Breaking up is hard to do

Plans to split Deathly Hallows and The Hobbit surface

Forget seven, for the colossal Harry Potter films eight is now the new magic number. Recent news has surfaced stating that Warner Bros. is debating breaking the seventh installment in the Potter series into two separate movie halves. The reason, sources say, is that fitting the entire plot from the dense storyline in Deathly Hallows will not only be exceedingly difficult, but could also incite mayhem and riots from fans. Another source for motivation is that this plan could possibly double profits as well. Production for the Potter films will be all done at one time, with a planned November 2010 release for the first half and a May 2011 date set for the second half, and final film of the popular fantasy series.

In similar fashion, studios are planning on plitting The Lord Of The Rings’ prequel into two films as well. Rings’ star Elijah Wood confirmed the dual Hobbit film plans, saying that the second installment would act as a narrative bridge between the prequel and the trilogy. Rings’ director Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. made the decision. Though New Line Cinema’s recent string of bad press has now ended in the company being swallowed up by Warner Bros. Another decision hanging over their heads is selecting the right man to direct these highly anticipated films. Currently, Jackson says he is too busy with other projects to helm The Hobbit movies himself. Moreover, Jackson says he doesn’t want to keep fans waiting. Though the rumors regarding director choices have changed continuously, several sources now cite Guillermo del Toro as the “chosen one.”

As far as my two cents go, no other director will compare to Jackson’s mastery on the three Rings movies, but at least he’s still involved in the project. Though, I don’t think any fans would mind waiting if they got to have their favorite ‘Kiwi’ director leading the way (he’s from New Zealand).

For now, producers are hoping for a 2010 Christmas release for the first Hobbit film.