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
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Emmy
I’m pretty sure Harry is going to be happy on is wedding day. And i don’t want some random actor playing an older harry. that would suck. it has to end with the trio. but unless the make up people are just that good, i don’t think they can play 30 year olds.
Just a thought- what if they shot all the story at once but put off shooting the epilogue until the last minute? Then the actors would look a bit different and then they’d fix the rest with makeup, etc. I don’t know if they’d want to put that much effort into it, though.
I’m actually really excited that there will be a 6 month gap, so Pottercast will have to go on for at least 3 more years!
There is way too much plot to put into one movie and not enough that can really be cut. There’s: the 7 Potters, Harry’s visions coming back, the wedding, the attack, Tahttinham Court, the ministry break-in, Ron leaving, Godric’s Hollow, the silver doe, Xeno’s house, getting captured, Malfoy Manor, Gringotts, the battle, the Prince’s Tale, Harry’s death, Voldy’s demise, and (hopefully) the epilogue, and a bunch of other stuff I probably forgot.
Harry will be happy when he marries Ginny, but he’ll be happier when he’s living a life with Ginny, and they have their children and he’s the dad he always wanted to have
I really hate cheezy endings. Why cant they make voldemort destroy harry in the movie. that would be a lot better
also they should cut ir right before the battle of hogwarts to make the battle 3 hours long
Michy
I think Dan can still grow a couple more inches. His dad is pretty tall and dan is only 18. boys don’t stop growing until they’re 21. but even if he doesn’t get taller, i hope they use some camera tricks and make him look taller because when i was reading that last fight with voldemort when they’re circling each other, i was picturing them as being almost the same height.
and i love the idea of a double wedding too.
“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.”
Is there any chance we can get complete coverage if this presentation? I know I would watch the whole thing with interest.
If pottercast goes on for 3 more years…i DONT THINK i WILL HAVE ENOUGHT SPACE ON MY IPOD FOR ALL OF THEM. ANyway, im really glad that it will go on
Tyler
I was thinking the exact same thing. I really hope this is televised. And it sounds like they’re going to be discussing other movies besides HP. i would really like to see that.
I’m excited for the two movies, but I hope more of the little details are preserved. The OOTP movie did an awful job with the little things that make the books so good. I wouldn’t want the same thing to happen with DH!
You must have a pretty bid ipod if you have all the episodes on there. i only keep like 5 episodes at a time on my ipod. but i only have a 4GB. and i listen to mugglecast too.
YES,YES,YES,YES,YES. I’M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
I was hoping that they would do this. I’m really pleased. although the time period between the two is disappointing, but hey, they’re doing two films.
YES,YES,YES,YES,YES. I’M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
I was hoping that they would do this. I’m really pleased. although the time period between the two is disappointing, but hey, they’re doing two films.
I wonder how long it would take for them to play DH.2 on tv :)
@celia
My ipod is 4GB too and I have 4 mugglecast and 18 pottercast but I dont know how to delete the mugglecast and the old pottercasts. plz tell me how
@celia
My ipod is 4GB too and I have 4 mugglecast and 18 pottercast but I dont know how to delete the mugglecast and the old pottercasts. plz tell me how
Its been ages since we’ve been hit with some GOOD potter news!!1 LIKE WOW!!
Alright, I know everybody is titled to their own opinion, and here’s mine:
ARE THEY CRAZY? OK, I sorta agree on the making it two movies so nothing will be cut, but SIX MONTHS APART? HELLO? SOME OF US HAVE BEEN FANS OF THESE BOOKS AND MOVIES SINCE WE WERE LIKE…...IN FOURTH GRADE! When the last movie comes out, I’ll be a SOPHMORE IN COLLEGE!!!!
Why put it in two movies? I liked the idea of a 5-6 hour long movie, I mean, if people in the 1940’s could set and watch Gone With the Wind in one go, I think we could watch Deathly Hallows! I mean, it seems as though if you wouldn’t want to set through ONE movie, then it doesn’t seem like your a loyal fan.
But, Hey, that’s my opinion.
im so excited about this news. a lot of pplz are too. 336 pplz have commented. Ive read all of them. Michy and celia have been commenting for almost 2 hours
@ Liz Im not sure if you’ve noticed but we are in 2008….not the 1940’s. PPLZ now have busy schedules and we are no longer that patient to sit for a million hours no matter how long the movie is. But if you disagree, then you go and buy the dvds and watch them all in one sitting.
Sorry, comments are closed for this article.
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Nice to see a “longer” movie, but in the future, I hope that some tv station will decide to do all the books as some kind of mini/maxi-series.