prefer the books (especially since the fifth one where even the score (which had been a highlight for me from John Williams to Patrick Doyle) disappointed me), but just to complete my experience I have been going faithfully, film after film, to see them in a theater and later on bought the DVD.
I guess that is the end of this- I'm very sorry for the movie theater owners who are going to be hit hardest by the fans' boycotts, but I simply can't condone behavior like WB's. Please, at least don't take us for stupid fanatics. Most of us can read, Mr. Horn.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:41 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1655
Emerika says:
BOOOOOOOO!!!
Now they can't even move it back because TWILIGHT has taken that date. Die Edward Cullen. Die.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:45 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2621
hbluvhp says:
grrr... that just doesn't help at all! The movie world is a business and I get that but it doesn't make it any less crummy that the movie was cooking along like it was supposed to, trailers being released, press picking up and then...WHAM! Umm, we've decided to push the movie back 8 months...so sorry, but hey that means it'll be closer to the release of DH..UGG that is not even bearable!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:48 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1270
SlytherinHeiress says:
The point is, it was false advertising when they stated the movie would be released in November. I am very shocked they have not actually gotten into trouble over moving the film here in the US. It has not only put us in the position of feeling deceived and disappointed, it has also damaged the entertainment media in the US. I mean, they were going to have the film on the cover of a magazine that was to come out next month. What is that magazine going to do? I imagine they already have plans for the summer, as well, which likely means no HP promotion this summer. Who is going to want to promote this film? Who is going to want to advertise it? I would say very few. You can't fuss around with the American media who cover entertainment (and I am sure the industries in other countries as well) and expect to be welcomed back when you need publicity later. WB has lost a lot of their credibility and integrity because of this mess, and I believe that their decision to move the film will cause serious damage to them. I would like to know what Jo has to say about this. That would be very interesting.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:53 AM EST
Witch
Points: 863
CursedForever says:
As much as I love Twilight, I'd rather see Harry Potter in November.
Money money money. Surely they have enough to cover the next two years after The Dark Knight?
What a wonderful 'excuse'. Didn't he think of the consequences of that decision? And how can Daniel Radcliffe's stage career be the problem when the film's already finished?
Count me in for the boycott.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 9:57 AM EST
Student
Points: 247
Starlight Ollivander says:
@SlytherinHeiress: There has been talk about the movie being moved back because of advertising costs, not for HBP which is pretty much already in the run of promotion, but for DH 1&2 as well as other projects that took too much money out of the budget. That at least sounds a little more believable than Radcliffe's role in Equus not fitting the Potter image.
I hope you're right about American media companies (apart from WB). If there's too much interdependence, though, WB's move will not hurt their advertising much at all. I can see magazines selling because of their HP content, and I can actually see magazines selling TWICE because of their HP content- once for giving a voice to us enraged fans, and once for another promotion run for the movie. I think they're betting on most fans having spent their ire before next summer.
As for Twilight... Is that another WB production? (sorry, but I never got past the first few pages in the book where the heroine describes herself. Not at all my thing.) It might be that they don't want to have two fantasy blockbusters, both of which draw a lot of the same fanbase/audience in such close proximity. Perhaps they miscalculated on the Twilight thing's success?
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 10:53 AM EST
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