Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an upcoming two-part
fantasy film adapted from
the novel of the same name by
J. K. Rowling and scheduled to be released on November 19, 2010 (Part I) and July 15, 2011 (Part II).
The two movies, Part I and II, will be the final instalments in the globally successful
Harry Potter film series. Both parts are written by
Steve Kloves, who wrote all but the
fifth film, and directed by
David Yates, who directed the previous two films.
David Heyman and David Barron are producing both parts. Production shooting began in February 2009.
Plot
Production
Development
The decision to divide Rowling's final book into a two-part movie came from the original declined proposal to split
Goblet of Fire back in 2004.
Deathly Hallows is being shot back to back,
and treated as if it were one film.
The idea to split the book into a two-part movie had been around since the middle of 2007,
but only really came into serious consideration after producer
David Heyman was able to talk to writer
Steve Kloves when the
2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike ended and Heyman had Rowling's approval.
As of April 2009, Kloves began working on the script of second part.
According to
Warner Bros. executive
Alan F. Horn it will allow "an extra hour and a half to celebrate what this franchise has been and do justice to all the words and ideas in the amazing story."
Heyman described the workings behind the split: "
Deathly Hallows is so rich, the story so dense and there is so much that is resolved that, after discussing it with
[1], we came to the conclusion that two parts were needed."
Kloves was not able to start work on the script until the WGA strike ended.
"Years ago, we briefly — and seriously — considered doing Goblet of Fire as two films. So this concept is not altogether new. As for Deathly Hallows, I intuited — almost from the first moments I began reading it and certainly once I'd finished — that to realize the story in a single film was going to be a tall order. Others in 'the group' felt similarly. So the idea of two films began to get kicked around as early as late summer of 2007. We didn't take it lightly. But ultimately everyone felt that despite the challenges it would present, it was the most sound creative decision.
I'm sure some will think we're crazy. My wife looked at me cross-eyed when I first mentioned it. But I'm really excited about it because it should allow us to stretch a bit with the characters and give them the proper send-off. The story is highly emotional and those moments deserve time to breathe. And, personally, I feel we owe it to [2] Jo [1] — in order to preserve the integrity of the work — and the fans — for their loyalty all these years — to give them the best and most complete experience possible."
— Scriptwriter
Steve Kloves, on the decision to split the final Harry Potter novel into a two-part film.
