Bad news for Harry Potter fans – the release of the sixth film has been delayed by eight months!

Watch the sixth film’s trailer !

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was due for release in November this year, but now studio bosses say it won’t hit cinemas until 17 July 2009.

Warner Bros said the Hollywood writers’ strike earlier this year meant some of the films that had been planned for the summer wouldn’t be ready on time.

Fans had been getting more excited about the sixth film after a trailer, giving the first glimpse of Hero Fiennes-Tiffin as the young Tom Riddle, was released two weeks ago.

Despite the delay, Warner Bros insists the seventh and final Potter films will stick to their original release dates.

Studio boss Jeff Robinov said: “The studio’s release plans for the two-part Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will not be affected by this change.

“We know Harry Potter fans are eagerly anticipating seeing the final chapters unfold onscreen.

“In fact, the good news for them is that the gap will now be shortened between Half-Blood Prince and the first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”

 Story from CBBC Newsround