Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Harry Potter VI moved to July 2009

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 08-14-2008, 07:05 PM:

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" was originally a Thanksgiving release this year but has been moved to July 17, 2009.

News article

Partial clip from the article:
The announcement was made by Alan Horn, President and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros.
In making the announcement, Mr. Horn stated, "Our reasons for shifting 'Half-Blood Prince' to summer are twofold: we know the summer season is an ideal window for a family tent pole release, as proven by the success of our last Harry Potter film, which is the second-highest grossing film in the franchise, behind only the first installment. Additionally, like every other studio, we are still feeling the repercussions of the writers' strike, which impacted the readiness of scripts for other films--changing the competitive landscape for 2009 and offering new windows of opportunity that we wanted to take advantage of. We agreed the best strategy was to move 'Half-Blood Prince' to July, where it perfectly fills the gap for a major tent pole release for mid-summer."
Jeff Robinov, President of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, confirmed, "The release date change does not alter the production schedule for this or future Harry Potter films. Post-production on 'Half-Blood Prince' was completed on time, and the studio's release plans for the two-part 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' will not be affected by this change. We know Harry Potter fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the final chapters unfold onscreen. In fact, the good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between 'Half-Blood Prince' and the first part of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.'"

[ 08-15-2008, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: Mike Blakesley ]

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 08-14-2008, 07:28 PM:

This is huge. Probably means we're going to see a good deal of release date shifting in the next few weeks. I wouldn't be surprised to see Quantum of Solace move into the November 21 slot.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-14-2008, 07:50 PM:

That comment about it having to do with the writers' strike is bunkam. There's a problem with it I'd say.

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 08-14-2008, 08:54 PM:

I'd have to agree with John. Moving it back 8 months with post production already finished doesn't make much business sense. So they're going to let what is suppose to be a blockbuster "sit" on the shelf for 8 months? Not likely...

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 08-14-2008, 09:09 PM:

This puts a hole in the IMAX schedule, too. I believe they had planned to have part of the film in 3-D as they did with Superman Returns.

They had planned to open MADAGASCAR 2 only on the Imax Jr. digital screens for a short run until HP opened...now they might just make it a wider release.

[ 08-15-2008, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: Mark Lensenmayer ]

Posted by Jonathan M. Crist (Member # 413) on 08-14-2008, 10:33 PM:

I would guess it has more to do with the success of "Dark Night" than anything else. Having proven that the mid-July release date can be a chart-topper, Warners is surely hoping to repeat that sucess next summer.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 08-14-2008, 11:16 PM:

WB didn't need Dark Knight to prove that a mid July release can be huge. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix did pretty well opening in mid July and they had a pretty good gross with Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004.

Posted by Hugh McCullough (Member # 1542) on 08-15-2008, 06:52 AM:

Over here, in the UK, 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'
has been chosen as the film for the Royal Film performance, and World Premiere, on November 17th.
Not certain what member of the Royal Family is attending as yet.
It goes on general release November 17th.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 08-15-2008, 09:31 AM:

quote: Hugh McCullough
It goes on general release November 17th.

Well, not any more, apparently.

There's no way they're going to debut it in the UK and then hold it for 8 months for everywhere else. If they did that they might as well go straight to DVD, because everyone will have seen it via bootlegs in that amount of time.

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
They had planned to open MADAGASCAR 2 only on the digital screens for a short run until HP opened...now they might just make it a wider release.

A Madagascar film in a digital-only release? That doesn't sound likely, Potter or no Potter.

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 08-15-2008, 09:33 AM:

I think Superman 2 opened many months in Britain before debuting in the U.S. in the summer of 81.

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 08-15-2008, 10:05 AM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
A Madagascar film in a digital-only release? That doesn't sound likely, Potter or no Potter.

I think he meant the digital IMIN (I mean IMAX) screens.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 08-15-2008, 02:24 PM:

Lyle, you are correct...I was referring to the Imax Jr. Digital units they are now putting in. I have corrected the post above.

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 08-15-2008, 02:42 PM:

Below is is the BBC news version of the story.
The way the artical is written suggest that Warners are holding it over till June simply because they don't have anything else to bring out next summer.

Here
------------------------------------------------------
Potter film release date delayed

Order of the Phoenix was the top-grossing UK film in 2007
The release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back by eight months, to July 2009.

The sixth instalment of the teenage wizard's adventures was supposed to have its Royal premiere on 17 November.

Alan Horn, president of studio Warner Bros, said the decision was taken to guarantee the studio a major summer blockbuster in 2009.

