Harry Potter Release Date Moved Due to Equus

Warner Bros. has announced moving its sixth Potter film starring Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, from November 21, 2008, to July 17, 2009. The studio said reason is because "a spot opened on the summer schedule."

Rumors circulated recently saying the movie date was moved due to complications caused by the writer strike, however, that is not the case. Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe will be right in the middle of his sensational, highly publicized run on Broadway in the play, Equus. Radcliffe appears without clothes on in the play, on stage, and has sex in it as well. That’s not the image Warner Bros. wants associated with Harry Potter, who remains chaste and virginal.

Posters for Equus are up all over New York, of Radcliffe’s torso without clothes on superimposed on a horse’s head. Not exactly a Hogwarts image. For the movie to open on November 21, Radcliffe would have to do publicity entailing answering questions about blinding horses and having sex with them vs. flying around and making potions.

Warner Bros. does not want this scenario. By the time Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince debuts, Equus will either have concluded its run, or Radcliffe will have completed his contract.

To see Daniel without clothes on click here to see his front side, and click here to see his back side.