LOS ANGELES - Harry Potter was the center of seven novels, but he'll star in eight films. The final book in the wildly successful series will be made into two films, the Los Angeles Times first reported Wednesday.

The seventh and final chapter in the saga of the boy wizard 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,' the British version seen here, will be split into two movies. "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements," producer David Heyman says.
Producers announced Thursday that J.K. Rowling's last "Potter" installment, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," will be split into two parts on the big screen. The first film is slated for release in November 2010, with part two following in May 2011.

David Yates, who helmed "Order of the Phoenix" and is currently at work on "Half-Blood Prince," will direct both portions of "The Deathly Hallows," making him the first individual to direct more than two "Potter" installments. All of they key stars are also onboard.

The decision to cut the book in two "was born out of purely creative reasons," producer David Heyman told the Times. "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book."

The two final "Potter" films will be shot concurrently, much like the blockbuster trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy novel "The Lord of the Rings."

Another famous Tolkien tome, "The Hobbit," is also being split into two live-action movies set for back-to-back shooting to begin next year.

Filming on the sixth "Potter" flick, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," began in September.

"It's been brilliant," said star Daniel Radcliffe. "It's also, I think, the funniest of the films so far."

The "Potter" film franchise has pulled in $4.5 billion at the worldwide box office.