'Harry Potter' fan rebellion of 2008

Here's a short story I have in Saturday's Los Angeles Times:

Call it "Harry Potter and the Revolt of the Muggles."

A day after Warner Bros. announced that it would be pulling the sixth "Potter" film off of its Novemeber release schedule and instead releasing it next July to take advantage of skimpy competition in the summer, fans of the massively popular franchise were lighting up the Internet with their rage. Thousands of fans signed online petitions, others organized boycotts and assorted protests, and a vast number expressed their reaction with tears or clenched fists.

At Petitionspot.com, more than 12,000 fans had signed a demand that "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," in post-production in London, be returned to the long-promoted November date. In comments posted, it was clear that Warner Bros. Chairman Alan Horn had, for a day at least, replaced Voldemort as the main villian in the hearts of "Potter" fans, who often call themselves Muggles, which means a nonmagical mortal in the Potter parlance.

Fans such as 25-year-old Brooklyn resident Patrick Allen promised marches on the corporate offices of Warner. "They are doing this for no other reason than to make more money," he wrote in an e-mail to The Times. "This is ridiculous, and I assure you that the millions of Harry Potter fans who have been looking forward to this release will not stand for it. We don't want to be pacified. We want the movie, as promised, this November."

The "Potter" films, based on the books of J.K. Rowling, have grossed more than $1.4 billion in the U.S. alone. As of press time, Rowling had not commented publicly on the postponement. Warner Bros. this summer released "The Dark Knight," now the second-highest grossing film ever, and "Half-Blood Prince" will now be released in that same mid-July slot next year.

There is a lot of anger over this move, and it's going to be interesting to see if there's a backlash against Warner. Denise Martin here at Hero Complex gave you the rundown Thursday on the early tumult, and it's just getting worse today. The problem is, what can fans really do? Certainly they could boycott the film, but I have to wonder if they will hold on to that kind of resolve between now and next summer. Also, some of the youngest fans of the movies just want to see it so badly that they will line up no matter what.

Where is J.K. Rowling on all this? David Heyman, the producer of the "Potter" films, told me during my set visit this year that he and Warner Bros. consult with the author and the key decisions about the franchise (she was, for instance, in favor of splitting the final book into two films, Heyman told me, and that move would not have been made without her assent).

There's so much fan-love for the franchise, Warner Bros. probably assumes that it can do this now, take some heat and then come back next summer with a massive success in a fairly wide-open summer because of the recent writers strike (so many films were postponed or called off that next summer will be the lagging indicator of that Hollywood shutdown).

That said, Warner Bros. might be playing with fire here by putting money ahead of its faithful consumers. As I said, there are a lot of angry people today. Here some e-mails I've gotten:

Geoff,

Horn's move makes no sense. Because The Dark Knight is so successful, he's going to space out the next Harry Potter movie because it's a guaranteed success? He's worried that he'll have a strong fiscal 2008 but fall short in 2009. Maybe a smart move for WB's stockholders but without loyal audiences, Warner Brothers wouldn't have anything to give their stockholders. Horn and Warner Brothers should focus on making better films instead of manipulating the numbers and manipulating their audiences/customers in the process. If I knew there was a chance that my seeing the latest Batman movie would delay the next Harry Potter film, I would have waited for Batman to come out on DVD or skipped it all together. Knowing this kind of blatent disregard for the movie goer is going to be the standard business practice for Warner Brothers will give me no option but to boycott future Warner Brother films.

