LOS ANGELES – Harry Potter and his school chums are heading back to class a little sooner than expected.

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” now is opening Wednesday, July 15, two days earlier than its previous release date, Warner Bros. head of distribution Dan Fellman said Tuesday.

That gives the movie a head-start on the weekend during what’s shaping up as a highly competitive summer season for Hollywood, which has major franchise films opening virtually every week.