Harry Potter To Be Converted Back To 2D

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 will now be released solely in 2D, the format in which the movie was originally filmed. WB was in the process of converting the footage to 3D but has since abandoned the process because it would not be done in time for the film's November 19th release date.

The studio is now concerned however that it will not be able to convert the 3D footage back to 2D in time. They'll have to painstakingly alter the movie frame by frame to make sure that nothing will appear like it's flying off the screen at your face. Audiences will be forced to wear sunglasses while watching in order to dull out the brightness that viewers normally experience when watching movies without 3D glasses.  Until 3D came around audiences found it impossible to distinguish objects in the foreground from those in the background. To combat this WB has been considering hanging broomsticks from strings in front of the screen and jiggling them up and down.

Alternatively there is a conversion process that tags all images throughout the film, identifying to viewers whether it's in the foreground or background. This gives people the illusion of 3D and depth without the need for cumbersome glasses. Otherwise movie goers watching a 2D version of Harry Potter might think there is a tiny 6-inch man flying next to Harry as opposed to following him in the background. Most likely the studio will release a hybrid of the movie should the conversion process not finish in time. This would be a 2D/3D version that would simply have both types of footage in it where the viewer removes and puts back on their glasses on every few seconds.

[Official Statement]