….
Two Days Later | Regal's Office, LIE Studios
….
The January sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across Regal's desk.
Chris Columbus sat across from him, looking surprisingly relaxed for someone about to discuss a multi-million dollar delay.
"So." Regal said, leaning back in his chair. "We are delaying the release of [Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire] for more than three months?"
Right. This time [Harry Potter] fourth film was not released on usual December month, which is the first time ever.
Chris nodded. "Yeah, it shouldn't be a problem right? I heard Red Studios is... also fine with it?"
"More than fine, they are actually positive about it."
That was unusual, studios hated delays.
Delays meant rescheduling marketing campaigns, renegotiating theater bookings, and explaining to shareholders why projected revenue was being pushed to the next quarter.
But Red Studios didn't panic.
"They are aware that they will make more money later." Regal explained. "Superman was dominating theaters until a few weeks ago, and even now people are still lining up for repeat viewings. If we drop Harry Potter into that same window, we risk cannibalizing our own audience. Someone who might see both films ends up choosing one. We would be competing with ourselves."
Chris tilted his head. "That's... actually smart thinking."
"Red's smarter than people give them credit for." Regal pulled up some files on his computer. "What we do need to worry about is the fans. They are disappointed as they have been waiting for this film since Goblet of Fire."
"It is understandable…."
"It is more serious than that. Imagine telling a seven to thirteen year old Potter fan who has been counting down the days since summer."
Chris conceded the point with a small smile.
"Anyway." Regal continued. "Let's go through where we actually are with the 3D work."
Chris shifted forward, pulling out his tablet. "As you already know, the film shooting is more complex than we have imagined."
Regal nodded. He had felt it on the [Harry Potter] set.
Filming natively in 3D wasn't just harder than 2D–
It was an entirely different discipline. Dedicated camera rigs, heavier and less forgiving. A stereographer on constant standby. Two lenses that had to be calibrated obsessively - interocular distance, convergence - every setup adjusted shot by shot. One misstep and the image caused eye strain, or worse, looked cheap.
And all of it demanded more time, more crew, and far more planning than any standard production.
He had never directed a 3D project before. That much was on him. The difference hadn't been underestimated exactly - but it had been felt too late
Chris continued. "Still if it were only 2D, we can finish the shoot in a week at maximum, and release the film in a month or so–
"However, 3D post-production will take longer."
"The problem isn't the technology." Chris explained, swiping through his tablet. "It's the execution. We shot this natively in 3D - which was your idea, by the way, and a good one - but shooting in 3D and finishing a 3D film for theatrical release are two completely different animals."
He didn't need to spell it out. Most 3D films weren't truly shot in 3D at all - they were flat images converted in post, depth layered on artificially.
Regal had made a conscious call not to do that. If they were going to commit to the format, they were going to do it properly, even if it made everything harder.
…and as far as he remembers, only one Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, was released in its entirety in 3D.
Though later re-releases have brought some of the previous Harry Potter to 3D in theaters for the first time, with other films getting limited IMAX 3D showings or 3D Blu-ray releases.
So he wanted to change that, and provide a better experience for the fans.
Regal leaned forward, elbows resting on his desk.
"The point was to give audiences something they couldn't replicate at home." he said. "No matter how good their TV got."
"And it will." Chris said. "When it's done properly."
He turned his tablet toward Regal. "Look at this, the Hungarian Horntail dragon in 3D footage."
The footage played.
And it was stunning.
The dragon didn't just exist on the screen. Regal could feel its aura and presence: the sheer scale, the depth of its rough, layered skin, the way its head moved and locked onto the camera like a real, thinking creature. The atmosphere around it felt heavy, oppressive in a way 2D simply couldn't convey.
"That's incredible." Regal admitted.
"Right? And look at this." Chris swiped to another clip.
The graveyard sequence.
The camera drifted through the fog as the tombstones receded into the background, each layer clearly defined.
Voldemort's rebirth unfolded with unsettling depth - the cauldron in the foreground, the Death Eaters emerging one by one from the darkness behind, the space between them stretching uncomfortably wide.
The scene felt vast, isolating, and hostile.
"This is what 3D should be." Regal said quietly.
"This is why you wanted to shoot natively instead of converting in post. Post-conversion can't create this, it can fake depth, but it can't give you this." Chris paused.
"But here is where we are struggling."
Chris swiped again.
Harry sitting alone in the Gryffindor common room late at night, the room mostly empty, fire burning low. The golden egg rested on the table in front of him, its surface reflecting distorted shapes as he turned it in his hands.
When he opened it, the scream echoed outward, filling the space.
Regal felt it immediately.
The depth wasn't helping here.
The room felt too open, the distance between Harry and the background exaggerated in a way that broke the isolation the scene was meant to convey. Instead of intimacy and pressure, it felt staged - like a set dressed for the camera rather than a private moment of frustration and fear.
"It feels off…" Regal said.
Chris pulled the tablet back. "Right now, about thirty percent of the film feels like this. The action sequences are outstanding - the Triwizard tasks, the dragon chase, the graveyard. Large-scale moments thrive in 3D. But the quieter scenes struggle."
