ROTTEN TOMATOES: Warners, David Yates Splitting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in Two

Warners, David Yates Splitting Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in Two

Bespectacled teen wizard to extend box-office dominance into 2011.

by Jeff Giles | March 13, 2008

Remember those rumors from awhile back about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows being split into two films? They aren't rumors anymore.

Warner Bros. has ended all sorts of speculation about the Hallows adaptation, actually, announcing that not only will it be spread across two films, but they'll be directed by David Yates from Steve Kloves scripts. Warner Bros. President Jeff Robinov shared the news:

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.

Series producer David Heyman added his two cents:

Over ten years ago, we made a commitment to Jo Rowling that, above all else, we would be faithful and true to the spirit of her books, and ever since we have endeavored never to compromise on the creative ambitions of the films. 'The Deathly Hallows' is so rich, the story so dense and there is so much that is resolved that after discussing it with Jo, we came to the conclusion that two parts were needed to do it justice. I am thrilled that David Yates is returning to direct 'The Deathly Hallows.' He is both inspired and inspiring and is a passionate fan of the remarkable world and characters Jo has created. I know he will lead our incomparable cast and crew -- most of whom have been with us since the very beginning -- in bringing the series to the unforgettable conclusion it deserves.

As warmly as the Potter films have been received by fans and critics, a consistent complaint has been the necessary removal of the books' various subplots; this decision should give the fans everything they're asking for in terms of storyline -- not to mention make Warners twice the dough. Everyone wins, right?

The studio currently plans on releasing the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows during the 2010 holiday season, with the second half reaching screens during summer 2011. The next Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, is due to arrive in theaters November 21.

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(1-20 of 93 posts) | Reply

AquaFina writes:
on Mar 13 2008 10:50 AM

While this is probably necessary, I think we're doomed to at least an hour of "Ron, Hermione, and Harry Go Camping" in part one. I'm still pretty blah about these films; after Cuaron's mastery in 3 they can only be a disappointment. Even David Yates acknowledges Azkaban as the best of the series.

(Reply to this)

Spectremjm writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:01 AM

I know many people love the Prisoner of Azkaban, the movie and the book, but the movie to me was the most boring of them all so far. I think Goblet is certainly the one that is the easiest to watch over and over again.

(Reply to this)

fullmetalnek writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:07 AM

I don't know. Many elements and sub-plots of the books have to be changed or removed already because they weren't introduced in the other movies. Besides, I think that (SPOILERS MAY COME NEXT) the trio's odyssey has to be shortened in order to be concise, and that way, work as a film. Also, In what part is the story going to be slice???? after the visit to Godric's Hallow? or maybe after they actually learn what the Deathly Hallows are?? What do you guys think?(POSSIBLE SPOILERS ARE OVER)

Anyway, I belive its a bad idea. And sorry for my lousy English!

(Reply to this)

nathanpoitras writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:11 AM

Why only make $300 million at the box office, when you can just as easily pull in $600 mil. Pretty easy math.

(Reply to this)

Young Turk writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:22 AM

I thought there was one more book/movie before deathly hallows.

(Reply to this)

willywonkanobi writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:35 AM

they will split it after we learn what the hallows are... that is my guess

(Reply to this)

Timbo0075 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:42 AM

In reply to this comment (#1630332)
You're right dude! I also think Goblet is the best Harry Potter. Prisoner of Azkaban is good but my LEAST favourite. Anyway all Harry Potter films have been "fresh" here and IMO. So I hope they keep it up. But 8 Harry Potter films?? I dunno

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digitalrelic writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:45 AM

I know I'm pretty much alone on this, but my favorite HP movie thus far is the 5th one, Order of the Phoenix. It brings such a matured, dark, and serious tone to it.

I'm glad to hear that Yates will be finishing off the series.. This means he'll be directing 4 of the movies, which surprises me. Can't wait for half-blood prince!

(Reply to this)

arendr writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:48 AM

In reply to this comment (#1630376)
I'm with you digitalrelic. Order of the Phoenix and Azkaban are the 2 best.

(Reply to this)

minderbinder writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:54 AM

Yates is OK, but I much would have preferred Cuaron or someone new.

Kloves is awful - so far, the scripts have been the single giant weakness for these films. 5 wasn't perfect but a huge improvement over Kloves's work, sorry to see the series going back to him.

Two films is good to have the extra time, but it will be very tricky to split. I wonder if it will be the most radical departure and will try and bring back some of the back story cut from earlier films? There definitely are some plot points that would be tough to wrap up otherwise. I just don't see a good spot to split the last book.

