Turns out that boy wizard Harry Potter can do just about anything, unless its 3D. Warner Brothers today announced that Part I of next month’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will NOT be in 3D. This announcement is pretty shocking considering that most studios seem to think that 3D films are the only way to make money these days. Find out exactly why after the jump.
According to the official press release:
Warner Bros Pictures has made the decision to release “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1” in 2D, in both conventional and IMAX theaters, as we will not have a completed 3D version of the film within our release date window. Despite everyone’s best efforts, we were unable to convert the film in its entirety and meet the highest standards of quality. We do not want to disappoint fans who have long-anticipated the conclusion of this extraordinary journey, and to that end, we are releasing our film day-and-date on November 19, 2010 as planned. We, in alignment with our filmmakers, believe this is the best course to take in order to ensure that our audiences enjoy the consummate “Harry Potter” experience.”
Now it’s probably true that we don’t have all the facts, but if it is indeed true that WB didn’t think it could have a 3D version worth the price admission, I give the studio a lot of credit. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, like most “3D” films these past two years, was not filmed with 3D cameras like Avatar, but filmed traditionally and “converted” to 3D in the post-production process. Many have criticized studios for releasing films like Clash of the Titans and The Last Airbender, which were not initially intended to be in 3D, in a less-than-stellar 3D format and charging premium ticket prices for it. WB went through this controversy themselves with the latest Cats & Dogs film, which was a box office bomb. I doubt WB would want the release of the penultimate Harry Potter film faced with criticisms of the 3D version, especially after spending so much cash on rushing that 3D print for release. Also, notice the press release says nothing about Part II, which is still scheduled to be released in 3D in July 2011.
Of course, this opens the door for a 3D re-release once WB has a satisfying version on its hands, so perhaps I shouldn’t praise the studio too much…
So is this a decision made with good faith toward the audience, or is there some hidden agenda? Let us know your view on it below!
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