According to EW’s story, the first film will end at the conclusion of Chapter 24 of the book. That is the moment where Voldemort retrieves the Elder Wand from the tomb of Professor Dumbledore. The wand is one of the Deathly Hallows, the three magical items that can be used to defeat death.

The book has 36 chapters, not including the epilogue, so the split occurs two-thirds of the way through the story. Director David Yates says that breaking up the novel in this way creates a sense of two distinct movies. He said, “I didn’t want the two films to feel similar in tone.” He describes the first part as “quite verite, quite real,” while the second is “much more operatic and colorful and fantasy-oriented.”

The first film will be sort of a road movie, with Harry, Ron and Hermione outside of the protection of Hogwarts as they hunt down the missing Horcruxes — secret objects that each contain a piece of Voldemort’s soul. They must destroy all the Horcruxes to vanquish the Dark Lord once and for all. That leaves the second movie to be an action-packed spectacle, with the forces of evil descending on Hogwarts for the final battle. In a behind-the-scenes video, Daniel Radcliffe describes “Part II” as “relentless… it’s a really, really fast ride. It’s going to be so much action, so much fighting, but in a good, epic way.”

The filmmakers are quick to refute the notion that the decision to make two movies was entirely motivated by greed. Studio president Alan Horn tells EW, “There’s no question that Warner Bros. will make more money with two films than they would have with one.” Still, he emphasizes that they would not be splitting the movies if Rowling had not supported their decision.

Of course, doubling the number of films meant doubling the amount of work the actors had to do. The shoot lasted over a year-and-a-half, starting in February of 2009 and wrapping last June. All told, production on the eight “Harry Potter” films spanned a full ten years, roughly half the lives of stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

The first part of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” hits theaters on November 19, with the conclusion to the series arriving July 15, 2011.

As Part 1 begins, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, pictured), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) have left Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and are on the run from Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and the Death Eaters, who have taken over England's Ministry of Magic.

Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) and Harry grow closer, even when his destiny threatens to pull them apart.

Harry and Hermione clutch The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore by Rita Skeeter, which reveals the secret past of the late Hogwarts headmaster.

More after the jump!

This is the official video for ‘Say You Don’t Want It’ by One Night Only and it features the model and actress Emma Watson. The single is released on 16th August and the band’s eponymous second album will be released on 23rd August

VIA Brucey.

And apparently we missed the first one back in December… whoops:

Today, Universal Orlando Resort announced that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will have its grand opening on June 18. It also announced the details of its immersive marquee attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, in the verbose language we’ve come to expect: “Guests will feel things no one has ever felt inside a theme park attraction, move in ways no one has ever moved, experience film like no one else ever has, explore vast sets punctuated by amazing special effects — and have an adventure only possible in Harry Potter’s world.” Here’s what you need to know:

• The overview: “As you venture through Hogwarts castle, you meet Harry, Ron, and Hermione who convince you to skip a planned lecture and follow them. Upon taking their advice, you travel by Floo powder, and begin the adventure as you soar over Hogwarts, narrowly escape a dragon attack, have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow, get pulled into a Quidditch match [pictured], and more.” According to the press release, this is the first-ever combination of advanced robotic ride system technology with immersive filmmaking. ”The attraction’s newly created ride system envelops guests in filmed action scenes and moves those scenes with them as they travel through the ride, allowing more time in the center of the adventure and with their favorite characters.”

• During your queue adventure, which is estimated to last an hour, you will explore Dumbledore’s office (where the Headmaster will welcome you), the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom (where you first meet Harry, Ron, and Hermione), the Gryffindor common room (where you meet three additional characters who prepare you for the journey ahead), and the Room of Requirement (where, under hundreds of floating candles, you finally take your seat on an enchanted bench and begin the Forbidden Journey). During your queue adventure, you will also get to pass through the hallways of Hogwarts where you’ll see hundreds of wizard portraits from the films — several of which will magically talk, including the four founders and the Fat Lady. You’ll also catch a glimpse of the Sorting Hat, the greenhouse, the One-Eyed Witch statue, and the Mirror of Erised. Oh, and you’ll enjoy the attraction’s score, which was overseen by John Williams.