One interesting note - with two movies, in the first we won't see Hogwarts at all.

(Reply to this)

TombstoneLawDog writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:59 AM

>'The Deathly Hallows' is so rich, the story so dense and there is so much >that is resolved that after discussing it with Jo, we came to the >conclusion that two parts were needed to do it justice.'

'...and to make us even more monstrously, filthy stinking *NASTY* rich than we were, already...'

I honestly don't even think this is a bad decision. I'm just takin' a piss...

(Reply to this)

Warheart1188 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 11:59 AM

Oh man. This sucks. 2 films? Oh well. I still believe they haven't found a good director for the series except for Cuaton for PoA. He did an amazing job.

(Reply to this)

ajmk123 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 12:06 PM

I am happy they are not letting Cuaron come close to this movie, he ruined the third movie and now he cant ruin another one.

(Reply to this)

donwillymo writes:
on Mar 13 2008 12:37 PM

OH GOD, WHEN WILL THIS KID GET INTO A DRUNKEN CAR ACCIDENT OR FAIL HIS PISS TEST ALREADY. I'M DONE WITH THIS HARRY BUTT F'N POTTER ALREADY. IS HE STILL A VIRGIN OR WAT? I MEAN REALLY!

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Mar 13 2008 12:39 PM

In reply to this comment (#1630356)
Yeah, The Half-Blood Prince is still to come before we have to worry about Hallows. Glad they're splitting the last book into two even with the camping scenes there's still plenty of action packed into that story to make two movies.

(Reply to this)

Bigbrother writes:
on Mar 13 2008 12:40 PM

In reply to this comment (#1630356)
If Jo's OK with it I'm happy. She's showed impeccable judgement so far with how this phenomenon is handled and seems to have a genuine love of her creation, can't see her steering it wrong now.

(Reply to this)

quietus28 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 12:46 PM

In reply to this comment (#1630323)
I don't understand why so many think the third movie was the best. I thought the third was dreadfully boring, established little, and resolved absolutely nothing. To me it seemed like it as just buying time between installments. After that and the equally derivative fourth installment, I almost didn't bother with the 5th, which I thought was actually the best since #2.

(Reply to this)

Favrefan12 writes:
on Mar 13 2008 12:52 PM

What's to bad is this: seven was symbolic in the books. Seven years at Hogwarts, seven parts to Voldemort's soul, even Voldemort said that the number seven carried a certain power in the wizarding world.

Now that I think about it though (SPOILER ALERT) there were really eight parts to Voldemort's soul, so this may symbolically work after all.

(Reply to this)

TheIceGhost writes:
on Mar 13 2008 01:02 PM

I'll say what I always say with PoA:

PoA is "the best" film of the lot thus far. It is, however, the worst adaptation. (Though that last act for Order was pretty darn terrible).

Loving it or hating it mostly depends on what you're going in for. The die-hard H.P fans tend to hate it because it butcher's the book. More casual fans tend to love it because, well, it's a pretty flick. It all comes down to what you're going in as.. mostly. There's always going to be some person who'll completely bash this little theory of mine.

Moving on, I'm very happy they're splitting DH. Yeah they're going to get more money that way, but to me they've got to nail that last act. Splitting it in two will certainly give them enough time to do so.

I would have preferred getting Del Toro for director, but Yates will hopefully do a good job.. Order was a good movie(again, until the end, which was more script error then direction).

(Reply to this)

jpbresnihan writes:
on Mar 13 2008 01:10 PM

the first two films were my least favorite...but they worked for the franchise because the potter trio were little and they were still kids films back then. so yeah they came off kiddy and i didnt like them.

i think its great that yates is doing the last films because i always looked at order of the phoenix, half blood price, and deathly hallows as a sepearate trilogy on their own. its here that the plot of the series really begins with voldemort's return and harry's fate to face him. i looked at the first three films as a setup for characters and background...and the fourth as a prequel to the 5th,6th, and 7th... so it makes sense to me that yates tackles the 7th book too.

as for putting it into two films. i dont know. i dont see why they just cant make it 2 hours and 45 minutes or even 3 hours long. there's enough action to keep it from being the boring 3 hour film that never seems to end. worked for 3 LOTR films. plus the first two potter films were over 2 and a half hours anyway. just seems like warner bros is trying to squeeze out the last bit of buck of the potter franchise. milkin...

(Reply to this)

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