In The News
Official WB Press Release on Two Part Movie of "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows"
DH FilmWarner Brothers has now issued their formal press release on making Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in two films. Following on what we reported yesterday, Warner Brothers confirm again that David Yates will direct both films, marking the first time any one director will helm more than two releases in the Harry Potter film franchise, with Steve Kloves to continue on as screenwriter and David Heyman and David Barron to produce. Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Brothers said “It has been an honor for our studio to be entrusted with bringing J.K. Rowling’s extraordinary book series to the screen, and we have always felt a great responsibility to be true to her vision. In concluding the film franchise, we recognized that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is packed with vital plot points that complete the story arcs of all of its beloved characters. That said, we feel that the best way to do the book, and its many fans, justice is to expand the screen adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and release the film in two parts. We could not imagine the final chapter of the film franchise being in better hands than those of David Yates.”
Additional quotage from the release is as follows: “This is a very special moment for us, as it is the final episode in the great journey that J.K. Rowling undertook more than a decade ago,” said Alan Horn, President and COO, Warner Bros. Entertainment. “It has been a journey for all of us at Warner Bros. as well, and we are confident that our filmmakers will finish our series of films as a fitting complement to Jo’s completion of Harry’s story on the page.”
“Over ten years ago, we made a commitment to Jo Rowling that, above all else, we would be faithful and true to the spirit of her books, and ever since we have endeavored never to compromise on the creative ambitions of the films. The Deathly Hallows is so rich, the story so dense and there is so much that is resolved that after discussing it with Jo, we came to the conclusion that two parts were needed to do it justice” said David Heyman. “I am thrilled that David Yates is returning to direct ‘The Deathly Hallows.’ He is both inspired and inspiring and is a passionate fan of the remarkable world and characters Jo has created. I know he will lead our incomparable cast and crew—most of whom have been with us since the very beginning—in bringing the series to the unforgettable conclusion it deserves.”
Director David Yates remarked, “I’ve had great pleasure working with a tremendous cast and crew thus far, on both ‘the Order of the Phoenix’ and ‘the Half-Blood Prince.’ It’s a wonderful world to work in and be part of and to create within, and I consider it a great privilege to continue to bring Jo’s extraordinary world to the screen, and to be the director to complete this epic and exhilarating journey.”
As reported previously, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part one and Two will be filmed at the same time, beginning production in February of 2009, with “Deathly Hallows: Part One” to be released in movie theaters November of 2010, and Part Two due May 2011.
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Oh this is really good news! We will actually get to hopefully see almost everything in DH then! I was a little leary but Im glad they are really thinking this through. You can leave any big parts out you just cant!
Thanks for the info!!!
I am very surprised, I had not read rumors or anything about it so… I think it’s a bit weird that is happening for HB…. But I believe it’s a good decision.
I meant to say above….you CANT leave anything out….geez to early in the am!! :)
So where to split the story?
1. The dramatic events at the Gringotts ending with the escape on the dragon? 2. Ron’s departure from the forest? 3. The killing of the first horcrux? 4. The point where Harry decides “We need to go to Godrics Hollow”?
I need to reread the book with a split in mind…
Fantastic! By the way, when are we going to get a teaser trailer for HBP or some pictures?
Debbie – 3, definitely 3.
The first film will be much more cerebral and introspective and the second all action.
I see the split right after Ron comes back… you can’t end it after Christmas – too many things up in the air. You need a solid path laid out for the second movie… somewhere around visiting Mr. Lovegood?
But David Yates? No!!!! Come on! I was really getting into the idea of Guillermo del Toro doing it! Can you imagine Pan’s Labyrinth meets Harry Potter???
Woot! You know we can never get enough, so two movies will be awesome. I definitely think the first one should end with Ron’s return and the destruction of the first Horcrux. It’s halfway through the book and a satisfying moment for the ending of the movie.
If they’re doing this as two parts, I would hope each part is at least 2 hours. Otherwise there’s hardly a reason to do it as it would simply feel like a double dip by Warner into the fans’ pockets. Which it is anyway.
But if they do two parts that are barely 90 minutes each, it’s going to feel like a movie that could have been done in a single 2.5 hour release. What’s the point for a fan?
Remember they filmed enough of Phoenix to potentially make a 3 hour movie and ended up cutting (mercilessly I’m guessing) in editing. If they extend that to a four hour movie and cut each part down by 30 minutes, I think that is ultimately a very shady thing to do.
I like Yates a lot. But I still would have loved to have seen what certain other directors would have done with this world. Edgar Wright, Joss Whedon, etc. Still, at least they’ll have the same guy doing the last three movies and there can be some consistency of vision and storytelling to the end of the thing.
Where to split is going to be a big debate so here’s my take on it. I think there’s a heck of a lot of camping and crap they do(yep, pretty darned dry but necessary since that is how war really is) so in my mind there are 2 potential places to cut it off. First place is after Godric’s Hollow at Christmas And I think the final scene should be Harry visiting the house where his parents died and seeing the magical inscription. Second potential might be Shell cottage. I know it’s late in the book but gees the last part of the book is sooooooo dense and I want the Hogwarts battle done right!!! The key scene in the whole book is Chapter 34 and I wanna see that right the way through on screen as written by Jo. If you do it this way you can skip over a lot of the camping stuff in the first movie.
just about all the movies have come out every year… if 6 is coming out later this year… why is the first part of 7 not coming out until 2010?
but otherwise… i am SO excited for the 6th movie… and so pumped that they are making 2 of the 7th… but i guess it depends on where they split it… because i might not want to wait the entire year to see the rest of it.. .
BUT at least they wont leave much.. if anything.. out!
:-)
thanks for the update Leaky!!
M-B-W
Debbie – 3, definitely 3.
The first film will be much more cerebral and introspective and the second all action.
I liked Yates. I think he’ll do it justice. And can I just say YAAAAAHHHOOOO that we might just get everything out of the book for once! Not have it spliced to oblivion for the sake of saving movie time. I’m deliriously happy. No way could they (any director, any screenwriter, any actor) have done it justice in a mere 2.5 hours.
Of course WB has to recognize that they’ll also be getting twice as much in ticket and dvd sales. At this point, I don’t care, as long as they make the movies worth 2 separate movies and not just for the sake of dragging it out.
This is sooooo great!!!! The only trouble Im having with it is…where are they going to ‘to be continued’ it? My guess would be In Godrics Hollow, right after the whole ordeal, as Harry and Hermione leave. Any thoughts???
I am glad that they are doing this, and I am overjoyed that they got David Yates as the director, but, if they mess these movies up, then the hardcore fans will be very unhappy. I hope they do this right.
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Well,now it’s official..let’s hope that they are going to be two great films, even when separated…Go David Yates!!!My wishes are with you!!!