Confirmed: Deathly Hallows Split Into Two Movies
WATFORD, England — It’s official: Eight will be the magic number for the “Harry Potter” film franchise.
After months of rumors, Warner Bros. and the producers of the massively successful movies will announce Thursday that they plan to split “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” J.K. Rowling’s seventh and final “Potter” novel, into two blockbuster films — one to be released in November 2010 and the second in May 2011.
The films will be titled, simply, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II,” according to producer David Heyman. Director David Yates, who returned for his second tour of Potter duty with “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and is quite popular with the cast, will direct both “Deathly Hallows” films, which will be filmed concurrently. Screenwriter Steve Kloves also returns and, by completion of the franchise, will have written seven of the eight films.
One devoted “Potter” reader that is especially happy to hear the news is Daniel Radcliffe, the 18-year-old actor who plays the title character in the wizardry epic.
Some cynics will see the move as simply doubling the box-office payday, but Radcliffe told The Times that the split is purely in service of the story.
& thanks to our forum member luvjuicy!
“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.”
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.”
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.”
Rowling has also been a more frequent visitor to the sixth movie’s set than with previous installments. One big reason is that she is no longer busy trying to finish the “next” Potter book; she walked away from her signature character in July 2007, when the climactic “Deathly Hallows” hit stores, and continued the history-making ways of the series by selling 11 million copies during its first 24 hours on shelves.
The filming of “Half-Blood Prince” began in September, and Radcliffe said “it’s been brilliant.” He added: “It’s also, I think, the funniest of the films so far.”
The “Potter” films have pulled in a staggering $4.5 billion at the box office worldwide. Heyman said now that the “Potter” team knows they can split “Deathly Hollows” in half, the next challenge is figuring out the division.
As Heyman put it: “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.
“he himself fretted that the cynical observers would see the decision as a purely mercenary move.”
*looks at Kathleen’s photoshopped pic*
Indeed.
I don’t really mind this, I like new Harry Potter films coming out and will enjoy the stretching out of it.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo
that means that I have to go to the cimena twice…GOD DAMMIT
ooooohh…..i can’t wait for DH now..all those who hate it..r such dumb asses or they’re nt potter fans..cuz if they r-would want to drag hp on and on!!since books r all out,nothing else but movies to wait for..sob*
wanted,cuaron as director..much better than yates..his style/sensitivity. yates has lousy camera angles.
newell is ok too.
best is cuaron,columbus.
yippeee!! a 21 yr old dan,emma 22-rupert,acting in DH..
Meechie reply on March 13th, 2008:
Bitch how am I a dumbass for having an opinion? I don’t want them to split it because I don’t want to have to wait for the second part. I would rather just go see one big long movie.
oh!!its fantastic!!I think that it will be better in two films..I hope nothing will be missed…
Yeah, everyones like “oh no,they cut soooo many things out” so now I hope they´ll put nearly everything in. On the one hand I looove it when a hp-film comes out but I do hope that your not sitting in the first film, and the suspense is flying high when the first part is over and youll have to wait until may
I think it’s a good idea because then they won’t have to cut much out, hopefully nothing out.
However, I hope Emma does all three because right now they are all only signed for two more films. And I remember it took her a while to make a decision because she really wants to go to college…
But maybe they’re going to shoot it all at once and then just release them at separate times.
i can’t wait for the film to be ut in 2 parts the first one will be out novemer 2010 and the second part will be out May 2011 so there will be along wait in between
At least it means they won’t cut much from the films - EVERYTHING that happens in this book is important to the final outcome so it should be brilliant. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE SIX-FOUR DVD?
They’ll probably film it concurrently (means not separately) and it probably won’t take much longer to film than the other films have - it’s just that a lot gets cut to fit into 3 hours with the other films wheraas this time they won’t have to cut very much at all.
thank god
omgosh… you cant split it… i cant see half and then wait for the reast .!!! i would rather it all cum out in may and wait longer !!…. wat were you thinking!!! i undersatnd there is alot to put in it so u need to make it longer and make to halfs but u cant let them out t diiferent time !!!! AAHHHHHHHH
x
waah best news ever!!!
http://www.dahe.cn/xwzx/yl/ylys/t20080313_1270029.htm
look at this!
Excellent, the more harry potter the better.
I will admit I’m not to excited that David Yates is back the last movie was probably my least favorite, but then again the same screenwriter is returning to the franchise, which will make a hell of a difference cuz the last writer paid no attention to detail.
I do believe it’s neccessary for it to be split. Go read the book again, cuz there is a hell of a lot of information in that book, plus they have to do some catch with the stuff they left out in the previous movies.
But will they come out at the same time?
Haha. You FAIL Warner Bros. I hope this movie just bombs in your face.
Kristin M. reply on March 13th, 2008:
Why, because they’re splitting the movie? I personally think Yates is a good director. I was happy with OotP(they could have made it longer and made it flow a little better), and I’m so happy he’s back for HBP and DH. I heard they’re going to split it at Godric’s Hollow, which seems like a great place to split it.
