Harry Potter" Influences the Agenda of This Fall’s Movies

Who would have though that Harry Potter will get to influence James Bond? After the sixth sequel of Harry Potter left the fall scene and headed to a warmer July, the 007 agent premieres a week later that initially scheduled.
Just as Warner Bros. re-scheduled the launch of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” from this November to July 17, 2009, Sony moved the premiere of the Bond sequel, “Quantum of Solace” back one week to November 14. Actually, the initial move triggered a series of re-schedules in the movie openings of this fall.
Warner Bros. chose July 17 as a more appropriate date, as it would make amends for the production blank of that period. The next move was made by Summit Entertainment, who set the release date of its vampire movie “Twilight” on the vacancy “Harry Potter” left, competing with Walt Disney’s “Bolt” and DreamWorks/Paramount’s drama “The Soloist,” starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx.
Moreover, Sony made its strategic move, too. As the James Bond sequels have almost become a Thanksgiving tradition, the executives took advantage of “Potter’s” departure and moved back one week.
“Harry Potter' moving out gave us an opportunity to get a little closer to the holidays, which has always been the traditional Bond spot. Bond has a really good history of not only playing through Thanksgiving but going deep into the Christmas holidays,” as Jeff Blake, Sony worldwide marketing and distribution chairman, explained.
The latest 007 flick, “Casino Royale” opened on November 17, 2006 and theatres didn’t cease playing it at the end of December, as the movie was still on 1,100 cinemas.
November 14 is a great day for moviegoers, as three more movie releases are scheduled for the day. MGM’s comedy “Soul Men” opens that day, starring Samuel L. Jackson and late Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. Also, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman team in “Australia,” a production signed by Fox and Freddy Rodriguez stars in Overture’s “Nothing Like the Holidays.”
“Role Models,” starring Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott and signed by Universal moved from November 14 to November 7, as the number of its competitors was diminished. However, the November 7 weekend will feature a very strong counter-candidate, with DreamWorks’ second chapter of its animated “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.”
As usual, the Bond sequel will open earlier in UK, its world premiere being set on October 29 in London. Also, two guests of major importance will attend the world premiere, as Sony stated: Prince William and Prince Harry.