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masterofmystery · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 09:07 PM

In an interview with Empire magazine, producer David Heyman talks in detail about the process and decisions made to make two Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows films as opposed to one.

David stated that the original idea was to make one film, but after the WGA's writers' strike, he, director David Yates, J.K. Rowling, and screenwriter Steve Kloves opted for two parts:

Quote:

Empire: When was the decision made to split the book into two films?

Heyman: We’ve been talking about it for – actually, right after the writers’ strike was when a definitive decision was made. We’d been talking about it for a while and we’d been mulling it and we thought that was the direction we’d go in after discussing it with Jo (Rowling). But a definitive decision was made once we were able to speak to (screenwriter) Steve Kloves after the strike. But we were angling toward that before the writers’ strike. Initially we thought we’d do it in one film, how we’d done it every time. But then when we began to really analyse it, we realised it was just impossible to fit everything in. Unlike previous films where you could drop certain things, like Hermione and SPEW or Ron’s [Quidditch], this one you can’t. There’s so much resolution and so much to resolve that you can’t drop it in the same way. Each of those incidences has a place and we didn’t want to compromise.

The issue of the films' length and its appeal to the audience were factors into making one or two films, as well:

Quote:

Did you get as far as trying to put a script together that would get everything in to one film, or did it become obvious in discussions that it would work?

Heyman: No, it all came down to discussions. We just thought how are we going to approach this? Is this going to be a four and a half hour film? That’s probably what it would have been. Would our audience really embrace that? In some way, I think they might. But I think the younger ones would have drifted. There’s always been difficulty making sure that the ones that are two hours, two and a half hours long – making sure that those are the right length. I think by having two films that are two and a half hours – although we’re not sure of the length – then it will be a richer experience. One of the challenges that faces us, which we’ve been discussing, is how to give each film its own identity. We want them to feel like one film, but they’ve got to be self-contained too. We feel now that we’ve got a really good angle on that. But we haven’t got a script yet on either part, so I don’t want to say too much.

Heyman admits that David Yates was immediately asked to direct the seventh movies, which will be about a year-long production to take place for most of 2009 as one concurrent film. Also, when he consulted Jo Rowling about the idea, she said, "You know what? I think that’s the right decision and whole-heartedly support you."

Deathly Hallows will release November 2010 and May 2011.

hpnerd5000 · 03-14-2008, 09:21 PM

I cant wait to see the films. I am looking forward to seeing Harry with long hair in the 7th one.

LORDVOLDY · 03-14-2008, 09:57 PM

cool beans I'm totally ready to watch 2x the potter action!!!

hpluvr037 · 03-14-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpnerd5000

I cant wait to see the films. I am looking forward to seeing Harry with long hair in the 7th one.

Haha. Agreed. Bring back the longer hair! It's not like he spent a ton of time cutting his hair during the camping parts of DH anyways, so it's even canon, right? *hopes*

Sirius_Padfoot · 03-14-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpluvr037

Haha. Agreed. Bring back the longer hair! It's not like he spent a ton of time cutting his hair during the camping parts of DH anyways, so it's even canon, right? *hopes*

I also agree! The longer hair made him look kinda hotter anyway

Blackened · 03-14-2008, 10:07 PM

I'm happy to hear J.K. fully supports this decision.

Seems like such a long wait, but oh well. More time to be excited about it all.

Mrs Felton · 03-14-2008, 10:31 PM

It's great that Jo supports their decision!!

Nibs · 03-14-2008, 11:10 PM

Good idea

RemusBlack · 03-14-2008, 11:46 PM

Quote:

"You know what? I think that’s the right decision and whole-heartedly support you."

FINE. ><"
If Jo supports it, I support it. (:

purple·myst · 03-15-2008, 12:25 AM

I like this idea. The way I saw it was that after the final movie, we all have SS and other sites to stay on but it's the final movie, and its really it for the movie parts of it, so making it into two will make it last longer..

Mrs_ronald_weasley · 03-15-2008, 12:41 AM

very very cool. I'm glad Jo supports the entire idea. and david yates directing it would be cool too.

Ginny GL · 03-15-2008, 12:52 AM

I can't imagine Dan in the dishevelled state Harry ends the story, but I bet he will look amazing and do an incredible job.

The one I can actually picture easily is Neville.

Antwone Thomas · 03-15-2008, 01:16 AM

I'm happy to hear they called upon David Yates so quickly.

cgold · 03-15-2008, 01:33 AM

I'm hoping for good movies to come from this but I won't hold my breath. Better not to expect anything and then I won't be disappointed.

aliciahutchinson · 03-15-2008, 02:39 AM

Wicked!!!!! I can't wait to see the films...

half_blood_prince · 03-15-2008, 05:27 AM

cool interview

Emma C.D. Watson · 03-15-2008, 06:50 AM

hmmm...very informative...heyman has actually stated wht he likes fr dH..i think he likes hermione a lot.lol...
i hope he will put a good horcrux scene-locket..cuz it has my fave hhr scene,wants to c d trio...cool.
n i want tht godrc hollow scene...v meaningful/deep.
final battle..but also scenes like hermione's torture-v deep/poignant..

Zoe · 03-15-2008, 07:02 AM

Interesting! I can't wait to see both films.

Hopefully they'll make these two better than all the rest and make sure that nothing major is cut.

EmmaRiddle · 03-15-2008, 08:27 AM

I don't think shooting is going to be completed in just 12 months, that's a bit ambitious considering their normal schedule is about 11.

Quote:

So these films will be the same length as the ones that came before? We won’t see two films that clock in under two hours?

No. The idea is to get everything people want in there. I’m sure there’ll be parts that don’t make it, which we won’t know until the script is written. But that is the idea.

See, things will still be cut. The films aren't going to be a carbon copy of the book (which is actually good, imo).

Quote:

Have you got anything you’re most looking forward to putting on film? The final battle, maybe?

Well, the final battle, but there’s so much. I love the character stuff. I love the resolution of Dumbledore and Snape. I love the multiple Harries at the beginning. I love the scene of Hermione trapped at the Malfoys’. I love Harry and Hermione in the forest. I think there’s so much, it’s such a rich fabric. What we’ve done now, which I think is really exciting, is that we’ve found thematic centres for each of the films. That gives the film heart. I think it’s pretty great that David Yates has crystalised it and…it’s early days still, so I’m not going to say too much. But I’m just thrilled that David Yates decided to come back, because he’s really found a new spirit for the sixth film and as we talk about seven, it’s very different as well. I think it’s going to be good.

I do <3 how passionate these guys are about the films.

Padie · 03-15-2008, 03:46 PM

We'll have to wait so long :/ But I've got a feeling it'll be worth it ^^

Serena · 03-15-2008, 04:07 PM

I'm happy Jo agrees with them

phoenix_tears · 03-15-2008, 04:40 PM

great decision , it is

tks ,

RedheadQueen · 03-15-2008, 05:00 PM

I am excited, bc there is NOTHING that can be cut from 7, it just wouldn't make sense. But what I want to know about is, at the beginning of DH, Harry and Dudley have their "moment", but in OoTP (movie) it is as though Dudley blames Harry, which contradicts the book, but it is big for character development in DH, so are they going to just skip it all together or are they going to back track a little and cover it with a "clarification"?? Any ideas???