BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2008
Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that it has moved back the release
date of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
to Summer 2009. The sixth installment of the blockbuster Harry Potter
franchise will now open day-and-date domestically and in the major
international markets on July 17, 2009. 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.’”
Commenting on the release date change for “Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” David
Heyman, the producer of all the Harry Potter films, offered, “When
Jeff Robinov explained the rationale behind moving the release date of ‘Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ to July
2009, it was immediately apparent that this offered us the potential to
reach the widest possible audience. I am extremely proud of this latest
film and of the work of David Yates and our incomparable cast; I believe
we have developed and pushed the series further still. We are all
looking forward to sharing it with Harry Potter fans around the
world, even if we have to wait just a bit longer.”
David Yates, the director of both “Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and who
will also helm “Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows,” added, “It
has been a joy to work on ‘Harry Potter and
the Half-Blood Prince.’ Dan, Rupert and Emma
and all our returning young cast continue to blossom, and our new cast
members bring fresh color and life to Hogwarts. Even as we put the
finishing touches on this latest film, we are already beginning
preparations on the final two films—we start
filming in February—and I am excited to bring
this remarkable series to the exciting and moving conclusion its loyal
fans deserve.”
In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,”
Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds
and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects
that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more
intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast
approaching. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very
different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Love
is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same
again.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, “Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David
Yates, who directed last year’s summer
blockbuster “Harry Potter and the Order of
the Phoenix,” returns to direct “Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David
Heyman and David Barron are the producers, with Lionel Wigram serving as
executive producer. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, based on the book
by J.K. Rowling.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are reprising their roles
as young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The
film also stars Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane,
Warwick Davis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy
Spall, David Thewlis and Julie Walters. The cast also features David
Bradley, Jessie Cave, Frank Dillane, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna
Lynch, Helen McCrory, Natalia Tena, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Bonnie
Wright.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment
Company.
CONTACT: Domestic Contact:
Susan Fleishman, 818-954-1919
susan.fleishman@warnerbros.com
or
International Contacts:
Jayne Trotman, 020 7984 5222
jayne.trotman@warnerbros.com
Desiree Finnegan, 818-954-3397
desiree.finnegan@warnerbros.com
or
Head of Harry Potter Production Publicity:
Vanessa Davies, 011-44-192-368-5131
vanessa@hpfilms.co.uk
Warner Bros. Pictures today announced that it has moved back the release
date of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
to Summer 2009. The sixth installment of the blockbuster Harry Potter
franchise will now open day-and-date domestically and in the major
international markets on July 17, 2009. 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.’”
Commenting on the release date change for “Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” David
Heyman, the producer of all the Harry Potter films, offered, “When
Jeff Robinov explained the rationale behind moving the release date of ‘Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ to July
2009, it was immediately apparent that this offered us the potential to
reach the widest possible audience. I am extremely proud of this latest
film and of the work of David Yates and our incomparable cast; I believe
we have developed and pushed the series further still. We are all
looking forward to sharing it with Harry Potter fans around the
world, even if we have to wait just a bit longer.”
David Yates, the director of both “Harry
Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” and who
will also helm “Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows,” added, “It
has been a joy to work on ‘Harry Potter and
the Half-Blood Prince.’ Dan, Rupert and Emma
and all our returning young cast continue to blossom, and our new cast
members bring fresh color and life to Hogwarts. Even as we put the
finishing touches on this latest film, we are already beginning
preparations on the final two films—we start
filming in February—and I am excited to bring
this remarkable series to the exciting and moving conclusion its loyal
fans deserve.”
In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,”
Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds
and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects
that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more
intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast
approaching. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very
different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Love
is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same
again.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films production, “Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David
Yates, who directed last year’s summer
blockbuster “Harry Potter and the Order of
the Phoenix,” returns to direct “Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” David
Heyman and David Barron are the producers, with Lionel Wigram serving as
executive producer. Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, based on the book
by J.K. Rowling.
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are reprising their roles
as young wizards Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The
film also stars Jim Broadbent, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane,
Warwick Davis, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Timothy
Spall, David Thewlis and Julie Walters. The cast also features David
Bradley, Jessie Cave, Frank Dillane, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Evanna
Lynch, Helen McCrory, Natalia Tena, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Bonnie
Wright.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment
Company.
CONTACT: Domestic Contact:
Susan Fleishman, 818-954-1919
susan.fleishman@warnerbros.com
or
International Contacts:
Jayne Trotman, 020 7984 5222
jayne.trotman@warnerbros.com
Desiree Finnegan, 818-954-3397
desiree.finnegan@warnerbros.com
or
Head of Harry Potter Production Publicity:
Vanessa Davies, 011-44-192-368-5131
vanessa@hpfilms.co.uk