Sincerely, Richard Lohrey

This one from Francois Tuvul:

You love your money not your fans! and we're not your fans we are Harry Potter fans, if it weren't for JK Rowling you would have never make a penny off Harry Potter!!  Bring it back to November 21st or we'll boycott your movies! We have 10,000+ signatures http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/harrypotter6/signatures/pg/1 And this from Allison Cardinal: Mr. Boucher- I think in the interest of two-sided journalism, it would be interesting if you went to a couple of dedicated Harry Potter fansite - my favorite being Mugglenet.com - read some of the comments that were posted about this article (not against your writing, but against the statements of WB) and write another article about how exactly the fans are responding to the WB's bull... attitude towards the series and the fans. Not only has the WB and David Heyman failed to produce films that merit the money it makes (and thankfully Hollywood hasn't also been blinded by the crappy film-making and awarded it any kind of acclaim it most certainly doesn't deserve) but it can't even keep 12 year olds happy. I, for one, would love to see the fans get a voice for once instead of the guy with a big paycheck and a publicist. Sincerely, Just a HP fan who mourns the day JKR gave rights to these people

And one Joanne Munie:

Hey Geoff,

Thanks for printing that article in the LA Times. It gave me a huge laugh
to hear what WB President Alan Horn had to say, wish I could believe a word
of anything that fell out of his mouth, but I don't.
It is much appreciated that the press is getting this story out -- I for one
am a very unhappy Potter fan today. I will go see the movie, but the luster
has worn off for me now. This was my favorite book and now I'm so
disappointed I can hardly stand it.

Thanks!
Joanne

Tony Tribby in Virgina had an interesting take:

Hi Geoff,

Next time you are speaking to a movie studio rep who is whining about money they lose to people downloading their films off the internet, you might want to point to actions like this as one of the reasons why.

Yes, they are a business, but they also must be aware that a large share of the revenue they reap from vehicles like the Harry Potter franchise is based on the intense loyalty of the fans--who can also choose to walk away when they are so blatantly reminded that, to the studio, all they are is a source of revenue. This move is going to chill the excitement of those fans, and I'd wager the resulting loss in repeat viewings is going to offset whatever revenue gains they expect to pick up by moving the film to next summer.

I also expect to see a petition soon where people will at the very least pledge to boycott the movie on opening weekend.

Tony Tribby
Alexandria, Virginia

These are just a few of the e-mails; there's a huge crush of them in my queue. Thanks for writing in, and we'll keep on top of this.

-- Geoff Boucher

RELATED All Hero Complex coverage of "Harry Potter" and the "Great Muggle Rebellion of 2008"

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Comments

[Philboy]

I am supremely disappointed in the delay of this film. The actors are getting too old to play the part. By the time they finish the last film Daniel Radcliffe will be 30 for god's sake.
Get the next movie back to November and finish the films before we all get too old to enjoy them any longer. If you really want people to be excited and go see it, think about the fans for a change.

[Teri]

As a Harry Potter fanatic, I will not boycott the Harry Potter films, but if Warner Brothers does not come through and release the film when they first agreed to, I will boycott all other Warner Brothers films, and anything connected to Warner Brothers. I think if all of the Harry Potter fans agreed to that, they would have to change their plans, and release the film as promised!! Warner Brothers knows that Harry Potter fans will go to the movie whenever they release it, but I don’t think they realize that if everything else was boycotted, they would stand to lose a substantial amount of dollars. Just a thought!

Teri

[Stefanie]

What a way for WB to show that MONEY is more important than fans of this movie!
My children (4 of them) and I WILL NOT be seeing this in the theatre if WB holds fast to its plans to release this in 2009.
And the message WB is showing kids? Money first...loyalty last.

[Bry]

Uhm, hello? The sole reason that Warner Bros. even MAKES the Harry Potter films is to make money. They're not doing it for any other reason, so why would they NOT move it to next summer if they truly believe it will perform better at the box office? They know the fans will go anyway, making the film a lot of money. And that petition with 12,000 whole signatures? WB wouldn't even blink if 12,000 people didn't see the 6th Harry Potter flick. Release dates change all the time, these fans just need to stop whining and have some patience.

[Lillie]

Of COURSE money comes first to Warner Brothers. Are people really naive enough to think otherwise? They wouldn't have made the film unless they expected it to make them money, and now they instead to position it to make the most money possible. Hollywood's had a hard enough year without scutting potential profits over timing. Suck up and deal with it.

