'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' coming in 3D!

By Carl DiOrio

Warner Bros. will release the next two "Harry Potter" films in 3D, a move underscoring the post-"Avatar" rush for extra-dimensional boxoffice.

Studio executives on lots around town have been scrutinizing film slates for opportunities to expand forays into 3D releasing. Warners has been testing footage from its upcoming "Clash of the Titans" -- converted into 3D by an outside vendor -- and the tests have gone so well that execs have decided to release not only "Titans" but also the two-part "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" in 3D.

Warners refused to confirm the decisions Tuesday, but an announcement on "Titans" -- a co-production with Legendary Pictures -- is expected by week's end. Official word on the "Potter" pics also is awaited.

Conversion expenses have been coming down, so each film will cost just $5 million to change into 3D. Warners also will absorb an additional $5 million expense per pic to pay for 3D glasses for exhibitors handling the movies.

In a related move, Warners will push back the release of "Titans" one week to April 2. "Deathly Hallows: Part I" is set to unspool Nov. 19, and "Part II" is slotted for July 15, 2011.

The only previous "Potter" pic to dabble in 3D was last year's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which included brief footage viewable in 3D in Imax venues. It was unclear whether "Potter" author J.K. Rowling had to OK the move into the third dimension.

As for the impact on boxoffice prospects for the final two "Potter" sequels, consider the more imminent situation with "Titans."

A remake of a 1981 film starring Laurence Olivier, "Titans" previously might have been expected to fetch no more than $200 million domestically, and even that was an aggressive projection. Released in 3D, Warners figures to reap well north of $200 million, with 2007's $211 million domestic grosser "300" considered a beatable benchmark.

"Titans" in 3D also is considered a safe bet to best the $245 million in foreign coin that Warners fetched with "300."

The "Titans" move is not without risk. The installed base of 3D movie screens has been growing rapidly, but it's not sufficient to release the film entirely in 3D.

That should be less of a concern by the time the next "Potter" hits multiplexes. But execs also are quietly confident of getting enough 3D playdates for "Titans."

"I would not think it would be an issue to establish ourselves in the 3D marketplace with 'Titans,' " a studio insider said. "By sliding it back a week, we should at least have enough screens in the major markets."

Warners should secure upward of 1,000 playdates for "Titans," which will unspool a week after Paramount bows DreamWorks Animation's spring tentpole "How to Train Your Dragon."

The "Titans" move might spur further reshuffling in the spring release calendar, as its new date makes for a fifth wide opener set for Easter weekend, which historically is a solid boxoffice session but hardly one to support that many big pics.

Other wide openers set for April 2 include Fox's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," a likely PG-rated film adapted from a book series popular with middle-schoolers; Disney's PG-rated Miley Cyrus starrer "The Last Song," adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel; Universal's futuristic action thriller "Repo Men," starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker; and Lionsgate's latest Tyler Perry pic, "Why Did I Get Married Too?"

Meantime, the move of "Potter" into the extra dimension could prompt other high-profile moves. Could a 3D James Bond loom?

Warners' decision with its "Potter" franchise is likely at least to prompt 3D discussions between MGM and 007 producers. But unlike Warners' incremental move with the "Potter" franchise -- going with full-on 3D only after an initial foray into partial Imax 3D -- Lion execs would be starting at square one in talks on Bond.

Still, there is the siren call of those extra-dimensional dollars -- and other 3D currencies. In addition to lusting after "Avatar"-like boxoffice, industry execs have taken note of how well 3D pics play overseas.

Warners 3D horror pic "The Final Destination" overperformed internationally this summer, and Sony's 2D "Zombieland" did less than one-fourth as well overseas as domestically a few months later.

Perhaps by no coincidence, Sony might send "Spider-Man" into the third dimension with the webslinger's next pic.

Comments

[Lee]

Interesting - can't wait for these films ! Loving all the Deathly Hallows news coming out. 3D would be awsesome for Part II, because of all the battles!

[Felix]

3D is for reality, not for movies.

[MeHere]

There is a huge difference in quality with a movie being SHOT in 3D and a movie being CONVERTED into 3D.