Deathly Hallows was JK Rowling’s most sold and anticipated book, I highly doubt that it’s going to bomb, since almost the whole world wanted to read the book, the book was #1 on EW Magazine’s top selling list for about 2 months, and the movie’s probably going to be the same way.
ashley reply on March 13th, 2008:
WTF is your problem?
Kristin M. reply on March 14th, 2008:
WTF is YOUR problem? I’m commenting on her comment! If you see a problem with me commenting on someone else’s comment and explaining myself, then leave this damn site, please. Don’t comment on here anymore. Thank you very much.
When i first heard about this, i was like WTF. But then I realized that it was reasonable, regardless of ppl’s motives. And im so f***ing EXCITED for both of the movies to come out!!!
I Think That It Is Good That They Are Splitting It Into Two Becasue I Don’t Want Anything Missed Out, But Its Also Sad Coz Ihave To Wait Till I’m 18 To Watch The Final One And I’m 15 Now
*Sobs*
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.
this is for all those ’stupid’ ppl who disputed my words as to when dH were to start filming..if EW-forums were nt updated..i’ll b able to find my exact quotes..which i said last mth…when DH starts filming….
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.”
http://www.emmawatsonofficial.com/#home
emma site updated.
“Some cynics will see the move as simply doubling the box-office payday, but Radcliffe told The Times that the split is purely in service of the story.”
Bullshit. Half the things that get resolved weren’t covered in the previous movies. Dobby dies? Who the fuck is Dobby? And on and on.
Last gasp effort by WB to wring every bit of money out of this franchise they can.
Last book came out Summer 2007, HBP Fall 2008, year and a half later. DH part 1, Fall 2010, 3 and a half years later and 2 years after HBP. Nothing in 2009. DH part 2 Summer 2011, 4 yrs later.
They have fucked this series up beyond recognition. They turned the longest book into the shortest film, they’ve dropped characters and story lines left and right. And you fucktards are playing right along. Defending them and accepting less than you deserve.
Is anyone really surprised that now they are at the LAST film, all of a sudden it’s all about the “story”? What happened to the “we can’t include everything because it would be 15 hrs.long” argument? Oh yeah. Last film, last chance. Will be interesting to see how they resolve plot lines that got dropped a couple of films back.
CD reply on March 14th, 2008:
What are you talking about? Dobby was in the second movie. He might not have been in the succeeding movies but that’s because his part wasn’t important anymore. In Chamber, who else would’ve warned him about “the dangers to come?”
The movie series has always come out in this pattern: two movies two years in a row, skip a year, two movies two years in a row again.
I do agree that OotP wasn’t a fantastic film, but I believe it’s because they had a different writer. Steve Kloves, who I think has written the other 4 movies fantastically, wasn’t involved. Michael Goldenberg left far too much out of the fifth. I’m so happy Kloves is coming back on. The first 4 movies were great, even though there were parts of the book that weren’t included. They weren’t necessary though, so the movies could do without them. I didn’t start reading the series until after the 5th movie but I still understood what was happening from the movies.
I think splitting the DH is a fantastic idea. Like they said, almost every detail in the book is too important to leave out. I’m interested to see who’s wedding or what event will be replacing Bill and Fleur’s wedding since those characters aren’t involved in HBP. I, for one, as a Harry Potter fan, am just excited that the series will be expanded, even though the wait is a bit long. It’ll be great.
I’m not too sure on the idea, but if they keep the actors for all the films (they will have finished filming in four years) won’t they look a little old for the part?
Emma wants to go to college so if she dosent do the last movie, the whole film series will be buggered and people will lose interest. because there are some people out there who havent read the books and have only gone to see the films, and if they see a whole new hermione they will get really confused.
And Rupert will be about 40!
I think its all for the money, but when they get money for the first part of the film, they might make the 2nd part even better. If i were directing it i would definatley make the film the most amazing film ever, and keep it so close to the book it would be word-for-word.
Birdie reply on March 14th, 2008:
I don’t think they will be too old, but I do agree w/ the Emma part. She hould just wait until the movies are done so it won’t mess everything up. And again, I’m SO EXCITED!!
HpAdict12345 reply on March 14th, 2008:
Yeah,
I’ve decided its not a bad idea.
MORE HP!
WOOOOOOO
SomeRandomPerson reply on March 17th, 2008:
“(they will have finished filming in four years) won’t they look a little old for the part?”
I don’t understand how people don’t get this. Just because the final part of the final movie will be released 3 years from now does not mean it will be filmed 3 years from now. They start filming for it in February of next year, they plan to be finished by the end of 2009. The trio will be 20/21 at the end of filming, playing 17/18 year olds. Honestly, that’s not a huge age difference and they won’t too old. 26 year olds have played high schoolers on TV and no one cared.
And the trio is already signed for all of the films, so there won’t be a new Hermione.
Oh, and I’m sure that the extra money was a factor for WB, but who the hell cares? Potter fans are getting what they’ve wanted since WB took up the franchise: someone is actually going to follow the book as closely as possible no matter how long of a movie they have to make. Who cares what their reasoning is, just shut up and enjoy the movie. Or don’t enjoy it, but either way, shut up.