Considering the insane popularity and success of the franchise, you’d assume Warner Brothers would make a real effort to promote the forthcoming sixth installment Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince.
However, they haven’t… so far. With just four months away from release, the studio has yet to unveil a full-fledged theatrical trailer or even a one-sheet for that matter.
All they’ve released are a few official photos and a 15-second teaser(!) shown in front of IMAX screenings of The Dark Knight. Interestingly, said teaser doesn’t even give a release date. It simply says, “Coming to IMAX.”
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I wouldn’t be surprised if Warner Brothers opted to move Half-Blood Prince to Summer 2009 in the next few weeks. When you think about it, this makes perfect sense.
More than any other studio, WB is in dire need of tentpoles for next summer - thank you very much, WGA Strike! At the moment, all they have is Terminator: Salvation which is set to open fairly early on in the season (i.e. Memorial Day weekend against Fox’s Night at the Museum sequel!)
There’s simply no way they can just sit on it and only have that as their sole outing next summer. And their overall silence towards the next Potter installement (which is a huge money-maker for the studio) so close to its release just feels… off.
But then again, maybe I’m just reading too much into all of this…
As it stands, Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince is scheduled to hit theatres on November 21, 2008.
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8 Comments
But won’t it make the same amount of money if it came out this year not surrounded by other blockbusters?
This lack of marketing till the last minute thing is the same thing that happened with the last 2…I think its because they dont’ need to advertise it. Everyone who sees these movies (not me) and is fan will see every one and knows when they will be coming out so they don’t need trailers 12, 8, 6, 4 months in advance it seems…they can just pocket those millions and throw of TV spots right before it comes out.
If its completed and ready for this year, I dont know why they’d hold off on it rather than get the income earlier, but who knows.
I don’t have a movie critic’s in depth point of view, but I don’t think that Harry Potter needs a lot of promoting. As soon as the first REAL trailer is released (Mummy 3?) it’ll be all over Youtube. A franchise as huge as this one won’t be forgotten merely because of a couple months of silence. Although that may not be your point. It may not break any records, but I think it’ll do fine in the box office.
There is no way WB will do this. The fan base of HP will get so ticked off at them if they do… And anyway, they finished filming in MARCH! The film is most likely almost finished. I don’t know why they haven’t done a teaser this time, but the fact they haven’t doesn’t tell us that they aren’t releasing it on time!!!
My only guess is, WB are not too worried about when to promote this Potter flick. Everyone flooded to see the last few movies like bees to the honey. Every Potter fan right now, knows this new flick is coming already. I’d say marketing will hit in a few weeks.
can I ask where is TWILIGHT on your upcoming movie list. It would be lovely for news on the movie. I understand that comingsoon.com did a pole and Twilight was the most popular for comic con. many thanks
As for Harry Potter, I think Rob said everything I could say on the subject.
Elaine,
Thanks, missed that one. Haven’t really covered it here much - guess I need to.
Vic
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