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Muggles, rejoice! We've just gotten our first glimpse of next year's highly anticipated sequel 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I.' Unlike many of the fantastic images we've come to expect from the revered film series, this one is pretty ... normal. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger look like they're more ready for tackling Black Friday in Piccadilly Circus than spell casting.
But don't be fooled -- that's part of the conceit of the final 'Harry Potter' adventure, as the trio prepares for a wizard war in the real world, with Snatchers and Death Eaters running wild. The first half of 'Deathly Hallows,' which opens next Nov. 19, will find our favorite Hogwarts pupils blending into the Muggle world, wearing civilian clothes and finding sanctuary where they can as they attempt to put an end to Lord Voldemort's sinister plans for world domination. (And maybe Harry can get another chance to meet up with that cute waitress he blew off in 'Half-Blood Prince'?)
Rupert Grint told USA Today, who debuted the photo, that he and co-star Daniel Radcliffe actually sport stubble this time out. Allegedly, many fans were thrown off by Grint's real-life facial hair while he was on location in the Welsh countryside. It makes us think Clark Kent's simple disguise of glasses wasn't so far-fetched after all.
"It's going to feel very real," director David Yates told USA Today about the next 'Potter' film. "We're going for a vérité approach. Being away from Hogwarts, they're like these three refugees on the run. They're out in the big bad world, facing real danger, unguarded by those wonderful benign wizards at Hogwarts. They don't have a home to go to." So there you have it: It's less about magic and more about reality in this installment, as Harry and his nemesis Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) prepare for their ultimate showdown.
Evidently, the the final Potter book has been just as intense to film as it will be to watch. Radcliffe has reportedly gotten a bit sick while fulfilling his duties as our favorite young wizard. But we have no doubt that the final results will look fantastic.
Reader Comments (14)
aimee at 12:18PM on Dec 2nd 2009
these last 2 films are going to be epic!! i cant wait to see them both :)
Charlie Buechler at 9:42AM on Dec 2nd 2009
I will watch both of the Book 7 films. I only hope David Yates doesn't totally screw up these movies as horribly as he did Books 5 and 6. Both of them made me nearly ill with how he seemed to use the title and the character names, and then make up his own story. Has the man even read any of the books? I wish Chris Columbus would have come back for the final two.
Javon at 9:06AM on Dec 2nd 2009
Chris Columbus did a great job. I think with Yates changes, They are trying to create a story for non book readers (too).
Cat at 10:30AM on Dec 2nd 2009
I completely agree. I could not believe how badly Yates screwed up the Book 6 film. The overshadowing of teenage romance was just too much for me. Even my boyfriend who has never read the books said it was horrible.
Erin at 4:19PM on Dec 2nd 2009
I completely agree with you. Chris Colombus did a much better job of staying true to the books. Hello! The books are all ready great, they don't need to change it up in the movie! He better not screw these last two up!!
kk at 10:45AM on Dec 2nd 2009
yes lets hope these films actually resemble the real story. If he stopped trying to put his own idea of what is spectacular in the films and just stayed true to what is truly spectacular (penmanship of Rowling) then he might get somewhere.
dazzler at 10:54AM on Dec 2nd 2009
I agree, too many changes not enough of the books. Too many finer details missing. Like the coins in Order of The Phoenix used for DA to communicate. They are again used in the last book but were not even vaguely mentioned in the 5th film.
And where did that scene with the waitress come from in prince of theives????
I have spoken to people who have not read the books and they have said the last 4 films haven't really made too much sense until they read the books after. So going for the film for non readers certainly hasn't worked if that is the aim.
rmanx22 at 11:54AM on Dec 2nd 2009
I completely agree with all of the comments mentioned above. As a longtime fan and reader of the Harry Potter series I feel completely jipped when I see the films in theaters. The first two were amazing and it honestly felt like you were immersed in the book as you watched the movie. Bring in Alfonso for the third movie (the porn director) and it all turns to crap. And then David Yates keeps taking artistic freedom to the plotlines and truly ruining the books. I could not believe how much he left out in the fifth movie. I sincerely hope that he will take extra care with Deathly Hallows because to end the Harry Potter film franchise with another disappointment would be truly horrible.
Mark Anderson at 12:18PM on Dec 2nd 2009
On the other hand...because there was sooooo much left out of the movies perhaps we can anticipate a BETTER remake ala Lord of the Rings. Where all the characters actually apprear in the movie, the characters don't say each others lines and the director understands from a readers and fans point of view. Recasting some parts may be an improvement too!
sara at 1:59PM on Dec 2nd 2009
To Bryan Reesman: What the hell is this "gotten" business all about? This is the UK, not America, speak ENGLISH!!!
Erin at 4:18PM on Dec 2nd 2009
This is moviefone, which is an American website. Gotten is a word, check your ENGLISH dictionary.
d at 1:20PM on Dec 2nd 2009
I concur with others that the last two films were sort of abysmal. I was disappointed that the Ginny/Harry connection was not brought out in Half Blood Prince. After all, she and he marry at the end so they need to look like they are a couple BEFORE then and when will he have time since he won't see her throughout most of movie part 1 and part 2. I am hoping out for more in the last two movies, but not holding my breath. They left out huge swatches of important things and put in nonsense in my opinion in 5 and 6 but who am I to say? I am just surprised Jo Rowling put up with whacking up her book like they did considering the control freak she is about the books and who does what with them.
angel at 12:26PM on Jan 6th 2010
you know by reading these comments it shows how much people do care ahnd realize how important a book and a movie relationship have. yet i havent heard not one of you tal;k about how the sixth was wrecked to smithereens. i mean they left out so much the movie was almost pointoless to watch. the fifth was alright not too much of a screw up but ok. its the sixth that has and should have people talking baout. but then again if u really were a fan of the books and somewhat of the movies you would realize that.
k at 11:21PM on Jan 6th 2010
I spy a few errors already... this does not bode well.