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Here’s the statement from Warner Bros:
Warner Bros Pictures has made the decision to release “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” in 2D, in both conventional and IMAX theaters, as we will not have a completed 3D version of the film within our release date window. Despite everyone’s best efforts, we were unable to convert the film in its entirety and meet the highest standards of quality. We do not want to disappoint fans who have long-anticipated the conclusion of this extraordinary journey, and to that end, we are releasing our film day-and-date on November 19, 2010 as planned. We, in alignment with our filmmakers, believe this is the best course to take in order to ensure that our audiences enjoy the consummate “Harry Potter” experience.
Producer David Heyman said, “For 10 years, we have worked alongside Alan Horn and the studio, whose priority has always been to preserve the integrity of Jo Rowling’s books as we have adapted them to the screen, and this decision reflects that commitment.”
Director David Yates continued, “This decision, which we completely support, underscores the fact that Warner Bros. has always put quality first.”
As scheduled, on July 15, 2011, we will deliver to conventional and IMAX theaters our final installment of the film franchise, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2,” in both 2D and 3D formats.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Honorable statement.
Fine with me.
I have yet to see one memorable scene in any Harry Potter movies…how they make so much money confuses me because the story is just tiresome. For how many movies have this kid been fighting the same villain?? Fo how many movies have ordinary things come alive becuz of magic. If Harry needs to watch tv…he cant just use the remote, no, the remote is magical and comes alive and starts to talk to Harry and then starts floating around the room while Daniel Radcliff, quite possibly the worst child actor of all time, stares mindlessly at it with amazement, because magical remotes are so WOW!!
And why do these people release this dumb press releases…it never really says anything worth reading besides, “we are excited to be working with…for over ten years…strategic…quality…we look forward…” I mean who are they releasing these things to??
“If Harry needs to watch tv…he cant just use the remote, no, the remote is magical and comes alive and starts to talk to Harry and then starts floating around the room…”
LOLZ! Made my day. So true though…
Yeah, it’s true. They are really not good movies, and are getting worse. I guess part of it is the usual problems with working with kids (few of whom can act), and the fact that they started the series while the books were still being written with no overall plan, and are trying to be too faithful to the books for fear of fan-backlash.
The books are not great, it’s just a lot of Deus Ex Machina with an incredible amount of exposition as to how the mythology works. The characters also behave more like something out of a fairy tale, than have any semblance of real people.
Remake them in 30 years, don’t stick too closely to closely to the books, cast better kids, and have an overall vision for the series — that’ll work.
While I do agree the movies are not the greatest in the world remaking them in 30 years and not sticking to close to the books will not make it Harry Potter but something else.
P.P.S my comment was ment for Dave not Craig. I agree with you Craig, at how you said Harry Potter in 30 years would not be Harry Potter but something else, its very true.
I do agree there really has not been a scene to remember but while Voldemort has always been the central villian he has not been in every movie.
In which movie did harry watch tv? if you”re a wizard in training you have little time for mundane items like remotes and tv.
star wars,lord of the rings and numberous others have had a central villain that spans the course of the franchise so harry is in very good company indeed.
I’ve never read any of the books, but Prisoner of Azkaban is a very good fantasy movie.
If your not a fan of Harry Potter then dont watch it. Sheesh you don’t have to run your mouth about how you think it is bad. There are millions around the world who love these movies and believe they are amazing!
Mr. Rod… have you actually watched a full HP movie? *sigh* It’s fine story telling in the classic good v. evil genre. It sounds like you’ve based your opinion on assumptions rather than actual viewing experience. Sit down and watch a couple of the movies full through… you just may enjoy!
No offense, but I think I will pass on taking the comments of someone who says “becuz” seriously.
These movies have been anything but fantastic over the years – and Harry Potter fans have definitely been let down by all the inaccuracies and story line inconsistencies with the book. However, David Yates has been changing things up with the last two movies. He not only has finally landed on a nice balance of magical and darkness for the overall feel of the film, but we are also finally seeing some gorgeous camera shots (think the birds eye view of Harry in the opening scene of 5).
I think it is hard to get into these movies if you havent read the books, so don’t complain about them! The money mainly comes from fans loyalty, and that’s why WB works so hard to not tamper too dramatically with the story.
