Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)

] The official teaser trailer was released on 29 July on AOL's Moviefone website. [cite news|url=http://mugglenet.com/app/news/show/1781/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080724006099&newsLang=en|title= Teaser Trailer Debut: HARRY POTTER AND THE Half-Blood Prince teaser trailer now online! |accessdate=2008-07-29|date=2008-07-29|publisher=MuggleNet]

Warner Bros and MSN ran an online "Order of the Phoenix" quiz, with the prize being a walk-on part in the film. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7107992.stm|title=Film role prize for Potter fans |accessdate=2007-11-23|date=2007-11-23|publisher=BBC News] As with the previous films, EA Games will produce a video game based on the film. [cite news|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/868/868508p1.html|title=EA announces Harry Potter and the Half Blood Price for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3|accessdate=2008-04-26|date=2008-04-22|publisher=IGN]

Release

The film is scheduled for release in the United Kingdom and the United States on 17 July 2009. It was originally set to be released on 21 November 2008, but was pushed back by eight months, despite being completed.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7562557.stm|title=Potter film release date delayed|accessdate=2008-08-22|date=2008-08-15|work=BBC News] Warner Bros. executive Alan Horn noted that the move went ahead "to guarantee the studio a major summer blockbuster in 2009," with other films being delayed due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The box-office success of summer WB films "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "The Dark Knight" also motivated the decision.cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-potter15-2008aug15,0,7258306.story|title=Next 'Harry Potter' film to be delayed eight months|accessdate=2008-08-22|date=2008-08-15|work=Los Angeles Times|author=Geoff Boucher] An unnamed "rival" studio executive told "Entertainment Weekly" that the move was to "stop next year's profits from looking seriously underwhelming after the phenomenal success of "The Dark Knight"," as "they don't need the money this year anymore." Dan Fellman, WB head of distribution, said that the studio had considered the date change for three to four weeks prior to the announcement, but gave it serious consideration a week before they came to their final decision. [cite news|url=http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gKbYVn8KeD9F9M4doy22xy06BOnQ|title=Harry Potter pulls a vanishing act on Entertainment Weekly|date=2008-08-22|2008-08-17|work=The Canadian Press]

The date change was met with a negative reaction by "Harry Potter" fans, as the "Los Angeles Times" noted: "Petitions were circulating, rumors were flying and angry screeds were being posted on Internet sites within minutes of the Thursday announcement." The move was mocked by "Entertainment Weekly" who had "Half-Blood Prince" on the cover on their "Fall Preview Issue". Despite each being owned by Time Warner Inc., "EW" were unaware of the change until it was publically announced by WB and noted that readers would now be in possession of a "Dewey Beats Truman collectible".cite news|url=http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/08/news-flash-harr.html|title=NEWS FLASH: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' Bumped to Summer 2009|author=Sean Smith; Jeff Giles|accessdate=2008-08-22|date=2008-08-14|work=Entertainment Weekly] Several days after the announcement, Horn released a statement in response to the "large amount of disappointment" expressed by fans of the series. [cite news|url=http://www.mugglenet.com/app/news/show/1826|title=Alan Horn issues statement regarding HBP delay|accessdate=2008-08-22|date=2008-08-19|work=MuggleNet]

Following the date change, "Half-Blood Prince"' release slot was taken by Summit Entertainment's "Twilight". [cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1552123220080816|title="Twilight" moves into "Potter's" old date|accessdate=2008-08-22|date=2008-08-16|work=Reuters]

Like the previous film, the sixth film will be simultaneously released in regular theatres and IMAX 3-D. [cite news|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=42976|title=Harry Potter 6 Confirmed for IMAX|accessdate=2008-03-15|date= [2008-03-15] |publisher=ComingSoon.Net] The film had been chosen to be screened at the 2008 Royal Film Performance on 17 November, [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7531745.stm|title=Royal screening for Harry Potter|accessdate=2008-07-29|date=2008-07-29|work=BBC News] but no longer will be. Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund chief executive Peter Hore noted he was "very disappointed" with Warner Bros. decision.

Awards

*"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" won the 2007 Movies.com award for film you "Can't Wait For". [cite news|url=http://www.hpana.com/news.20206.html|title='Harry Potter' awards just keep rolling in|date=2007-10-01|accessdate=2007-10-02|publisher=HPANA]

References

External links

* [http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthehalf-bloodprince/ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince] , official site, including trailer
*imdb title|id=0417741|title=Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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