Dear outraged Watchmen and Harry Potter fans,
I feel your pain. You’re upset that Warner Bros. has pushed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’s release back to next July, and that Fox’s lawsuit against Warner Bros. over the film rights to Watchmen has threatened that film’s timely release next spring. (Some of you think these events are related, that Warners moved Half-Blood Prince because it anticipated Watchmen’s legal problems and needed a backup blockbuster. You could be right.) Yep, delays suck. But your proposed retaliation tactics — a Hollywood-wide movie boycott over Potter (see video above) or sabotage and piracy of Fox projects like Wolverine — aren’t going to have any effect.
Fans, Hollywood welcomes your support, but it’s not worried about your wrath. Even if you get massive numbers of people to join the cause (and you won’t, because everyone wants to see Harry Potter and Watchmen and Wolverine, and most people will go on opening weekend or watch soon after when the movies are released on DVD), all you’d be doing is taking a bite out of the ever-shrinking slice of profit pie that is the domestic box office. In the case of Potter and Wolverine, you’re talking about billion-dollar franchises, with worldwide revenue streams from cinemas, TV, DVD, publishing, and merchandise, of which the next Hogwarts and X-Men movies’ domestic ticket sales are just a drop in the bucket. You’re spitting in the wind.
If it’s any consolation, I believe that Fox, no matter what the studio says now about preferring to suppress Watchmen and receive no profits, will ultimately decide that a percentage of something is better than a percentage of nothing, and I believe (as my colleague Jeff Jensen does), that the movie will come out even if Warners has to pay Fox a settlement. I also believe that, by the time Half-Blood Prince comes out next summer, much of the current grumbling will be forgotten. With any luck, the movie will be great (as will Watchmen and Wolverine), and we’ll all have moved on to some other controversy.
Love,
Gary Susman
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I can’t believe people are protesting a release date. OK, I CAN believe it (anything is possible after Chris Crocker), but SERIOUSLY??? If you need a HP fix that bad, re-read the book! I’m surprised this is the first major reshuffle we have seen post-writers strike!!!
Thanks for posting this! It really is starting to annoy me how much people are grumbling about HP HBP being pushed back a little. Yes, it’s a shame but it’s happening now and there’s not much that can be done to stop it. And it’s looking at a wider picture, I don’t like the fans behaving so selfishly to be honest. There are a lot of circumstances involved in the film being moved to next summer, and the studio and industry in general needs to protect itself with the current economic problems. And for those that think it shouldn’t be about the money – this is the film industry – the bottom line is very important, just as it would be in any other business. And another thing, I’m really happy that there won’t be such a huge gap between HBP being released and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 being released. I’m dreading the end of the series – lets not all starting getting up in arms just ebcause we have to wait a few months. It’s the only HP film that has had any delays.
I SO don’t care…
I was annoyed at the schedule switch for HP–maybe even disgruntled, but I can’t say that I plan to boycott. It’s not as if WB announced that they weren’t going to release the movie at all.
People need to get a life. I’m excited for HP 6 and Watchmen, but I’m hardly going to protest. What’s the difference between watching Potter in November and next summer? Nothing at all, although you’ll be glad to be out of the sun and in an air-conditioned theatre in the summer. Actually, look at it this way…our time with Harry Potter has an expiration date now, so personally, the longer I can prolong no more books or movies, the better.
“Because they’ll make more in the summer…as if they don’t already make craploads already.”
Yes, how dare a business try to maximize its profits.
I think we’re all missing the real issue here, friends. If we’re going to protest, we should protest the remake of Rocky Horror. Can I get a So Say We All?
(I’m kidding. I think protesting movies is silly [But I'm also totally sickened by the idea of a RHPS remake].)
“When Dissapointed Obsessed Nerds Attack” A Fox Family Special.
I am one of those crazed HBP fans, and I just wanted to say that most of the “nerds” (a title I accept proudly) that I have talked to, do not actually think protesting will make a difference. It’s just a way of venting our disappointment. To top it all off, the fact that we fans ultimately don’t matter is even more frustrating.
