10 'Half-Blood Prince' Movie Facts

1. Potter Postponed

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” was originally scheduled for a November 2008 release, but was postponed to summer, though the movie was completely finished in January.

2. Flashbacks

There are several flashbacks that portray a young Voldemort. The young Dark Lord is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes’ (pictured) nephew, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin.

3. Heroic Holmes

During filming, one of Harry’s stuntmen, David Holmes, was seriously injured, but vowed to try to continue working in stunts.

4. Sit Back and Relax

The movie is 153 minutes long — the third longest movie in the franchise — so far.

5. Younger Audience

The movie is rated PG, unlike the fourth and fifth movies which were PG-13.

6. High Cost

The movie cost about $240 million to make.

7. Pregnancy Interference

Helen McCrory was originall cast in the role of Bellatrix Lestrange (played by Helana Bonham-Carter) in the fifth movie. Helen declined the role due to a pregnancy, but played Narcissa Malfoy, Bellatrix’s sister.

8. Money Maker

Advance ticket sales are already out-pacing “Transformers.” It has already surpassed $300 million in the US alone.

9. Tragic Incident

Actor Rob Knox (who played Marcus Belby) was tragically stabbed to death outside of a London bar. The cast wore white ribbons to the premiere to honor him. In this picture, fans mourned his death at the scene where he was stabbed in 2008.

10. Filming Hotspots

Like the first five films, most of the filming was done at Leavesden Studios, but many scenes were filmed at Wiltshire. The opening scene was filmed on the London Millennium Bridge.