<P> Both Clémence Poésy, who has played Fleur Delacour, and Chris Rankin, who has played Percy Weasley, were interested in returning, but did not appear in the film . After Bill Nighy expressed an interest in appearing, Yates confirmed that Nighy would be his first choice for the role of Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour . Scrimgeour's character was ultimately cut from the film, but Nighy appeared in his role in Deathly Hallows . </P> <P> Stuart Craig, the production designer of the first five films, stayed on to design all the sets in Half - Blood Prince . Several new sets are introduced, including Tom Riddle's Orphanage, Astronomy Tower and the Cave . Craig noted that the film used several CGI sets, noticeably the interior of the Cave where Harry and Dumbledore both go to hunt Horcruxes . The exterior of the cave scene was filmed at the Cliffs of Moher in the west of Ireland, the only location to be filmed outside of the United Kingdom throughout the film series . The interior of the cave is made up of geometric crystal formations . Craig noted "Apart from the point at which Harry and Dumbledore first arrive and the island formation on which everything inside the cave happens, the set is entirely virtual, designed in the computer . We'd had our first totally virtual set on the last film, so we approached this one with a bit more confidence ." </P> <P> Before filming began, there was belief that filming might move from the UK, where all previous films were shot . The crew also scouted around Cape Wrath in Scotland, for use in the cave scene . Filming returned to Glen Coe and Glenfinnan, both which have appeared in the previous films, to preserve the continuity of the landscape . </P> <P> Following a week of rehearsals, principal photography began on 24 September 2007 and ended on 17 May 2008 . Though Radcliffe, Gambon and Broadbent started shooting in late September 2007, some other cast members started much later: Grint did not begin until November 2007, Watson did not begin until December 2007, Rickman until January 2008, and Bonham Carter until February 2008 . </P>

Where was harry potter and the half blood prince filmed