Last 'Potter' to be split in half

From Variety.com:

Warner to make two films from final 'Harry'
By DIANE GARRETT
 
'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'

Warner Bros. will split the last "Harry Potter" tome into a two-part film, with the installments unspooling six months apart.
David Yates will direct and Steve Kloves will write both parts, which will be filmed concurrently.

Part one of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" will bow in November 2010, with the second to debut the following May.

The unusual "Kill Bill" strategy solves a thorny problem for the studio, which had been wrestling with a way to adapt J.K. Rowling's hefty tome and successfully conclude its lucrative franchise, which has generated $4.5 billion at the worldwide B.O. It's not yet clear exactly how studio will split the 784-page book, however.

Warner Bros. prexy Alan Horn and Jeff Robinov, prexy of Warner Bros. Pictures Group, are expected to discuss their plans for "Deathly Hallows" during the studio's ShoWest presentation at 2:45 p.m. today.

"Deathly Hallows," the seventh in the series, is weighty in more ways than one: The boy wizard and his pals battle archnemesis Voldemort to the death. Tome sold a record 11 million copies during the first 24 hours after it hit bookshelves last July.

The sixth movie in the franchise, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," debuts on the bigscreen in November. It is also being directed by Yates, who helmed the fifth installment, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." Kloves has also been a steady presence for the franchise; he will have written seven of the eight adaptations, having missed only "Order of the Phoenix."

David Heyman has served as producer on the entire series, which last year surpassed James Bond as the top-grossing film franchise (Daily Variety, Sept. 11). Franchise has also proved lucrative on DVD and in other ancillary markets; among other ventures, Warner and Universal have partnered on a theme park attraction devoted to "Potter."

What a blatant money making scam.


Vicky

What a blatant money making scam.


Vicky

Maybe, but I think it makes sense. I was really disappointed by the Order of the Pheonix movie because it sets up so much of the rest of the series and they just couldn't do it justice in the short time. I'm worried the Half-Blood Prince will be more of the same and am glad to see they are trying to make sure the last one doesn't suffer from lack of time.

I'm just wondering what the heck they're going to call both movies.   

I'm just wondering what the heck they're going to call both movies.   

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly

2. Harry Potter and the Hallows

The first one can be "HP and the Long-Ass Camping Trip".. maybe "HP and finishing this **** series before we turn 30" for the second.

But hey, no complaints from me.  I just hope they stick a bit closer to the book and include Dobby.  And Peeves.  Maybe de-schmaltzify the last scene at Hogwarts, where the kids feed the giant.  And NOT include the epilogue.  

And NOT include the epilogue. 

Hell yeah!   

Now that I think about it, splitting the book into two movies really opens up the possibilities for... are you ready? ... MUSICAL NUMBERS!

Can't you just see it?  The final battle at Hogwarts, complete with jazz hands and West Side Story-esque finger snapping!  Bella vs. Molly would be freaking awesome!

Oh! Oh!  And Snape singing "In Your Eyes" as he dies!  It's movie GOLD, baby!!


(okay, maybe it's time to lay off the coffee....)

I wouldn't be suprised but when they adapt it for the stage...

Makes sense to me, IF they use that to not cut huge bits out of the book.  Apart from the Epilogue of course.  If they leave that crap in I'm walking out of the theatre!

I vote for calling them "Kill Voldy Vol 1" and "Kill Voldy Vol2" 

Makes sense to me, IF they use that to not cut huge bits out of the book.  Apart from the Epilogue of course.  If they leave that crap in I'm walking out of the theatre!

Ummm...you would be doing that anyway within a minute or two since it's the end! 

I wouldn't be suprised but when they adapt it for the stage...

What can I say?  I'm a visionary. 

Ummm...you would be doing that anyway within a minute or two since it's the end! 

Nah, I'm a stay til the very end of the credits kind of gal 

Nah, I'm a stay til the very end of the credits kind of gal 

So if you walk out on the epilogue you'll be making a statement...to yourself.  Everyone else will think, "oh, that lady must need the loo!" 

So if you walk out on the epilogue you'll be making a statement...to yourself.  Everyone else will think, "oh, that lady must need the loo!" 

Not so much making a statement as just not wanting to subject myself to that drivel again. 

No offense to anyone who actually liked the epilogue.  I just personally felt it was crap.