If this press release is so annoying to you – then dont read it! Its their job to announce stuff like this. Take a chill pill.
You tell me, you obviously read it you dope.
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
nuff said
This will definitely help the film. I probably wouldn’t have seen it if I were forced to pay $15, but this will be a lot easier. Applause for WB!
Bravo WB for not ripping us off with subpar 3d and messing with my Harry!
If it wasn’t shot in 3D, then the so-called “conversion” will just shank the 3D cache (weak as it is).
I’m still waiting for a live-action 3D-original acquisition film to blow me away.
The problem isn’t with 2d-3d conversion, WB just picked the wrong 3D company and went cheap. Parts of Avatar were converted by the way. I’m guessing a significant portion of the film is CG anyway which is of course a native stereoscopic format. If you have a good stereographer on set and apply a certain amount of craft to the conversion (not a rush job from a sweat shop in the Philipines) The effects will be as good or better than anything done on set.
Quality first. That’s what I’m talkin bout! Ride on, mighty Shield!
Couldn’t agree more! I commend them for worrying more about quality than the extra $$$$ 3D would bring.
Good. The brass up top finally gets scared shitless of another post conversion backlash, i.e. Clash of the “shitty” Titans. Which was probably the worst 3D hack job I’ve ever seen.
Then you haven’t seen “The Last Airbender”. That was truly atrocious, and should be grounds to make a law against post-production 3D conversion.
Ploy. Even if unintentional. I bet they re-release this one next year along with part 2, both in 3D, and rake in even more $$$
I’m sure you’re right that they’ll re-release it in 3-D a month or so before Part 2 is released. But at the very least, it should hopefully not be a half-assed conversion when they do it.
Absolutely agree. They milk every dime out of the first release in 2D and then try to to do the same thing with a 2nd release in 3D.
That’s fine with me! We don’t want 3D just for the sake of it. We want quality films with good scripts and characters we care about, telling us a good story. The lack of 3D will probably be a good thing, actually.
Part 1 could have been the first Harry Potter movie to cross $1 billion with 3D ticket prices. Props to WB for making that decision.
Anybody know which production executive at WB dropped the ball on this?
Praise the Glenda the Good Witch! 3D conversions stink. The audience didn’t want or need Harry in bad, murky 3D.
This 3D stuff should be used sparingly, like almost never, until they improve the format and stop ripping off the audience for an extra $5.
yes yes yes i fully agree…personally i don’t think 3D should go mainstream…i saw alice in wonderland in 3D and i had a headache the rest of the day…i thought it was because of my cerebral palsy…but a few weeks later i was at best buy and i was looking at big screen tvs…and we talked about the 3D tvs…and the guy said theres a lot of people who complain and have the same symptoms as me….i felt better about not liking 3D after that
i probably went off topic
Wow I’m impressed, because Clash of the Titans in 3d was quality first
BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!
why my requirements is not display
Why didn’t they just shoot it in 3D?
This movie was deep into production before Avatar proved the commercial viability of 3D. The movie was never intended to be shown in 3D until the studios realized it was a cash cow.
They’ll definitely have it ready in 3D before Part II comes out. Even if they are worried about quality, they’re not going to waste all of that money they’ve already spent on half converting it.
That’s what happens when you don’t hire a stereographer or at the very least someone visually connected to the art and story of the movie and expect a third party company to do everything without director input. 3D conversion can be good, but it takes time and it takes talent and it takes a commitment from everybody–studio, filmmakers, everybody. WB has egg on their face for not doing it right. Three strikes (Clash, Cats and Dogs, and now Potter).
you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about or understand what has been happening
Not everything should be made into a 3D movie. It’s a fad right now because Cameron made billions on Avatar. Other studios are rushing to make Cameron level money and it’s backfiring on them. Universal could have decent (it wouldn’t have been groundbreaking) film with the live action Avatar: The Last Airbender film. However, I feel their decision to go to 3D has ruined any chances of the other two seasons being made into feature films because they chopped so much out of the film for the conversion.