[Angela]

Yes we are angry and we will protest Warner Bros!!!!!!1

You will only lose money from this. HP fans pay your bills. Don't mess with the people who pay your bills

Also you can't make up for anything with these new pics on mugglenet.com. A major part of the fandom hates you right now and teasing thrm with pics that you were too busy to shell out in May along with the teaser trialer is a bad idea. So a late teaser trialer with the WRONG date and a late release

I will laugh when WB loses its money, you guys have messed up bad and with the wrong people

[Morder]

Please...all the harry potter fans will still watch the movie not matter when it comes out...this delay will make no difference no matter how many people protest

[Tarbi]

All i have to say is BIT TORRENT why give them millions when they cant respect costumers that don't care about profit!!!

[Person]

show it on the planned date or me and my 2,000 friends wont watch it on 2009

[JDFR]

Meh!

The movies suck compared to the books anyway. Frankly, how any fan of the books can be an equal fan of the films is dismaying. None of the Potter films has been worth a Neat's pizzle. So, why are we so outraged? Are we looking for homosexual inuendo between Harry and Dumbledore now that JK Rowling decided to insist upon the old wizard's sexuality, post factum? - that is, in a discussion after the final novel and before children? I understand Harry is appearing nude in the next film:

http://www.wizardnews.com/channels/harry-potter-movies.html

So, then, where exactly is Dumbledore? Peering through a magical hole in the wizard wall?

[Steve J.]

It's no surprise that a business sacrifices loyalty for money. That's what they teach hopeful businessmen in college, money comes first. I don't start boycotts or petitions, nor am I a huge fan of the Harry Potter series, but I am sorely disappointed with Warner's greed.

[Not A Fan of Boy Wonder]

I think it sounds like a bunch of spoiled brats, who think that if they throw a tantrum, they will get what they want. In response, I think WB should give them all a lashing, or at least tell them to "cry more."

[Eric]

Capitalism at its best... -_-

I'm not much of a Potter fan myself but this really disrespectful. It would be one thing if they had never announced a November release date... However they *did*, and now they are changing it to obviously rake in more money.

Way to figuratively slap your customers in the face WB.

[DrDUH]

Geez - Can't any of you folks realize then you're being manipulated

It's a Marketing ploy to keep the movie in the news and pique interest

(Like "New Coke")

[Ken]

Warner will suffer from a temporary "image" problem, but fans will still pay to see the movie regardless of when it's released.

Look at how many Star Wars fans were upset when Lucas made important changes to the original movie, like having Han shoot second instead of first. They still lined up to watch the other Star Wars episodes.

It's not like fans can go see an alternate Harry Potter release from a different studio.

[Robert Williams]

It's possible that the release date has been pushed back in order to keep it far apart from Daniel Radcliffe's Broadway debut this fall in Equs. The play has VERY adult subject matter, including pretty explicit sex scenes, and Radcliffe's part includes a good deal of full frontal nudity. Given the uproar that resulted from the M. Cyrus pics in Vanity Fair, where all the actress bared was her upper back it's easy to see how WB could be squeamish about the potential media reaction to Harry Potter's pecker being in view, on stage eight shows a week.

[Aislinn]

Thank you so much for writing this article! I, like most fans, am nothing short of crushed; if only they understood how important this series is to so many people and that this really does feel like a huge betrayal to the very people who have made these films and books what they are. I do wish this film all the success it deserves, but I think dangling one release date in front of an enthusiastic audience and then yanking it away just as it was within hailing distance was very unprofessional and unclassy.

I think that petitions and boycotts are futile, but it does help to read these articles and the emails of angry fans who share my feelings. I hope everyone will continue to voice their responses to this cheap stunt--not because the WB will ever know or care what we think, but because if anything eases the disappointment, it's knowing that millions of people are feeling it with you.

