Imax to release a "Harry Potter" Replacement
source: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200808141751DOWJONESDJONLINE000872_FORTU...
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(IMAX) still plans to release a giant-screen version of Warner Bros. Pictures' next "Harry Potter" film sequel, despite its surprise move to the summer of 2009.
Earlier Thursday, Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc. (TWX), said "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" would be released July 17, 2009 instead of November 21. The studio cited two reasons. First, it said the summer season is an "ideal window for a family tent pole release." Second, it said the repercussions of the writers' strike "impacted the readiness of scripts for other films."
Richard Gelfond, co-chief executive of Imax, said that even though the company just found out about the change Thursday, it's already initiated some conversations about a replacement film, and he's confident it will find a good project. While it was only planning a two-week release of the DreamWorks Animation SKG (DWA) film "Madagascar 2," opening November 7, it would like to have another film as well to play a little later in the holiday season.
Gelfond said that the "Harry Potter" change won't effect the Imax release of " Transformers 2," which opens June 26. "We'll play both films," he said.
On the bright side, he noted that when "Harry Potter" does open next summer, it will appear in close to 100 of its new digital theaters, as opposed to about 40 estimated to be in operation by November. "It's a better revenue opportunity for us at that point," he said.
IMAX still plans to release part of the "Harry Potter" film in 3-D.
Earlier Thursday, Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc. (TWX), said "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" would be released July 17, 2009 instead of November 21. The studio cited two reasons. First, it said the summer season is an "ideal window for a family tent pole release." Second, it said the repercussions of the writers' strike "impacted the readiness of scripts for other films."
Richard Gelfond, co-chief executive of Imax, said that even though the company just found out about the change Thursday, it's already initiated some conversations about a replacement film, and he's confident it will find a good project. While it was only planning a two-week release of the DreamWorks Animation SKG (DWA) film "Madagascar 2," opening November 7, it would like to have another film as well to play a little later in the holiday season.
Gelfond said that the "Harry Potter" change won't effect the Imax release of " Transformers 2," which opens June 26. "We'll play both films," he said.
On the bright side, he noted that when "Harry Potter" does open next summer, it will appear in close to 100 of its new digital theaters, as opposed to about 40 estimated to be in operation by November. "It's a better revenue opportunity for us at that point," he said.
IMAX still plans to release part of the "Harry Potter" film in 3-D.
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