Avatar was shot in 3D and it shows. Why can't studios look at the future of filmmaking instead of just trying to fool their audience?

[Jacob Anderson]

The opening of Half Blood Prince was in 3D and it looked really cool, if this is true I can't imagine how cool the Dragon scene, 7 Potters, Horcrux, and the Battle of Hogwarts would look like in 3D.

[Jessica Sing]

Oh that would be cool to see. I heard there was a lot of duels and battle in these two movies and a war at the end. Would be interesting to see in 3D

[Jim Dorey]

Actually we had the Warner 3D announcement exclusive before you guys did - but thanks for getting the HP info out.

http://bit.ly/4scrnh

[Cc]

Ww!that would Be Amazing!i missed the Half blood Prince in 3D but i herd it was wicked!The Deathly Hallows in 3D.OMG i'd love to feel like I was in on all the action!:D

[Greg Bridle]

With more 3D content now available it's only a matter of time before we have a thriving after market for 3D glasses.

The critics may argue that there are too many formats, but customers will tend to be loyal to a cinema making the choice of which 3D glasses to buy very simple.

Having experienced Avatar with disappointing Dolby 3D glasses, I'll be one of the first lining up to purchase my own pair.

[buy nintendo dsi r4]

I saw the 3d preview to Alice in Wonderland that is converted and the 3d in it looked pretty good to me. Any technology will only get better if they use it, same goes for conversion. Using it helps to bring short fallings to light which in later attempts can be improved. Considering the demand for 3d theaters to be installed around the world like what happened in Dunedin New Zealand, 3d is on the map for the next several years. Many said just a few months ago the the Avatar 3d screens would flop. Instead it received 80% of the gross from 3d screens.

[John WOods]

You have got to be kidding me dude. Are you for real? That movies gonna suck.

RT
www.online-privacy.int.tc

[whatever]

I really hope not. I don't see the 3D with glasses.. only a badly colored film. They usuallly do 3D to distract from a poorly written script.

[mizz kitteh]

UGH Really? I can't wear 3d glasses, because I get headaches. Would I still be able to see it "regular" and have it not be all blurry? Obviously I don't know how this 3-d stuff works, but I think its unnecessary. Though like someone else said a few comments up, a FEW scenes would be pretty awesome in 3-d :)

[kristalastar]

i feel that 3d should be a choice and not the standard for such a popular movie such as harry potter. i for one cannot see the movie correctly in 3D because of vision issues i have not seen the last one because of that fact i have been a fan of the series of books and movies up until the point they made part or whole of the movie in 3D

[luxury bali villa]

I like 3D. I just wish the color was better. Without the glasses the color is more vivid and bright. I also hope, with Harry Potter, there are more minutes in 3D. If we are going to pay the extra price for 3D, there should be more movie 3D. There was only approx. 12 minutes of 3D and they were pretty much at the beginning of the movie. I am so looking forward to the last two Harry Potter movies.

[Daniel]

Daniel gostar muito Harry Potter,Daniel gostar muito filmes Harry Potter,daniel gostar muito Harry Hermione Rony,Daniel ter coisas Harry Potter,Daniel quer ver filmes Harry Potter 1 e 2 partes,Harry Potter muito legal,harry hermione rony muito legais,filmes harry potter muito legais

[Gary]

3D Harry Potter is going to rock you're socks people i'm telling you, believe it, everything 3D is awesome just get over you're selves!

[Melabonbon]

part of "order of the phoenix" was in 3D at some imax theatres as well.

[Charlie Moreau]

Studio execs continue to be as stupid as monkeys. Monkey, see, monkey do. Although I'm sure that the 3D aspect of Avatar and a few of the other films to go 3D lately has been part of their box office success, the shine is going to wear off 3D shortly and will not be much of a motivator for people to see a movie in the theater. I'm surprised the studios aren't saying "we need more blue people! That's what brings viewers into the theaters! BLUE! Yeah, that remake of Othello, we'll just have everyone be BLUE and it will bring in hundreds of millions!" What a bunch of morons.

[Ferder]

Half-Blood Prince isn't the first HP film to use 3D. The finale of the IMAX Order of the Phoenix was in 3D too.