In The News
Official: Two Parts for "Deathly Hallows" Movie, David Yates to Direct Both Films
DH FilmBig News everyone! The L.A Times is reporting an exclusive today: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be made in two films, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" , and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II. Furthermore, the paper cites producer David Heyman confirming the return of David Yates as director for both films, with Steven Kloves to finish out his duties as screenwriter for both Harry Potter movies as well. The movies are to be filmed at the same time, and will be released several months apart, with Part One due November 2010, and Part Two, May 2011.
Update: The article has additional information now, with quotes from producer David Heyman on his conversation with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling on splitting the book into two films. "Heyman said he approached Rowling with some trepidation about the strategy but found that she signed off on its logic rather quickly. "I went to Jo and she was cool with it," Heyman said, "and that was quite a relief."
The newspaper continues saying "Producer David Heyman said the decision was made with some anxiety and only after considerable deliberations. The producer joked that "while my wife and Warner Brothers were pleased" to hear that the Potter movie magic will continue into the next decade, he himself fretted that the cynical observers would see the decision as a purely mercenary move."I swear to you it was born out of purely creative reasons," Heyman said during an interview in a converted airplane factory outside London that has been home base to all of the "Potter" productions. "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book. You can remove scenes of Ron playing quidditch from the fifth book, and you can remove Hermione and S.P.E.W. [Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare] and those subplots . . . but with the seventh, that can't be done."
Actor Dan Radcliffe who portrays Harry Potter in the film is quoted as saying "I think it's the only way you can do it without cutting out a huge portion of the book," Radcliffe said recently during a break on the set of "Half-Blood Prince," the sixth "Potter" film, which is due in theaters on Nov. 21. "There have been compartmentalized subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut - although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans- but the seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go."
Of interest to many fans is the spot in the book where the films will break, and producer David Heyman addresses this as he notes: "The question will be, where do you break it? And how do you make them one but two separate and distinct stories? Do you break it with a moment of suspense or one of resolution? These are the interesting challenges. But each book has presented its challenges."
Warner Bros. Chairman Alan Horn and Jeff Robinov, president of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, are expected to discuss the new plans for "Potter" on Thursday during a presentation at ShoWest, the convention of movie exhibitors in Las Vegas.
UPDATE 2The LA Times has a second story now online, containing new comments from WB Chair Alan Horn on the decision to split and the additional film time for the story "This way, we have an extra hour and a half, at least, to celebrate what this franchise has been and do justice to all the words and ideas that Jo has put in the amazing story," Horn said. "This is the end of the story too. We want to celebrate it. We want to give a full meal." Mr Horn continued on, remarking about the epilogue to "Deathly Hallows" regarding the beloved trio and how that would be translated to the big screen. "Horn said that particular denouement has the filmmakers fretting about how to keep the young familiar stars on the screen just before it goes dark. "That," Horn said, "is something we will need to deal with. People have watched these kids grow up, and it's been very special to do so. That's important to us."
Thanks much to the LA Times, Jimbo, and TML!rate this article
Interested in DH Film?
Sign up for free Email Alerts
I hope the same actor plays Olivander. We do not see that actor often enough. May be he prefers theatre. We do not even see him on British Television.
Chrismas may come more than once a year.
I’m happy it’s being split, but I wanted ALFONSO to direct at least one of them. I’m so sorely disappointed by this. Ron and Hermione are my two favorite characters, and Alfonso got pretty good performances out of Rupert and Emma. Now we’re probably going to see more of the same :( Oh well. The movies are fun, but I guess it’s about the books in the end.
OMG! i am so freakin excited! my sister called me to the computer and she was just screaming and i read what it said and i almost like died because my life was complete! i love david yates and now we have the full DH story in BOTH movies!!!!!!!! The only porblem with me is the wait. I can not wait for like 6 months for the other half. well, i love this book and i hope that the movieS will me awesome!:)
@Tyler
Removing or moving a Horcrux is not really detrimental to the story.
I think Dobby’s death and funeral following the Malfoy Manor would be a good climax for the first film, with Harry making his decision of Hallows over Horcruxes as a sort of resolution. Stuff with Ollivander and Griphook (tough without Shell Cottage though) can be part of the wind-down. That way, the second one can start at the beginning of the 24 hours (May 1st/2nd) of Gringotts and the Battle of Hogwarts, which will get awesome screentime of course!
TML
You would be a cool guest host. LOL. but I’m really excited now. You probably shouldn’t have brought that whole Potterwatch opening part two idea, because now if part two doesn’t open that way, i’m gonna be extremely disappointed. I literally can’t see it happening any other way. But that’s sooo cool. I can’t believe you wrote a whole screenplay…actually yes I can but maybe you should send it to Steve Kloves. You could co-write the screenplay of DH together and you’ve already got a headstart lol. but Steve Kloves is definitely going to need some help. that book is huge. i still can’t believe you wrote one and you didn’t even get paid do it.