He also blamed the Hollywood writers' strike, which hit the film industry hard earlier this year.

Mr Horn said the strike, which ended in February, had "impacted the readiness of scripts for other films."

Fantasy books

He said: "The picture is completely, absolutely, 100% on schedule, on time. There were no delays.

"I've seen the movie. It is fabulous. We would have been perfectly able to have it out in November."

The move will mean a two-year delay between the film adaptations of books five and six in JK Rowling's fantasy series.

But it will shorten fans' wait between Half-Blood Prince and the final two instalments of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which are being shot simultaneously next year.

It is thought actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson - who is celebrating getting straight As in her A Levels in English literature, geography and art - will reprise their roles.

The release date for part one is tentatively set for November 2010.

Royal performance

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince had been chosen for this year's Royal Film Performance, on 17 November.

Last year's performance was cancelled amid controversy about the chosen movie, Brick Lane.

It was the first time the annual gala - held in aid of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF) - had been scrapped since 1958.

CTBF chief executive Peter Hore told BBC News he was "very disappointed" with the decision to shelve the Potter premiere.

But he was hopeful a Royal premiere would still go ahead this year.

He said: "The Royal Film Performance has been around for a long time and has a tradition of showcasing the best films. We are confident we will be able to do that again this year."

Mr Hore added that he expected to make an announcement shortly.
------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 08-15-2008, 04:36 PM:

There's probably some grain of truth in all of this.

They probably don't need the money this year thanks to Dark Knight, but the WILL need the money next year. Another huge hit this year might cost them too much in taxes...or something.

We'll probably never know the exact reasons.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-15-2008, 08:02 PM:

Maybe the faux-3D stuff is taking longer to produce.

This delay reminds me of the six month delay of Titanic. That movie was pushed from a summer 1997 to December 1997 release, in part to give effects crews more time to improve certain shots. I can't remember if it was Fox or Paramount that gave the production an 11th hour infusion of cash to get the movie finished.

Warner Bros. will likely pay quite a lot in interest payments on this Harry Potter installment for that half year delay. However, they can probably use that to offset some of the big profits they're getting from The Dark Knight.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 08-15-2008, 08:06 PM:

Maybe if they would just shoot it in 3D to begin with instead of trying to create the second eye out of thin air, that may not be the case.

Assuming that is one of the causes of the delay.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-15-2008, 10:30 PM:

quote: Paul Linfesty
I think Superman 2 opened many months in Britain before debuting in the U.S. in the summer of 81.

Well, that will never happen again.

Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 08-16-2008, 12:35 AM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
Warner Bros. will likely pay quite a lot in interest payments on this Harry Potter installment for that half year delay. However, they can probably use that to offset some of the big profits they're getting from The Dark Knight.

True but even if they financed an entire $200 Million budget at 8%, the additional 8 months is only $10.67 Million in additional interest. With Dark Knight headed for at least $500 Million Domestic, Warner will pocket a good $275 Million plus just from the domestic theatrical release. With production and marketing they should profit $75 Million plus just from the domestic release. The international release should profit at least that (the studio share is lower with international) so I guess with a $150+ Million profit from the theatrical release they can afford to pay $11 Million in interest on potter.

Posted by Jonathon Miller (Member # 4863) on 08-16-2008, 04:48 AM:

Potter isn't delayed for any other reason beyond scheduling. What else do WB have going for next summer?

BTW: Fox sold Titanic's domestic rights to Paramount for the extra cash, then as Paramount announced the domestic premiere, Fox set one up in Japan a fortnight (IIRC) earlier. Hilarious stuff.

Posted by Damien Taylor (Member # 4255) on 08-16-2008, 11:17 AM:

So... should we be seeing memos trickling down about pulling the trailers or what?

Posted by Jonathon Miller (Member # 4863) on 08-16-2008, 12:12 PM:

I was tempted to leave a note mentioning it to the head projectionist so he could trim off the end of the trailer text, much like was done for "Wanted" after Universal AU dicked around with it's release date.

Then I realised I just cbf'd.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-16-2008, 12:37 PM:

quote: Lyle Romer
True but even if they financed an entire $200 Million budget at 8%, the additional 8 months is only $10.67 Million in additional interest.

With borrowing amounts that large the situation is not quite that simple. The businesses loaning (or rather, investing) that kind of money want more than just mere bank interest in return. And they want that ROI ASAP. Delays can translate into renegotiations of contacts. Those variables combined with what Warner Bros. has already spent in terms of advertising for the new Harry Potter create of lot of write-off potential. Hollywood studios are masters of the "rolling break even" concept in accounting.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 08-16-2008, 01:33 PM:

You can bet the whole thing passed through the accounting and legal departments, plus a whole bevy of suits, plus J.K. Rowling, before the announcement was made.

Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 08-16-2008, 01:41 PM:

Taking a surefire blockbuster out of this year and moving it to the next may be an indication that the suits at Warner Bros feel that their 2009 product is mostly [bs]

Posted by Andy Muirhead (Member # 712) on 08-16-2008, 08:04 PM:

I think it's absurd. Summer releases are already saturated, at least in the UK. This summer we already had to drop several prints after 2 weeks as we had to make room for product. And these were prints that were selling out houses.

Posted by Galen Murphy-Fahlgren (Member # 4535) on 08-16-2008, 10:02 PM:

My release chart only goes about 4 months out, but I don't see any competition for it in November/December, and since there is never any product in January, I'll bet it could pull a 3 month run at my theater, opening with two prints. Pushing it back to July, I doubt we would get two prints, and it probably wouldn't break 6 weeks. Obviously, theaters and markets differ substantially, but in my experience, my theater is a good indicator of the long term performance of a movie with some legs to it, so from a pure profit standpoint, it does better in November, unless there is some big thing I'm missing. Plus, I want to see it, sooner rather than later.

Posted by Shane Cooper (Member # 2510) on 08-17-2008, 01:10 AM:

The biggest counter to the argument is school. In November, kids are out of school for a bit around Thanksgiving and not again until Christmas. With a July release, you can play several weeks school-free which should allow for a larger audience.

My opinion is that it is Harry Potter! I think they could release it in April and it would do well.

HP is not the only major tentpole moved to summer '09 because of week '09 product. Paramount did the same thing with Star Trek moving it from Christmas to May.

Posted by Ross Oba (Member # 3433) on 08-17-2008, 05:01 AM:

I'm still not sure about this. Didn't HP start out as a winter movie? At least for the first 2. The 3rd was the first summer release. Then the 4th was back to November. Then the last one was last July. I'm actually thinking it will backfire since next summer seems kind of crowded with Transformers 2, Ice Age 3, 2012 (the next Roland Emmerich crapfest but money grabber) all opening in the weeks before. Land of the Lost will open against it with Will Ferrell. I really hope WB thinks twice because it's one thing if a movie comes out a year from now and then gets delayed 8 months (Avatar for example). It's another thing when you have a planned release in 3 months and then all of a sudden change it.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 08-17-2008, 06:47 AM:

I don't think it was so much supposed to be a winter movie as they wanted to release a new movie about every 18 months. But that's neither here nor there. The fact is, HP is going to be huge no matter when they release it.

What's really going to be interesting to watch is if there is any shuffling around of release dates in the next few weeks. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Land of the Lost move up a week to July 10 or HP to move to July 10. I also wouldn't be surprised to see something move up to June 12 or June 19 as both seem kind of weak right now.

I would also expect to see some movement in November. I wouldn't be surprised to see Quantum of Solace move to November 21, which is closer to the traditional release date for JB pics. And I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see Disney move High School Musical to November 14 (and then possibly move Bolt to November 26).

EDIT
When I posted this, I didn't realize Bolt had already moved up to 11/21.

[ 08-18-2008, 07:05 PM: Message edited by: Justin Hamaker ]

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 08-18-2008, 11:48 AM:

Local news today reported the release date for Harry Potter will be July 2nd, 2009.

The movie Twilight has moved from 12-12-08 to 11-21-08.
Bolt has moved from 11-26-08 to 11-21-08.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 08-18-2008, 03:40 PM:

Now that the Dark Knight has been so successful, next year they HAVE to match it, otherwise it will look like they're LOOSING money. Isn't everything all about doing better than "this time last year"? Growth is of utmost importance. If you don't even make what you made a year earlier, you're a failure! Stockholders hate failures. [Big Grin]

Madagascar 2 was slated for a two-week Nov. release from the start, in all IMAX venues, not just digital. Now, since HP6 "got to move it move it", Madagascar can enjoy a run through Christmas.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 08-19-2008, 12:17 AM:

Apparently Warner Bros didn't tell Entertainment Weekly (owned by the same parent company) about the switch -- EW's "Fall Preview" issue just arrived with Harry Potter on the cover, and a 6-page article about "Half-Blood Prince" coming out this November.

Oops.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 08-19-2008, 06:39 AM:

quote: Brian Michael Weidemann
next year they HAVE to match it, otherwise it will look like they're LOOSING money. Isn't everything all about doing better than "this time last year"?