I realize that the point of a business is to maximize profits, but I also believe in the adage “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” I also realize protesting fans won’t make much of a difference, and as Lili pointed out, that is incredibly frustrating. Some of us like to get out of the cold weather and into a warm theatre and prefer to see our movies in the fall/winter (enjoy the beautiful weather in the summer! Go outside!) It is just incredibly disheartening to think that big movie studios can crap all over their fans and all we can say is “Thank you sir, may I have another?”
You’re right on, Kathleen. An MTV remake? Unbelievable. I feel the same way about the sequel they’re making to Donnie Darko. What in the world? You’ll ruin it!
But I digress. You’re absolutely right, Gary. These protests will do nothing and, quite frankly, remind me of the temper tantrums of a spoiled child.
Well there you have it folks, the brilliant Gary Sussman has declared that the power of consumers to influence product producers is officially dead. No more protests against greedy, incompetent, or corrupt corportations people. Gary says it won’t work. And if you don’t agree with that, don’t bother to stop buying the magazine he writes for, because they don’t care about your business. And don’t boycott their sponsors, because they don’t care your business either. You are meaningless bugs leeching off the ass of corporate America and you should be ashmaed of yourselves for even THINKING about putting your money where your mouth is and standing up for your beliefs. Gary laughs at you and DARES you to boycott his sponsors. He thinks you don’t have the guts… you chickens. There, now… Gary has spoken!
Oh yeah, and I just got off the phone with Warner Bros. They agree with Gary 100% They couldn’t care less if you fanboys come to see their movies or not. They said, and I quote, “Fanboys turned their back on Speed Racer and did it damage that franchise even one bit? Of course not. We’re willing to flush $150,000,000 down the tubes… you seriously think we care about your $10 admission? Oh please. Get a life.”
Mike, I seriously doubt anyone at WB said “Get a Life” to you about the whole HBP issue.
.
The folks that are complaining are just angry that they are being treat this way, as would any fan I think. I also know that all their shouting, calls to the media, threatening boycotts & petitions are not going to change the release date for HBP – so suck it up & deal with it. You know you’ll go & see it opening weekend
Joeseph – Uh, maybe my sarcasm wasn’t dripping enough? Obviously, I didn’t really speak to anyone at WB… though it’s cute you thought I did. I agree with you. Folks are angry at how they’re being treated. I’m just a little miffed that Gary seems to be almost celebrating the idea that this corporation is so diverse and powerful that they couldn’t care less about the opinions of the people who consume their product.
Regardless, WB’s decision not only affects the fans but also affects that billion dollar franchise by causing an retailers relying upon sales from merchandise to write off holiday sales and stock long-range inventories. What fans want at a minimum is a clear concise & honest explanation. Protest the WB’s decision through Accio Dumbledore’s Army’s ‘Email initiative’. http://pottersorder.blogspot.com
JB…the answer is money, and will always be money. That was explained to everyone in the press release.
And I think what Gary was trying to say is not that WB doesn’t value the people who go see their movies, but for movies like HP and Watchmen…people are going to see them no matter when they are, so WB can pretty much do what they like with the scheduling.
I would like to say that the people who feel the need to protest and boycott are the reason why I’m made fun of so much for being a Potter fan. It’s a movie, people. It’s still coming out. You can see it soon. Relax.
What about the other WB pictures that are being affected and conveniently forgotten in these new hubbubs? There are many fans wanting to see Rocknrolla, Pride and Glory and Slumdogs. Who cares about the remakes of Halloween and Friday the 13th. Most of the New Line films that’ll be having 2000+ screens should be direct to DVD instead of theatrical releases. Why doesn’t WB release original screenplay written films that have nothing but good reviews from critics? I guess I answered my own question, Hollywood doesn’t want anything new or original. People want to see these last films too, they may not be tent pole films but not every film will be one, there’s still a market for medium size films that have great directors attached to them. WB, give these films a chance, I’ve been looking forward to seeing all 3, for a long, long time now.
