IMAX Release of 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' Delayed

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" won't see a simultaneous release in both conventional and IMAX theaters, TV Watch Online revealed. Claiming to have received an e-mail about the matter, the site reported that the sixth installment of the "Harry Potter" series won't be opened in IMAX theaters until July 29, two weeks after its release in traditional theaters.

On the reason behind the release delay, IMAX pointed out on their agreement with Paramount for "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". They explained, "The film will open in 35mm theaters on the 15th; however, it will not open in IMAX theaters until the 29th. Basically what happened is IMAX Corporation signed a contract with Paramount guaranteeing them a 4 week exclusive window if they filmed parts of Transformers 2 with IMAX cameras onto IMAX film (something that is quite a bit more expensive)."

"Unfortunately that was back when Harry Potter was due to open November 2007 [Sic] and when Warner Bros. pushed back the opening date Paramount was not willing to renegotiate the contract it had signed with IMAX. The delay is certainly disappointing, but I know that seeing this film on an IMAX screen with scenes in IMAX 3D will be worth the wait (or a second viewing)."

Coming from the "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" helmer David Yates, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" will deal with a darker matter than previous "Harry Potter" films. In it, dark wizard Lord Voldemort has expanded his terror, even to the safest haven of all, Hogwarts. And with the threat getting even closer now, Dumbledore prepares Harry for the worst that will ultimately strike them.

It stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Tom Felton and many else. The David Heyman and David Barron-produced flick was scripted by Steven Kloves.