• Other characters you’re guaranteed to see: Rubeus Hagrid and Draco Malfoy. Characters you may spy: Fred and George Weasley, Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom.

What do you think? I believe they’ve found a genius way to make the queue enjoyable, winding it through Hogwarts. The ride, if it can really make us feel like we’re flying in a Quidditch match, could be the best thing ever. Judging from this making-of video, it’s possible…

Universal Orlando has announced that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park will have its grand opening on June 18. More details about the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction will be announced on the official site later today. Above is a Sneak Peek

Warner Bros. will release the next two “Harry Potter” films in 3D, a move underscoring the post-”Avatar” rush for extra-dimensional box office returns.

Studios executives around town have been scrutinizing film slates for opportunities to expand forays into 3D releasing. Warners has been testing footage from its upcoming “Clash of the Titans” — converted into 3D by an outside vendor — and the tests have gone so well that the studio has decided to release not only “Titans” but also the two-part “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in 3D.

Warners refused to confirm the decisions Tuesday, but an announcement on “Titans” — a co-production with studio-based producer Legendary Pictures — is expected by week’s end. Official word on the “Potter” pics also is awaited.

Conversion expenses have been coming down, so each film will cost just $5 million to change into 3D. Warners also will absorb an additional $5 million expense per picture to pay for 3D glasses for exhibitors handling the movies.

In a related move, Warners will push back the release of “Titans” one week to April 2. “Deathly Hallows: Part I” is set to unspool November 19, and “Part II” is slotted for July 15, 2011.

The only previous “Potter” pic to dabble in 3D was last year’s “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” which included brief footage viewable in 3D in Imax venues. It was unclear whether “Potter” author J.K. Rowling had to OK the move into the third dimension.

Canadians will get to walk through Harry Potter’s wizard world next spring.

The Ontario Science Centre will host the exclusive Canadian premiere of “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” from April 9 to August 22, 2010.

The international touring exhibition is inspired by the “Harry Potter” film sets, including the Great Hall, Hagrid’s hut and the Gryffindor common room.

Visitors will learn about the craftsmanship behind more than 200 costumes and props from the boy-wizard movie franchise that stems from J. K. Rowling’s bestselling book series.

“Harry Potter: The Exhibition” debuted at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry last April and is now at the Museum of Science in Boston.

Tickets to the Toronto exhibit are now on sale.

The announcement of the exhibit’s Canadian premiere comes as “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is released on Blu-ray and DVD.

The final film in the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” will hit theatres in two parts: Part 1 in November 2010 and Part 2 in July 2011.

VIA

In the next Harry Potter film, most of the action takes place outside the hallowed halls of Hogwarts Castle.

The seventh, and last, book in J.K. Rowling’s series about the boy wizard –Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows– is being broken into two films, the first part coming out next November, the second part in 2011.

The first installment finds young wizards Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) struggling to find their way in the Muggle (human) world, with their own lives in the balance and the fate of the magical realm in their hands.

“They’re paranoid,” says Grint. “It’s quite a scary world because the Snatchers and Death Eaters are running around everywhere. Harry, Ron and Hermione are just camping out in random places, living rough, in regular clothes.” Snatchers and Death Eaters are minions of the evil Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).

Grint adds, grinning: “Me and Dan actually have some stubble.” His facial hair served as a kind of invisibility cloak for the lanky, redheaded Grint, who went unrecognized by fans recently while on location in the Welsh countryside. Dubbed a “road movie” by producer David Heyman, Hallows was envisioned by director David Yates as more grounded in reality than the previous Potter movies.

“It’s going to feel very real,” Yates says. “We’re going for a vérité approach. Being away from Hogwarts, they’re like these three refugees on the run. They’re out in the big bad world, facing real danger, unguarded by those wonderful benign wizards at Hogwarts. They don’t have a home to go to.

“We’re kind of pulling away from the magic a bit and bringing more reality to it,” he says.