Potter delayed until 2009

Warner Bros has just announced that they are moving Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from November 21st 2008, back to July 17th 2009. The reasons given are that the summer season is a more ideal window for for a family tent pole release, and that the writers strike left a big gap in the Summer calendar.

Well that's not good, so now we have to wait an extra 8 months to see it! I can't see the point really - there may be other good films out around that time but I can't see them putting much of a dent in the box office takings for Potter.