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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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Student
Points: 246
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
Squib
Points: 185
cshorte says:
I wish they would be honest and say that all the really care about is the MONEY...not the fans or what the fans think.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:03 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1102
Fire Phoenix says:
That's definitly no excuse, look at it they're still doing it for money. and they haven't excused or reasoned for it, he just goes on like in the first statement.
I could cry over this it's all just bla bla and I don't believe that he shares our love for Harry Potter. Well he certainly will have seen the movie when it's finished and not when it comes to cinema!.
I'm certainly disappointed.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:07 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2050
Feelin' Felix Felicis says:
To PowerGranger: Well said.
I'm ticked off at Warner Brothers right now. They can talk all they want. All they offer is flimsy excuses as to why they pushed back HBP. I think they are just money grubby.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:12 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1955
DanFan723 says:
We were already prepared to wait for the 2 year gap for Deatly Hallows. That was an empty consolation. WB, by moving the movie back you just made the pain worse. Silver lining? yeah, the lining in your pockets where all your extra cash is going!!!
Ale
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:15 AM EST
Hogwarts Social Worker
Points: 3586
SnoopyLover says:
I wrote to him yesterday, and this is just plain wrong.
I seriously think we should all boycott opening day (totally mess up their opening day receipts) and not see any WB movies in theater release between now and then.
WB STINKS!!!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:21 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
It's still not nice to make us all wait until July, but it's only 9 months. It's not that far away. It's not like they're holding it off until late next year, or by a couple of years. At least we're going to see the movie sooner or later.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:26 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2358
Nataly says:
However, the delay of the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has not changed. So nothing else matters..
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:37 AM EST
Student
Points: 246
Starlight Ollivander says:
@RON's all up in heRmiONe: Like I said, I wouldn't care at all about the movie being pushed back if there were a valid reason. A simple "We're going to to do it, so NAH :P doesn't really go over well. All the reasons provided so far have been flimsy excuses, even the one about production costs since I believe at least the American media companies profiting indirectly from the movie release would claim fraudulent misrepresentation or anticompetitive measures which could possibly lead to quite the loss in revenue (even if there never is a trial).
What really made me mad is that WB apparently thoughtlessly decided to brush aside everyone who had invested into the movie- be it the smalltime fan who planned and booked a trip to London for the release, or the big-time publisher whose October/November entertainment magazine release suddenly looks rather hasty and redundant. It's effects like these that really have me PO though I don't feel very much angered by the new release date at all. It's holding a crying friend in your arms who has just learned that the $2000 trip to London will just earn her a lot of bad weather and ill feelings (no offense to the weather in London or the Londoners, it's just the total disappointment felt when the real reason for your trip suddenly disappears), who has saved up from the time she saw GOF to "really experience the authenticity of a London movie release" and invested time, effort and emotions into it. Things like these make me mad as hell, and while I usually show little to no tolerance for people who think pirated movies are the best thing ever, this time I'm going to cheer them on.
If one of my friends or acquaintances happens to buy the movie on DVD I'm going to watch it, too. I'm just never going to spend any money on someone who is inconsiderate enough to not explain an action that has far-reaching consequences.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:41 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 341
Mimbulus Mimbletonia says:
He can go straight to the hole that erupted him.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:51 AM EST
Witch
Points: 863
Winky:) says:
I really don't care that it would have been a two year gap between half-blood prince and deathly hollows! I the half-blood prince in the theaters this fall! but I guess we'll just have to accept it...
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 11:59 AM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
Starlight Ollivander, I agree with you. Pushing the movie back is ok, but it's the principal of the matter that they just DID it.
But as much as it angers me that they just did it with blatent disregard for everyone and everything assosciated with HP, boycotting isn't nice. I mean, it's not like they're completely forgetting the movie and not giving it to us. As mad as we are at the WB, we can't boycott HP. By not seeing it in the movies, by not going to the premiere, you're pretty much boycotting HP. You guys are missing out on a great experience of meeting the stars, seeing the movie, joining in on the HP fun.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 12:00 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1585
BB_Sectumsempra says:
BOYCOTT WB!!!
What was the point of his statement???? He just repeated the same thing as was stated before, about the whole "silver lining". There is NO silver lining,they are just money hungry...!!!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 12:16 PM EST
Student
Points: 246
Starlight Ollivander says:
I'd never really boycott HP. I love the books too much for it, and, to be honest, I was looking much more forward to getting my special edition ToBB for Christmas (knock on wood that it's not going to be pushed back too, that would be a major irritation!). I'm not that much of a fan of the movies, so boycotting them is just pushing back my experience, which is going to happen anyways since Julies tend to be the busiest time of the year for me.