@TML
I do agree that the acting wAs better except for hermione and seamus. they were talking WAY TO FAST. and nowone in the theatre could understand what they were saying. Emaa watson is my favoutite actress but i think she diditn do as well as she did in philosephers stone
You would be a cool guest host. Thanks. Make sure to mention that to the staff of PotterCast. =-D
but I’m really excited now. You probably shouldn’t have brought that whole Potterwatch opening part two idea, because now if part two doesn’t open that way, i’m gonna be extremely disappointed. I literally can’t see it happening any other way. But that’s sooo cool. I am too… I’m really riveted. I have my own site that keeps up with the news, too, Harrypotternewsreel.blogspot.com, so I had this bit just before Leaky. is thrilled.
You could co-write the screenplay of DH together and you’ve already got a headstart lol. but Steve Kloves is definitely going to need some help. that book is huge. i still can’t believe you wrote one and you didn’t even get paid do it. I thought about that, but I know It’d never happen.
alright! i guess this is as good as official.
so its quite simply Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 and 2?
a bit unimaginative dont you think?
I just realized something else. THERE IS NO WAY THEY CAN CUT MOVIE ONE AT SHELLL COTTAGE. ITS IMPOSSIBLE. .............Bill and Fleur are not even introduced in movie 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 . they cant just introduce them in movie 7 out of nowhere. WAIT A MINUTE…... THAT MEANS HARRY CANT EVEN BURRY DOBBIE AT SHELL COTTAGE
OMG SOMEONE REPL IM SOO CONFUSED
TML
Actually removing Gringott’s would be detrimental to the story. (I can hear this argument continuing. IS!! IS NOT!!! IS!!! IS NOT!!!) We’ll have to agree to disagree.
OH MY GOSH!! I am SO excited right now. I can easily get over the director part. I just absolutely HATE the wait between the two films though! I told everyone who was near about this as soon as I read it. It is funny to think that I will be driving myself to see the second half of the movie! I will be the first one in line at my local theater. YES!! FINALLY SOME STRAIGHT FORWARD, AWESOME NEWS!!
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
You hear that? It’s the agonised cries of the cash cow as WB milk every last drop out of her.
I welcome Yates to direct but two movies – bad idea. A really bad idea. Make one movie that lasts three hours. Way to go to split the tension up. URGH.
Actually removing Gringott’s would be detrimental to the story. Not really. Other than the bit about the Horcrux, what purpose does it serve?
@michy: I agree with the whole not understanding some of the actors. I personally can’t understand what Alan Rickman is saying, but he has a good excuse because of his whole jaw problem. But I can understand the trio perfectly.
THEY CAN NOT AND WILL NOT REMOVE THE GRINGOTTS SCENE . AS SOMEONE AID BEFORE….. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SKIP A CHANCE TO SHOOT THE TRIO RIDING A DRAGON INTO THE SUNSET. AND THE HORCRUZ PART IS IMPOTANT TOO.
THEY CAN NOT AND WILL NOT REMOVE THE GRINGOTTS SCENE . AS SOMEONE AID BEFORE….. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO SKIP A CHANCE TO SHOOT THE TRIO RIDING A DRAGON INTO THE SUNSET. AND THE HORCRUZ PART IS IMPOTANT TOO.
I’M STILL SHOCKED THAT SOME OF YOU ACTUALLY WANT THE GRINGOTTS CHAPTER REMOVED! I’m getting sick just thinking about it. That part is amazing in the book. It’s sooo suspenseful, there’s no way they’re going to cut that out. That part is sooo good that it was on two book covers. The UK edition and the US deluxe edition. so there’s no way they would even think about cutting that out. Plus if they do then Hermoine wouldn’t get her revenge on Bellatrix for torturing her and they also wouldn’t get the goblet horcrux.
@ celia
What about the whole shell cottage thing. Do you think they are even going to do that scene cuz bill and fleur havent been introduced into any of the movies and they definately cant do it now
Sorry, comments are closed for this article.
Leaky Poll
Who should win the JKR/WB vs RDR lawsuit?
- JKR and WB: The HPL takes too much and adds too little7108 (78%)
- RDR: Lexicons are fair use1493 (16%)
- I'll answer in the comments424 (4%)
I blame the screenwriting and editing for the flop that was HP5. I don’t think it had to do with Yates. I don’t know if you noticed, but the acting was better in 5 than any of the others, the direction was better… it’s just the script and editing that lacked… and those really aren’t the directors bits. More the Producer, Editor, and Screenwriter.