THE final Harry Potter book is to be split into two blockbuster films, producers will confirm today.
After months of speculation, Warner Brothers is expected to announce Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be filmed as 'Part I' and 'Part II'.
The first film is scheduled for release in November 2010, with part two following in May 2011. They
will be filmed concurrently.
"It was born out of purely creative reasons," producer David Heyman said last night. "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book."
Filming began in September on the sixth in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Some cynics may see the move as designed to double the box-office payday.
But Daniel Radcliffe, the 18-year-old actor who plays the title character in the wizardry epic, said it was essential to preserve elements of the story. He said: "I think it's the only way you can do it without cutting out a huge portion of the book.
"There have been compartmentalised subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut – although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans – but the seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go."
Mr Heyman said he had approached author JK Rowling with trepidation about the split, but found she agreed.
"I went to Jo and she was cool with it and that was quite a relief," he said.
