Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 epic fantasy film directed by David Yates and the second of two films based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and Rowling. The story continues to follow Harry Potter on a quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The supporting cast features Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter and Maggie Smith.

Principal photography began on 19 February 2009 and was completed on 12 June 2010, with the final day of reshoots taking place on 21 December 2010 marking the series' closure of ten years of filming. Part 2 will be released in 3D, along with 2D formats, in IMAX on 15 July 2011.

Production

Part 2 was filmed back-to-back with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 from 19 February 2009 to 12 June 2010, with reshoots for the Epilogue scene taking place at Leavesden Film Studios on 21 December 2010. Director David Yates described Part 2 as "operatic, colourful and fantasy-oriented", a "big opera with huge battles."

Soundtrack

Composer of the first three films, John Williams, expressed interest in returning for Deathly Hallows - Part 2 if it fit his schedule. Director David Yates stated that he was eager to work with Williams on the score, but it was not possible due to their conflicting schedules. It was confirmed via the Warner Bros. website that Part 1 composer, Alexandre Desplat, was set to return for Part 2. In an interview with Film Music Magazine, Desplat stated that scoring Part 2 is "a great challenge" and that he has "a lot of expectations to fulfill and a great deal of work" ahead of him. Desplat started writing the music in early 2011 and finished recording with orchestrator Conrad Pope and the London Symphony Orchestra on 27 May 2011 at Abbey Road Studios, as stated on Pope's official Facebook page.

Marketing

In March 2011, the first preview for Deathly Hallows - Part 2 was released revealing new footage and new interviews from the starring cast. A teaser poster was released on 28 March 2011 with the caption "It All Ends 7.15" (referring to its international release date). On 27 April 2011, the first theatrical trailer for Part 2 was released. The trailer revealed a range of new and old footage. A month later, a set of eleven posters was released each illustrating a different character with the caption "It All Ends" and a background depicting the Battle of Hogwarts. The IMAX trailer for the film was released with IMAX screenings of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides on 20 May 2011. During the MTV Movie Awards on 5 June 2011, Emma Watson presented a sneak peek of the film.

On June 8, 11 brand new character posters were released by Warner Brothers. The featured characters were Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, the Weasley Twins(Fred and George), Minerva McGonagall, Griphook the Goblin, Draco Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, Severus Snape, and Lord Voldemort. There should be a theatrical poster released in July. Five banners/billboards were released, one with Harry and Voldemort fighting,one with the Trio riding a dragon, one with Voldemort casting a spell, Harry Casting a Spell and Ron and Hermione in Battle. Two posters were released, with one with the heroes and the other with the villains

The official theatrical trailer for Part 2 (and the final Harry Potter theatrical trailer) was released on 16 June 2011.

On the official site cut scenes were released on June 16 between options featuring the gringotts escape, Attack on Hogwarts, Nagini attack on Ron and Hermione.

Release

On 2 April 2011, a test screening of Part 2 was held in Chicago. Director David Yates, producers David Heyman and David Barron and the film's editor Mark Day were in attendance. Part 2 will have its world premiere on 7 July 2011 at Trafalgar Square in London. The second part will be released worldwide on 15 July 2011, eight months after Part 1. Unlike Part 1, it will also be released in 2D, 3D and IMAX formats.

On 16 June 2011, Part 2 received a 12A certificate from the British Board of Film Classification, who note that the film "contains moderate threat, injury detail and language", becoming the only Potter film to receive a warning for "injury detail". The MPAA rated it PG-13 for intense action violence and frightening images

Plot

After destroying one Horcrux and discovering the significance of the three Deathly Hallows, Harry, Ron and Hermione continue to seek Lord Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in an attempt to destroy him. However, now that the Dark Lord has obtained the yet unbeatable Elder Wand, he aims to complete his final stage to ultimate power and launches an attack on Hogwarts School, where the trio return for one last stand against the dark forces that threaten to take over the Wizarding and Muggle worlds. Harry must confront his fate and battle Voldemort one last time.

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, the film's main protagonist.

Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Harry's best friend and Hermione's romantic interest.

Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Harry's other best friend and Ron's romantic interest.

Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange, a Death Eater, the film's secondary antagonist and Sirius Black's cousin and murderer.

Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn, the potions master at Hogwarts.

Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid, Harry's half-giant friend and a former teacher at Hogwarts.

Warwick Davis as Filius Flitwick, the Charms teacher at Hogwarts and Griphook the Goblin.

Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, Harry's rival and a Death Eater.

Ralph Fiennes as Lord Voldemort, the primary antagonist, a merciless power-hungry wizard, and the leader of the Death Eaters, hell bent on killing Harry.

Michael Gambon as Albus Dumbledore, former headmaster of Hogwarts killed by Severus Snape two films earlier.

Ciarán Hinds as Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledore's brother and bartender of the Hog's Head inn. Hinds replaced Jim McManus, who portrayed the character in the fifth film.

John Hurt as Ollivander, a wandmaker abducted by the Death Eaters.

Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's father and a disgraced Death Eater.

Matthew Lewis as Neville Longbottom, the trio's friend and the rebellion's leader at Hogwarts.

Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, Harry's godfather. Killed in battle three films earlier by Bellatrix Lestrange. 

Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, a spy to Dumbledore and the new headmaster of Hogwarts.

Maggie Smith as Minerva McGonagall, the transfiguration teacher, Deputy Headmistress and future Headmistress at Hogwarts.

David Thewlis as Remus Lupin, a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a former Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts.

Emma Thompson as Sybill Trelawney, the divination teacher at Hogwarts.

Julie Walters as Molly Weasley, the Weasley matriarch and a mother figure to Harry.

Bonnie Wright as Ginny Weasley, Harry's romantic interest.

Joshua Herdman announced on 9 August 2009 that Jamie Waylett would not be reprising his role as Vincent Crabbe for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2. Waylett's character would instead be written out and his role in the plot taken over by Herdman's character, Gregory Goyle.

Director David Yates has announced that, for the final scene in the film which is set nineteen years after the film's main story, older actors will not be cast to play the main characters. A mix of make-up and special effects will be used to depict the cast members as older.