Final "Harry Potter" – Two Movies

Party down, “Harry Potter” fans! Variety is reporting that the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” will be split into two movies.

Warner Bros. will make the official announcement tomorrow, but producer David Heyman told the L.A. Times today that the movies will retain the “Deathly Hallow” titles, with Part I coming to theaters in November, 2010, and Part II expected in May, 2011. Wow, seems weird to be talking about those years, doesn’t it? They’re not that far away!

The films will tell the story of Harry’s (Daniel Radcliffe) journey to the final showdown with evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).

David Yates — who helmed “Order of the Phoenix” and “Half-Blood Prince” — is on tap to direct both films. Screenwriter Steve Kloves will pen the screenplay, bringing his “Harry Potter” screenwriting credits to seven. 

At this point, they could pretty much goof up the last two movies (which they won’t), and we’ll all still love them anyway, right? It’s hard to think of this series ending — though it’s still a ways off. But some kids have literally grown up with Harry every step of the way.

Photo: Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2008