Toucan

Warner Bros studios have issued an apology to fans angry that the release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has been delayed by eight months.

The sixth film in the franchise had been set to be released in November of this year, but will now come out in July 2009.

Trailers of the latest JK Rowling adaptation have already been released and fans of the Harry Potter films and books have been bitterly disappointed by the news.

In a statement, Warner Bros president Alan Horn has apologised to fans of the teenage wizard for delaying the release of the film until the summer.

"Many of you have written to me to express your disappointment in our moving Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince to summer 2009," he said.

"Please be assured that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything to hurt any of the films. Over the past ten years we have nurtured and protected each film, and the integrity of the books upon which they arebased, to the best of our ability.

"The decision to move Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was not taken lightly, and was never intended to upset our Harry Potter fans."

He added: "We know you have built this series into what it is, and we thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support."

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, directed by David Yates, has been moved to July to strengthen Warner Bros' summer release schedule.

However, Horn reminded fans that the delay means that the release gap between Half Blood Prince and the first film based on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be less than 18 months.

"I am sorry to have disappointed you now, but if you hold on a little longer I believe it will be worth the wait," he explained.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be shot as two separate films with the first instalment due to be released in late 2010.

© Adfero Ltd