'Losing' = lose an 'o'. [Wink]

I can't believe that would be their thinking. If it is then they are bound to lose. How can HPATHBP come close to TDK? It can't and it won't. From what I hear from Potter readers, HPATHBP is one of the weakest books of the series. The movie (as directed by the last one) is bound to match or beat it for that title.

It's in trouble. You don't just move a blockbuster like that from a relatively easy unobstructed window and delay it 8 months into the middle of the peak hour traffic that is called Summer just because of a writer's strike.

Not that we'll ever know, but that's what I think.

quote: Mike Blakesley
Apparently Warner Bros didn't tell Entertainment Weekly (owned by the same parent company) about the switch -- EW's "Fall Preview" issue just arrived with Harry Potter on the cover, and a 6-page article about "Half-Blood Prince" coming out this November.

...and that just makes me believe I'm right all the more.

Posted by James Westbrook (Member # 3690) on 08-19-2008, 04:41 PM:

The recent Entertainment Weekly with Tropic Thunder on the cover had a mention that Bernie Mac was ailing but is expected to recover...

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 08-21-2008, 06:43 PM:

I keep seeing "Half-BRAIN Prince"...

Why is this show so hot? SIX pictures already!

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 08-22-2008, 03:56 PM:

Sony/MGM has moved "Quantum of Solace" back a week to Nov. 14th. instead of Nov. 7th..

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 08-22-2008, 07:52 PM:

quote:
I keep seeing "Half-BRAIN Prince"...

Why is this show so hot? SIX pictures already!

Because its the sixth book in the most popular book series of all time. And because the seventh and last book is so long (or, if you're cynical, so WB can squeeze an 8th film out of a concluding series) it is being split into half. Although that idea was toyed with on one of the earlier books, and eventually abandoned.

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 08-22-2008, 11:10 PM:

WB still has an 11/21 release date on their exhibitor site. Maybe they might be rethinking this decision?

http://exhibitor2.warnerbros.com/web/exhibitor/login.jsp

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 08-23-2008, 01:39 PM:

Nah - the Harry Potter official site has the 2009 date. They update the sites that a lot of people actually look at. The exhib site is visited by what, a few dozen people? Probably low priority.

Here's a letter from Alan Horn, COO of Warner Bros. from the HP site:

quote:
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.

Posted by Jaime Tuzzio (Member # 4760) on 08-23-2008, 10:55 PM:

Silver lining? What would have been a two-year gap between #6 and Part One of #7 now is a two-year gap between #5 and #6, with no one prepared for it. Did he actually think this through before trying to console Potter fans?

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 08-24-2008, 09:42 AM:

Sounds like the standard cop out letter to me.

Posted by Tim Asten (Member # 4051) on 08-27-2008, 06:00 AM:

Rumour has it that the reason the new Potter film was bumped back a few months was because Daniel Radcliffe is starring in Equus on Broadway at around the same time. The play features Radcliffe in the nude in some scenes apparently [puke]

(depending on your orientation). Warner may have felt that the play may tarnish the family film image that the Harry Potter franchise has if they were on at the same time.

Tim.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 09-18-2008, 03:46 PM:

Reelz Channel video about release date changes in the wake of HP's change http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtK-xbz3i-8

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 09-18-2008, 04:11 PM:

I wonder if it's what Shane said about there only being a week off from school combined with a weak schedule for next summer (perhaps the right interval for a gap based on the recent strikes in the industry). The school limitation would be even more severe if the film has a long running time. Limited shows in that short window of opportunity and less likely evening business when school is back in.

Posted by Geena Phillips (Member # 3726) on 09-20-2008, 11:45 PM:

What I'm hearing is that, since The Dark Knight did so amazingly well, the muckity-mucks don't feel they need the income from Harry Potter to make it a good fiscal 2008. Whether or not this also says something about WB's confidence in their 2009 product, I don't know.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 09-20-2008, 11:53 PM:

I'm w/ Geena on this. It doesn't necessarily mean that they expect next year's product to suck.

They could've just be moving it, just in case something bad happens with the other movies. Like no one says to a guy "It seems you bought home owner's insurance. You must think your house is gonna suck big and fall apart" but instead sees it as a smart thing to do in case something happens.

Posted by Sally Ann Burgess (Member # 4746) on 09-20-2008, 11:59 PM:

I read just a couple of weeks ago, I think it may have been on aintitcool, that the movie (not quite complete?)had been shown to a test audience...the person making the review was quite underwhelmed by it...