[Jason]

Good god. All this fuss over one of the most mediocre children's books ever written? Oh, have I uttered blasphemy? Nonsense! While I applaud J.K. Rowling's success, it's frankly not deserved when one compares her work with that of Lewis, Tolkien, or L. Frank Baum. None of those authors became billionaires, yet they were far better writers. The hysteria Rowling's books generate is only ridiculously outpaced by the size of her bank account. I mean, really! People who can't wait a few more months for a movie, a movie WHOSE STORYLINE THEY ALREADY KNOW, really ought to get lives. Or therapy. Or both.

[casey]

Given the long lag time and the intense curiosity and animosity from the online community, will this be the most downloaded movie of all time? Certainly it will leak to the web before Christmas.

[Patti]

Warner Bros. has created a huge firestorm with this decision, based solely on greed. I understand they are a business, and I am happy they have had such success with the Harry Potter movies. However, they have published release dates for this movie all over the world just a few days ago. There was a charity event in the UK revolving around the November relase that has to now be cancelled for the first time since 1958, I believe it is.

Whatever money they planned on making by delaying the release will be lost when fans boycott all the WB movies between now and when Half Blood Prince is released.

I strongly support capitalism, but to be so shamelessly greedy. Stunning really.

[Santiago]

The remark about "If I knew there was a chance that my seeing the latest Batman movie would delay the next Harry Potter film, I would have waited for Batman to come out on DVD" strikes me as something a lot of HP fans are feeling right now. While we all know it's about money, all the fans saying they'll boycot WB films or even the HP film when it comes out are pretty hard to take seriously. WB is banking on that fact.

[Bueller]

I'm going to laugh when it gets released by pirates online before it comes out. I mean everyone knows it's pretty much done now. Also, it's not like these protests are going to do anything. Sure all us Potter fans are mad, but they'll still make money because we'll go see it as soon as it comes out no matter what.

[namar]

I understand that the WB is a business and like all businesses the main goal is to reek profit. BUT this is different. this is HP. A movie adaptation of the most succesful book series in history. The movies always reap a huge profit. ALWAYS. The fans of harry potter have always been an eager bunch, waiting years at times for a new release of a book. So, this change to capitalize on a "weak" summer schedule and keep revunes high for next year infuriates me. What baffles me the most is that this is [arguably] Rowlings best book, and the anticipation for this movie is the highest its ever been. So yes, moving a movie that is destined to bring WB millions to a later date after us fans have waited long enough since the horrid 5th movie is annoying, disrespectful, and of all stupid. I along with thousands of other fans will be boycotting the opening weekend. The petitions are teeming, the steam is rising... Good luck on Opening Weekend.

This reminds me of how ABC use to toy around with its LOST fanbase... giving LOST a new time slate each 3 weeks [ok hyperbole]... what happened? Fans began watching it less and less during prime time... WB you just picked a bad fight....

[Julia]

It's been an extremely upsetting 24 hours. When I heard the news Warner Brothers was doing this I thought it was a bad joke. But it's not.

WB acts like the fans don't matter, but we do. They think they can take us for granted and do things like this and we'll hand them our money regardless. I guess the box office results on July 2009 will tell the tale. Regardless, it is truly sad that WB think so little of all the loyal fans who have supported the franchise over the years and helped it be as successful as it's been. It's almost insulting that Horn had the gall to say he "loves the fans" when what he really meant to say is "we love the money we make off these nobodies".

Corporate greed at it's finest. The movie was three months from release and now everyone is left scrambling because a few big-shot executives woke up one morning and decided they could make a little more money by screwing over a bunch of people.

[Shannon]

WB needs to realize that Harry Potter fans are not cattle lined up to be milked whenever it is convienent for them! This has now gone way past the point of just waiting longer for a movie, it is a matter of principle. The movie is ready, and if WB gave a damn about the very loyal HP fans that have made them BILLIONS already, they would give us the movie. waiting eleven months will only ebb our enthusiasm for the film and give us time to stew in this corporate injustice. They will end up making less money, and I for one will be thrilled. Down with the WB deatheaters.