We knew Voldemort couldn’t be gone for good. It looks as if he’s wised-up some since he last fight with Harry though. Now his devious plan is to infiltrate Warner Bros. in an effort to make as much money as possible. The company announced yesterday that as of December 29, all Harry Potter DVDs would magically disappear from stores.

The big move will include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which will have just been released for the first time on DVD on November 11 in the U.S. The press release:

Harry Potter, the #1 motion picture franchise of all time, will soon disappear from shelves, as Warner Bros. stops shipping all Harry Potter theatrical film titles (including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ – Part 2, and Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection) as of December 29, 2011 (moratorium does not include digital – Electronic Sell-Through & VOD – or games). The Harry Potter franchise has grossed more than $12.1 billion for Warner Bros. Entertainment – with $7 billion at the worldwide box office for Warner Bros. Pictures and $5.1 billion for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

This is a move similar to what Walt Disney has done the last few years, locking their classics “in the Disney vault” and only releasing them for limited times. Obviously limiting availability only makes consumers want them more so I guess it’s a marketing decision that works, although it’s something that’s always frustrated me as a consumer. The 8-disc blu-ray set is also being released on November 11 but will removed or phased out in stores come December 29. I’ve seen a fancy 8-disc set that comes with the Elder Wand being set for release but no official date has been given. It’s safe to say all the films will be re-released individually over time first with their own special or extended editions so unless you’re prepared to break into Gringotts Wizarding Bank and risk all that comes with it, get ready to buy now or sit and wait a while.

What’s your priority when buying movies?

(/Film via Deadline)

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