I know that the fans' reactions are going to hurt innocents first- the theater owners, the stars, the ones who try making money from the hype surrounding the films.
Ultimately, WB will feel the effects, though. It shouldn't be only the damage to their reputation, the damage that will be dealt them when the rest of the media react adversely to dealing with them in retribution for their rather clumsy handling of this decision. I believe they deserve to feel the effects of what they did to the public, the fans, the people everybody is trying to get to spend money on them. I know I'm just one person, and I know small forms of protest like writing in this thread or ultimately withholding from spending any money one WB productions is not going to have much of an impact, much as we would like it to, but it simply feels better to have done something, in the small way I can.
I don't really believe that the fans as a whole are going to boycott the movie. I think that most of the extreme anger that is being expressed on the net right now will have died down by next summer, so WB is guaranteed their blockbuster release. I just think that for me, such sucky PR work and honestly damaging behavior towards others, even in the strictly legal sense, should not be rewarded with positive PR in any way, even if those positive reports are almost a year into the future.
I'm in no way under the illusion of having a say or a voice regarding anything concerning moving back the release date, or cutting profits for WB (though I hope some lawyers are going to snatch the bait and sue for damages ASAP), but I feel a kind of personal satisfaction from not giving into something that has really quite cut into my enthusiasm for HP.
I know I'm not the most diehard fan on the 'net- that would be those threatening spontaneous combustion if the movie release isn't moved to the nearer future, but I feel that I, as a fan, have a right to express my disappointment in the only way I can- by becoming a closet fan, at least until this whole thing has blown over.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 12:17 PM EST
Witch
Points: 830
Barbarian Black says:
Really, that's a silver lining? We all knew ahead of time when Deathly Hallows was scheduled. Are they going to bump that too? And when can we expect the full trailer now. This is all very stupid!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 12:18 PM EST
Witch
Points: 917
zxPurplezx says:
Still not seeing the movie.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 12:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2245
Snufflesmom says:
A friend actually suggested that they might be after an award for the special effects in this film. Who knows really.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 12:22 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1392
SiriusFan says:
Starlight Ollivander, I never thought of people like this friend you wrote about. Now I'm even more upset for people who put as much time and money into making the premiere an event to remember their entire lives. This is just crap on the part of WB and I'm still as worked up about it as I was last week. Now, add insult to injury, we get an "apology" from Alan Horn who tries to shove it down our throats how it's a good thing ("silver lining"), less time between HBP and DH. Bunch of malarkey. I'm sure they knew there was going to be backlash over their decision; they weighed it against potential profit gains and losses then went with what was best for THEM and them alone. Just my two cents...again.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 1:00 PM EST
Witch
Points: 716
Secret Keeper says:
This whole thing just sickens me, like the fan who invested all her time and money to going to London to see the movie, when now it is not going to happen. I know how it is to have a vacation messed up, maybe not quite to that extent, but its a total let down, you really just have a hard time enjoying yourself the way you had planned. I especially feel bad for this fan, an international trip is not something easy to plan for (well for most people anyway) there is the much higher cost just to get there, plus just the time it takes to save for such a trip, especially with the movies now rapidly drawing to a close, this poor fan may not get this chance again. That and all the smaller businesses who were anticipating the money THEY were going to make from a Nov release, not to mention the promotion that has already been done for a Nov release, it just makes everyone involved look foolish when they have to scramble to rerelease something. My goodness, how can they do this, they have known about this blasted writers strike for ages, and surely any good business would have taken into account the effects it would have had down the road, WHY would they have stated it would be out in Nov, knowing this all along, why didn't they anticipate this before releasing this release date, sending out trailers with this release date, and then within the last seven days since such trailers went out come to the most outrageous decision to push this movie back nearly one year. A COMPLETED MOVIE!!! I do not care now what WB says to try to salvage this mess, and I know no matter what we are probably NOT going to get this movie back into a Nov release, but you know WHAT, I don't have to play their game, I DON'T HAVE to see movies by WB or this MOVIE AT ALL! Did you guys read what Dan said in that interview asking the fans not to blame him, to me that says a whole lot, to me that says he is well aware of how the blame is trying to be shifted to him, well you know what, THAT TELLS ME THAT WB DOESN'T CARE ABOUT HE OR ITS ACTORS. All I can say is IF Dan might happen to stumble upon this and read it is WE DO NOT BLAME YOU, WE KNOW WHERE THE TRUE BLAME LIES AND IT IS WITH THOSE MONEY GRUBBING GITS AT WB. HOW DARE THEY! How dare they try to place the blame on anyone or anything other than where the blame needs to be placed. If they need any help in figuring out where they need to place the blame I say go look in the mirror. Just keeping running your gobs WB, all it is doing is adding fuel to the fire and keeping this boycott alive and strong.
