DH Movie Speculation

[stephab67]

I should be grading papers but I thought I'd procrastinate a bit more
and start a DH Movie Speculation thread. Yes, I know HBP won't even be
out for a year, but hey, we can get ahead of ourselves, can't we? 
Everything's open to discussion:
-Director
-Scriptwriter
-Length of film
-Characters in/out
-Scenes in/out
-Scenes that will be in but changed
-Characters who might be given stuff to do that other characters do in
the book (sorry that's so unwieldy, couldn't word it any other way)

I'll start:
-Director: I'd love to see Cuaron come back.  He can do battle scenes
really well, I love his use of the wide shot, and, aside from Yates,
he did the best job in directing the Trio.  I love the look of Azkaban
and think he'd do justice to the film.  

Having said that, I'd also be fine with Yates returning once again. 
He's now got the experience and there's something to be said for
continuity in terms of style.  But Cuaron's got the slight edge.

I think it would be a huge mistake to bring in someone who hasn't
directed an HP film yet, there's too much at stake.  People, even
those who haven't read the books and have only seen the films, are
going to expect WB to knock it out of the park for DH.  Hence, they
need someone who already knows the drill, and the cast.

-Scriptwriter: I have to admit I'm worried about Kloves, especially in
terms of his characterization of Ron and Hermione.  I thought
Goldenberg nailed both of them despite their limited screen time.  I'm
going to reserve judgement on this until I've seen HBP.

-Length of film: I predict it will be close to three hours, maybe
2:45.  It's the last one, what do they have to lose?  There are so
many critical scenes that I think it's going to be hard to cut deep to
make it a 2:20 or 2:30 film.  

-Characters in/out: In: Kreacher, obviously.  Out: Dobby. It's
possible that Dobby might be back for HBP, but I doubt it, which means
that there's no way they'll bring him back for DH as it will have been
too long since he's been seen on screen.  I suspect Kreacher will save
Harry et al in Malfoy Mansion and be the one to die. It would in a way
make sense for Kreacher's character arc as well.  Goes from hating
Harry to dying for him.  Griphook - in.  Ollivander - see bottom.

I also think Scrimgeour might be out.  They can keep Fudge since the
filmgoing audience already knows him.  Why introduce another character
who only has, what, four scenes (if that) between HBP and DH?

I'm up in the air about Percy.  He was in OotP but didn't have any
lines and wasn't identified by name.  I hope he's in but I'm not going
to be surprised if he's out.  Same for Charlie, as we've never met him
at all.  Bill I think won't be seen until DH.  I think the wedding's
got to be in, but the writers can have Ginny or Ron say something at
the end of HBP about Bill and Fleur getting married so there's no need
to actually have either of them in HBP.  Plus there's been no word
that Clemence Poesy is back for HBP.  Xeno Lovegood - likely out, see
below.  Viktor Krum - out, especially if XL is out.  They'll have to
just have Ron ask Hermione to dance without the prompt from Krum. I'm
up in the air about Aunt Muriel and Elphias Doge. 

Scenes in/out: Hmmm, hard, hard.  I'm sort of going to punt on this
one for the time being, except to say that I think these will be in: 7
Potters, MoM, Ron's departure, Godric's Hollow, Silver Doe, Malfoy
Mansion, Gringotts break-in, The Hog's Head/RoR, The Forest Again, and
Battle of Hogwarts. The Epilogue will be over the credits.  Lupin's
crisis over Tonks and baby will be out. Ravenclaw common room will be
out, Hermione will figure out the diadem is the last Horcrux; I think
the Fiendfyre scene will be in (very cinematic).  Shell Cottage,
maybe.  They could apparate after Malfoy's Mansion to The Burrow.  But
where will Ron go when he walks out, unless he doesn't?  But how are
they going to find out what's up in the WW if he doesn't?  Hmmm.

Scenes changed: All, but here are some examples: the wedding will be
in but shortened, too much exposition.  Same for In Memoriam.  There
will have to be another way to get the DD info out. Killing of Charity
Burbage will be out, the whole scene will be shortened to maybe Snape
telling Voldie of the day Harry will depart Privet Drive and the wand
discussion.  Camping reduced, but pivotal scenes still in.  Silver
Doe: Ron will still save Harry and pull the sword from the pond, but I
think that all of the Horcrux torture stuff will be gone although Ron
will still destroy it. I hope they don't give that scene to Hermione.
They'll probably skip the Xeno Lovegood house scene all together and
just have Hermione figure out the story of the wand, the stone, and
the cloak. Prince's Tale - in but also severly chopped.  Harry has to
find out about the real Snape somehow.  I really dislike the King's
Cross chapter so I wouldn't be sad to see it go, but I think it will
be in but severly cut. I might be in the minority but I wouldn't mind
seeing the entire Elder Wand storyline cut.  Probably won't happen,
though.  If it's gone, then Ollivander's gone as well.

That's what I've got for now. Might think of more later.