How many films have the actors signed up for?

[GulPlum]

"alhewison" <Ali at z...> wrote:
> I have read various conflicting articles on how many films the 
> children - and adult actors have signed up for.
> 
> Initially I had read that Dan Radcliffe etc had been signed for 2 
> films - but have since read posts (in other news groups) that they 
> have now signed up for PoA as well. I have also read that some of 
the 
> adults (eg Richard Harris) have signed up for 7 films, but not 
Robbie 
> Coltrane.
> 
> Has any of the above been confirmed by Warner Bros (I haven't found 
> any confirmation)?

The only contracts formally announced by Warners and/or the actors 
are that Harris signed on for all seven (and a cut of the profits), 
and Coltrane signed up for the first five with an option for the 
rest. This means that after the GoF movie, negotiations with Coltrane 
start from scratch (with Coltrane having first refusal). Several fans 
have taken this to mean that Hagrid will be bumped off in Book Five, 
though my personal opinion is that Coltrane's attitude is pretty 
typical and nothing should be read into it (though I don't refute the 
possibility that Hagrid may be bumped off!).

Zoe Wanamaker hinted that she'd signed on for two with an option for 
any more, and I think Maggie Smith has refused to sign up for more 
than one at a time.

Nothing has been formally announced about the kids, but well-founded 
industry rumours are that the Trio are *expected* to return for PoA, 
though nothing has been signed. This doesn't surprise me, as Dan and 
Rupert will be 14 at the time and (presumably) in full hormonal rage. 
Apart from the psychological (and educational) impact, there's the 
question of their physical development and how it may impact on 
filming. Warners will therefore prefer to delay decisions until as 
late as they can.

> I also wondered why people are so sure that filming for PoA will 
not 
> start until 2003 - why will there be a break now? 

Nothing has been said about delaying the *start* of filming. It has 
been generally accepted that PoA won't be *released* until Summer 
2004 rather than November 2003, because 2003 for Warners is going to 
be the year of the Matrix sequels (2 is slated for July, 3 for 
November). Warners are obviously not going to release a competing 
blockbuster of their own at the same time, and have therefore 
announced a delay in PoA's release. When they start filming is 
anyone's guess, though I'd prefer them not to delay, but give 
themselves the time to finish SFX etc, which were deperately in need 
of more time on the first movie!