Final “Harry Potter” book being split into two films
Fans all over the world did not want to say goodbye when the final installment of the Harry Potter books Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out. However, luckily for these fans, Hollywood has found a way to extend the magic of Potter by splitting the final book of the J.K Rowling series into two movies.
According to the Los Angeles Times, part one of the final book will be released in theatres November 2010 and part two will follow in May 2011.
The producer of the film explained how the idea for splitting the book into two movies came about.
“It was born out of purely creative reasons,” producer David Heyman said to LA Times. “Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book.”
Jillian Kudrycki, a sophomore open-option major, is not happy about the book being split into two movies.
“I’m upset they’re going to release them at different times, and obviously it’s because they want your $20 rather than your $10,” Kudrycki said. “If it were released a week apart that would be fine, people are going to go no matter what, but it’s a ridiculous time span.”
While some may feel that splitting the book into two movies is unfair, it is unlikely to discourage people from going.
“I’m obviously going to see it though,” Kudrycki said.
Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the Harry Potter Franchise, said that the film is being split because of the intense storyline and action. He said they could not leave anything out.
“I think it’s the only way you can do it, without cutting out a huge portion of the book,” Radcliffe said. “There have been compartmentalized subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut, although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans, but the seventh book doesn’t really have any subplots. It’s one driving, pounding story from the word go.”
When the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hit stores, it sold a record 11 million copies in the first 24 hours, according to the LA Times. The movie franchise has raked in $4.5 billion at the worldwide box office. Web site.
Kathleen Bulfin, an English-secondary certificate major, thinks Harry Potter is a great book for children. However, she believes making the last book into two movies may prevent kids from reading the books because they can learn everything from the films.
“I think Harry Potter is great because it’s getting kids to read,” Bulfin said. “But by lengthening the movie it might discourage kids from reading the books because everything will be in the movie.”
The LA Times also said that David Yates, the director of the fifth and sixth films, will return and make the final two films concurrently. Screenwriter Steve Kloves, who has written all the Harry Potter scripts but Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will also be returning to complete the final two scripts.
The sixth Harry Potter book Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is being filmed right now at an old air-craft outside London, according to the LA Times.
While some may believe making the last book into two movies is a bit much, that is only the beginning of the expanding Potter franchise.
The next big Harry Potter project is the Harry Potter theme park, which is expected to open in late 2009 as a part of the Islands of Adventure theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.
One CU student thinks the theme park is a good idea, even though its popularity may not continue for future generations.
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” said David Marquess, a junior psychology major. “I think it will only work for so long because people in the next generation will look at the park at old person stuff.”
Marquess thinks the park has a limited lifespan.
“I think it could be successful for five to 10 years and then they will have to expand it to another movie,” Marquess said.
According to the Universal Orlando Web site, the Harry Potter theme park will be titled “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” envisioned at the “theme park within a theme park.”
According to the Web site, the theme park will “provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience the magical world of Harry and his friends. This fully immersive, themed land will enable guests to visit some of the most iconic locations found in the books and the films.”
In J.K Rowling’s diary on her official Web site, she talks about her feelings on the last Harry Potter book.
“Deathly Hallows remains my favorite book.it was the ending I had planned for 17 years, and there was no more satisfaction than you can probably imagine in finally sharing it with my readers,” Rowling said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Melanie Cohn at Melanie.Cohn@colorado.edu.