Disney is walking a fine line by putting its Tron sequel into 3D after the fact. They screwed up with Alice in Wonderland but that was already slated for a 2D release with a limited 3D release not the other way around. Michael Bay is pissed that he was told the only way Transformers 3 would be released is in 3D. He hates shooting in 3D yet it was use the format or have no third movie. Need I go on about the flop after flop out this summer because of 3D?
If you’re going to plan a movie for 3D from the get go then fine go ahead and write a movie full of 3D gags that takes advantage of it. Step Up 3D anybody? It was a bad sounding sequel but all the dance sequences from what I heard took full advantage of the technology and the gags. Post production 3D is only doing it for the extra dollars. We honestly don’t want to be force fed 3D movies that weren’t meant to be 3D because the studios are afraid they’ll flop without it. If the story is written well and the acting spot on then that will make or break the movie, not if something isn’t in 3D from a third party company.
Tron Legacy was shot in 3D with Cameron’s Pace digital cameras; i.e., Tron Legacy was shot the same way as Avatar.
How exactly did Disney screw up with “Alice in Wonderland”? The movie made over $330 million domestically and $1 billion internationally. I’ll take that kind of screw up any day of the week.
Alert… Studio bosses coming to their senses. What next? Cast of Jersey Shore trying to behave as responsible adults?
Too many movies designed or converted in 3D flopped last summer while Warner’s biggest hit for instance was “Inception”. It may have been enough for many studios to reconsider their 3D strategy after the initial enthusiasm caused by Avatar and Alice.
The WB strategy of releasing every tentpole in 3D can be viewed as misguided, when not evaluated on a title-by-title basis. However, HARRY POTTER is one of those enormous visual spectacles that does deserve the 3D treatment.
Someone’s head will roll for this unfortunately.
So much for “Don’t worry, we’ll fix it in Post.”
Thank heavens. Please let this be the inflexion point that says “story trumps FX”
I’ve got this bridge, goes from Manhattan to Brooklyn, you interested in buying it?
To hell with 3D. So over it already.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, we were unable to convert the film in its entirety and meet the highest standards of quality.
HUGE strike against the production executive overseeing this. Anyone know who it is?
I SAY HURRAH to the production executive who said don’t do it. 3D is loathsome. A lot of kids hate it as well as grown ups.
Thank God. I hope this is a sign of the turn of the tide. I’m so sick of the 3-D craze and the rip-off that comes with it. As someone who wears glasses you can’t see **** through the 3-D ones…things look dark and murky, not to mention the health hazards…ew.
Here’s a wild guess, it wasn’t just WB brass who made this decision. J.K. Rowling is the final decision maker when it comes to the Potter franchise…and, I will bet she was not satisfied with the 3D conversion.
J.K. Rowling made this call and will have approval of any Potter film format. She holds the standard of quality for her stories.
Thanks, J.K.
Not likely. If Michael Bay has no say-so in whether or not he’ll take part in the 3D release of TF3, what makes you think JK Rowling does for HP?
Bay has been very vocal about how the no 3D for T3 is his call. And Rowling has retained a large amount of creative control over the films. She may or may not have influenced this decision, but I’ll be WB doesn’t want to piss her off in the case she writes more Harry books.
Right on, Rev. Slappy…and, J.K. Rowling has a HUGE voice in everything Potter!
It was ultimately the studio’s call and Bay rolled over.
Only because it was make it 3D or lose the film all together. He may not be happy with the choice but if he wants his movie made he better play along.
That cannot possibly be true. I can’t imagine the studio would have signed over control of the final visual format of the film to someone who is totally unqualified.
She may have script approval, and maybe the ability to veto some art direction, and casting, but wtf does she know about VFX rendering or 3d imaging?
The whole look of the franchise, location, wardrobe, cinematography, vfx, has changed considerably from movie to movie — if she’s that precious and empowered, she would have fought for some sort of continuity.
I dare say the directors and producers have listened to her in preprod – but I doubt she gets to see or hear much during production and post production. She does NOT have a producer credit, why would she be doing the job of a producer?
Dave, she had control over who they chose as director(s) of the films. She got to approve them. That’d be a producer job, right?
Clash of the Titans was awful but at least they’ve learned their lesson.
This is good news to me. I can’t watch 3d or at least the massive headache and mild stroke “Avatar” gave me, made me think that must be the case.
Amen. Let the 3d fad die!