Please I strongly urge fans, DO NOT GO TO OPENING WEEKEND AT ALL, that is the least we can do, to TRULY make a statement AVOID this movie like the plauge. Boycott WB!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 2:09 PM EST
Squib
Points: 103
GryffindorPride1007 says:
I can totally agree with the others on here, but then there is nothing we can do to change their minds. What they have done, yes, has angered us greatly, but nothing more can be done to change what has already happened. Yes, I am angered by what Warner Bros. has done, but no matter what I say about the subject, nothing changes. Yes, the excuse he gave is meaningless, but what can we do? I agree that they should have stuck with the pattern that they were going with, but they chose not to. If you look at it closely, he does have a slight point, and this is talking money wise for a moment. Look at all the movies Warner Bros. has already premiered in theaters: they have made huge amounts of money and are still doing well. Now on a fan's point of view: it sickens me that we only had three months left and were sweating out the days until we could see the movie. Now we are waiting less than a year to do the same. I can understand everyone's pain, but it's not like this is the end of Harry Potter. Believe me, if you keep your chin up and wait patiently, you will be more than thrilled when the movie is released. I'm saying this because I never followed the Harry Potter films until this year. When they premiered in theaters, it didn't faze me. I always waited until they were released on DVD. Trust me. It's worth the wait.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 2:18 PM EST
Squib
Points: 142
hungarianhorntail1 says:
Bull Crap! I do NOT give a CRAP about the wait between the 6th and 7th movie. THEY told us that WE would have the MOVIE in NOVEMBER!. So I want it in NOVEMBER! It was already SET IN MY HEAD that the 6th movie was coming in NOVEMBER and the 7th was TWO YEARS LATER! and I was FINE WITH THAT! no matter how much they APOLOGIZE it's not going to make me feel BETTER!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 2:33 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 72
Unnursvana says:
"Please be assured that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything to hurt any of the films"- Oh please, just bunch of meaningless words. I don't care if I would have to wait longer for DH, I want to see that bloddy film now.
God I hate WB. Do they really think that this is gonna make this better for us? They mbettr make it the best movie yet or else I am gonna be really mad!
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 2:37 PM EST
Witch
Points: 660
HalfBloodMel says:
The thing is that warner bros want to make sure that they are angels and they have right to move the movie and they want us to belive that they love us, but this is stupid i cant forgive them what they did, they ruined my plans of christmas and ruined my happiness but they dont care about it!, so what is the deal to forgive them?
why didnt they plan this at the first moment? i hate when people do something like that , i mean they plan something ,date and month but later they change and everything its ruined, how cruel Warner Bros you make me and others unhappy and sad!, and they shouldnt care about deathly hollows because half-blood prince are the fans waiting for , my opinion is that i want to wait little longer with deathly hallows , it would be so sad that harry potter is over so right now is half-blood prince its the thing!.
hate you Warner bros, its not worth to forgive you.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 2:47 PM EST
Witch
Points: 560
TheBabblingHousewife says:
I am more of a fan of the book, but right now, I'm very much leaning towards seeing it at the 2nd run theater...or waiting until the DVD comes out and just rent the blasted thing and eventually buy the DVD used
Really...they think that they would make that much more money by delaying it? They opened Order of the Phoenix in November, and it broke some records then, correct?
Don't see the point.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 4:35 PM EST
Student
Points: 250
big_chips says:
I have to agree, im still not satisfied with any of this either. If they think that we're going to have to wait until July to see this, then they're crazy. but unfortunately, its probably going to happen anyway.
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 5:28 PM EST
Lady of Godric's Hollow
Points: 5292
GodricsGirl says:
Blah blah blah!
This has already been said. I'm still not happy. But what else can we do?
Posted Aug 20, 2008 at 5:42 PM EST
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