"What specifically needs fixing?"
"Depth mapping refinement, convergence adjustment. There are artifacts in the 3D version that don't appear in 2D - little visual glitches that break immersion. A character's hand crossing a depth plane and suddenly looking detached from their body. Background elements that feel too flat or too pronounced. It's technical stuff, but it matters."
Regal sat back, processing. "So what you are telling me is that we invested in shooting natively in 3D - something most studios won't bother with because it's expensive and complicated, and now we need additional time to actually make it work the way it's supposed to."
"That's exactly what I am telling you."
"And if we rush it?"
Chris didn't hesitate. "If we rush it, we release a mediocre 3D experience." He said flatly. "And then I don't even need to bring up the critics - the ones who will write entire think pieces about how 3D is a cash grab. About how studios never learn."
"Which defeats the entire purpose."
"Completely."
Regal drummed his fingers on the desk. "But the fans aren't going to like this."
That surprised Chris again.
It isn't about the statement itself - of course fans would be disappointed by a delay.
But the fact that Regal mentioned them first.
Not the money, the studio politics or the box office projections.
The fans.
A movie postponement meant serious financial implications. But Regal was worried about disappointing people who had been waiting for this film.
It reminded Chris why he had agreed to work on this project in the first place.
And why leaving was going to be harder than he had expected.
Chris had already told Regal this would be his last Harry Potter film.
He had been bracing for pushback - questions about why, attempts to change his mind, maybe even some frustration.
Instead, Regal had just... listened.
"I understand." he had said. "You can't make the same type of film for the rest of your career, people need to move on at some point."
That was it, no guilt tripping or tying to negotiation. Just understanding.
Which somehow made it harder to leave.
Because this was his last Harry Potter film, Chris had thrown everything into making it special.
He had agreed to the 3D experiment even though it meant more work, longer hours, and added complexity.
He had pushed for practical effects over CGI wherever possible. He even fought for character moments that other directors might have cut for pacing.
He wanted this film to matter.
"The fans will understand." Chris said finally. "If we are honest about why we are delaying. If we show them the difference between rushed 3D and proper 3D."
Regal pulled up the release calendar on his monitor. "December was supposed to be the golden month for blockbusters," he said. "We've already missed that window. But that doesn't automatically make this a loss. If we play it right, the delay can still work in our favour."
Chris glanced at the screen. "December would've meant fighting ten other films at once."
"And one of them would have been ours." Regal added dryly. "Superman."
"So the choice was a packed December where we cannibalise ourselves." Chris said. "Or–"
"Or we move." Regal finished. "Not into an empty month. That doesn't exist anymore. But into a window where the audience's appetite is high."
He leaned back, eyes still on the calendar. "February and March are impossible since [Deadpool], and [The Matrix] will be released. But April to May - early summer ramp-up - that's different."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Competition will still be heavy."
"It will." Regal agreed. "But it's a different kind of competition. Summer audiences aren't choosing one movie. They are choosing experiences. Multiple trips. Repeat viewings."
He tapped the screen lightly. "If we release it there, we are not hiding from competition. We will stand in the middle of it and say we are worth the premium ticket."
Chris nodded. "So summer it is then…"
"Yep. Now, what's the actual status of the work?" Regal asked. "Percentage-wise."
"About ninety five percent of filming is complete." Chris said. "The large-scale sequences are locked - the Triwizard tasks, the Hungarian Horntail chase, the underwater Black Lake sequence, and the graveyard resurrection. Those all work beautifully in 3D."
"And you are confident three months is enough?"
"Three weeks is enough to do it properly, five would be ideal, but three is workable if we stay focused."
Regal made his decision.
"Then we delay the film to summer. We take the full three weeks, plus buffer time for any additional fixes that come up during final review." He closed the calendar. "I would rather release a finished film later than a rushed film."
Chris exhaled, relief visible on his face. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me." Regal stood, walking to the window. "We made the decision to shoot in native 3D specifically to deliver superior quality. To prove that 3D could be more than a gimmick, that it could be a legitimate storytelling tool. Rushing the finish would compromise that entire investment."
He turned back to Chris.
"This is the first Harry Potter film in 3D. It needs to be exceptional, not just acceptable. If we are going to ask audiences to pay extra for the 3D experience, we owe them something worth paying for."
"It will be." Chris said. "I promise you that."
"I believe you." Regal extended his hand. "Three weeks. Make it count."
Chris shook his hand firmly. "I will."
As Chris left, Regal returned to his desk and pulled up the full 2015 release calendar.
February 14: Deadpool
March 31: The Matrix
April-May: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (3D/2D)
Three massive releases in three months.
Deadpool: R-rated superhero comedy designed to subvert every genre expectation.
The Matrix: philosophical action thriller that questioned the nature of reality itself.
Harry Potter: family-friendly franchise filmmaking with cutting-edge technical innovation.
Three completely different films and audiences.
If all three succeeded, it would establish LIE Studios as a powerhouse capable of dominating multiple genres simultaneously.
If even one failed, critics would question whether the company was overextending - trying to do too much, too fast.
Regal closed his laptop.
Bring it on.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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