Nose said: “I would like to say that the people who feel the need to protest and boycott are the reason why I’m made fun of so much for being a Potter fan.”
Sorry to break to this you Nose, but they’d make fun of you anyway. Since the day the first geek admitted to liking Star Trek, fans of comic-books and fantasy franchises have been mocked. We always have and we always will.
I’m sure the fact that Time Warner signs Mr. Susman’s paychecks has absolutely nothing to do with his advice to suck it up and deal with it. No, absolutely not.
I don’t care, I agree with the YouTube video chick. I’m boycotting all WB movies-and the only other movie I plan on seeing in theaters is Twilight. It has to do SOMETHING and anything to get back at WB is fine with me. I don’t care if you say that it’s like spitting in the wind and what the fans do doesn’t matter-I’m still going to try. At least it FEELS like I’m doing something…
In regards to Watchmen, I’m predicting they’ll be announcing a settlement within the next month or so. WB may very well be in the wrong but the fact that FOX waited to sue until after the movie was already made, had a release date scheduled, and promotion begun is not going to reflect well on them. It’s a shakedown, pure and simple.
Dear Gary Susman:
Bite me.
Hugs and Kisses,
Cpt. Jack Sparrow
Gary Susman is a tool. Is a tool. Is a tool. Gary Susman is a tool. You. Can. Bite. Me.
Yeah, like most of the Harry Potter fans who are going to “boycott” Warner Brothers aren’t going to see Half-Blood Prince the weekend it is released in the end. *points and laughs at the idiots*
I’m extremely annoyed that HBP has been pushed back a year, but come on. I’m annoyed, obviously, because I want to see it rather badly. So, what sense would there be in me boycotting? Why would I deny myself the opportunity to see something I want to see so badly that I even talk about boycotting it because it’s been delayed? I could lie to myself and say I’m going to boycott, but I know full well that when opening week rolls around, and we start seeing clips and trailers and pictures and interviews posted all over the place, and we see the premieres happen in London and the US, let’s face it, I’m going to be in line with everyone else. I’m mad at WB, sure. But I still want to see the movie. A lot. Because I like Harry Potter more than I dislike Warner Bros. And I don’t want to wait for DVD, because it’ll probably deserve to be seen in its full glory on IMAX. And that’s where I’ll be on July 17. Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to see most of the “boycotters” there too.
To Re:Nose: I expect some ribbing for my nerdy ways, but I don’t like getting lumped in with people like the guy who was on Dr. Phil because his wife couldn’t take his Star Wars obsession. I am a fan of these types of movies and books, and I’m not ashamed of it, but I don’t own any wizard paraphernalia, and I don’t consider it a personal blow that the movie isn’t coming out when they originally said. Come on.
Anyone who says, “Awww, big DEAL the movie’s not coming out when they said it would!” obviously has no brain and no idea that they are EXACTLY what the corporate scumbags want you to be. You are nothing but a SOURCE OF MONEY to them and YOU DON’T CARE or are TOO DUMB TO KNOW ANY BETTER. You are what these rich bastards are banking on to continue financing their Jaguars and Lexuses and snotty mansions in Beverly oh-my-90210 Hills. You people are PATHETIC and don’t even know it. So congratulations on being an unpaid patronized cog in their machine of corporate corruption and greed.
I too am annoyed that Harry Potter was delayed, but what is boycotting movies going to do? Nothing! And think of it this way: although you have to wait longer for HP6, you’ll have a shorter waiting period between HP7 part 1. Actually, now it will be easier to wait for HP6 – if they had originally announced the July 2009 release date, people would think “I can’t wait 2 years!” But now you only have to think about waiting 11 months. I’ll have the Tales of Beedle the Bard this winter, I won’t be complaining too much.
Are you guys serious? selfishness, and lack of patience…and you want to boycott movies! lol