'Deathly Hallows' split into two films

Warner Bros has confirmed it will split Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final instalment in the wizard franchise, into two films.

Part I will be released in November 2010 with Part II following in May 2011, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Star Daniel Radcliffe admitted splitting the book into two was the best way to end the series.

"I think it's the only way you can do it, without cutting out a huge portion of the book," he said. "There have been compartmentalized subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut - although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans - but the seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go."

Author J.K. Rowling signed off on the two-part idea and producer David Heyman said it would be impossible to do Deathly Hallows justice by compressing it into one film.

Heyman said: "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book. You can remove scenes of Ron playing Quidditch from the fifth book, and you can remove Hermione and S.P.E.W. [Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare] and those subplots.... but with the seventh, that can't be done."

David Yates, director of the fifth and sixth films, will return to adapt the 759 page Deathly Hallows, shooting both films at the same time. Screenwriter Steve Kloves will also script the films, meaning he has written seven of the eight franchise entries.

The next Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, opens in cinemas this November.