‘Twilight’ Franchise Has New Director

It’s official. Chris Weitz, the director of another book-to-film fantasy adaptation, will take over for Catherine Hardwicke on the set of “Twilight” sequel “New Moon.”

The director of “The Golden Compass” made clear in a press release Saturday that he would treat the next installment in the Stephenie Meyers series with care and reverence, preserving the story’s characters and themes.

“Twilight,” released last month to the delight of fans of the four-book series, has surpassed $150 million in domestic and foreign box-office receipts. “New Moon” will again star Kristen Stewart and is slated for release between late next year and early 2010.

Via hollywoodtoday.net

`Twilight' director won't return for sequel

"Twilight" director Catherine Hardwicke won't be back for "New Moon," the sequel to the hit teen vampire romance.

Summit Entertainment, which released "Twilight" last month, said the scheduled release of "New Moon" in late 2009 or early 2010 conflicts with Hardwicke's desired planning time. The film, based on the second book in Stephenie Meyer's series, continues to follow the forbidden relationship between vampire Edward Cullen and high schooler Bella Swan.

Stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart will reprise their roles for part two.

Hardwicke, whose previous films include "Thirteen" and "Lords of Dogtown," had the highest opening ever for a female director when "Twilight" made nearly $70 million in its first weekend. It's grossed over $138 million in three weeks.

"I am sorry that due to timing I will not have the opportunity to direct `New Moon,'" Hardwicke said Sunday in a joint news release with Summit. "Directing `Twilight' has been one of the great experiences of my life, and I am grateful to the fans for their passionate support of the film. I wish everyone at Summit the best with the sequel — it is a great story."

Erik Feig, Summit's president of production, thanked Hardwicke and said she did "an incredible job in helping us to launch the `Twilight' franchise."

"We as a studio have a mandate to bring the next installment in the franchise to the big screen in a timely fashion so that fans can get more of Edward, Bella and all of the characters that Stephenie Meyer has created," said Feig.

Hardwicke did not return a call left on her home phone Monday, but a man's voice on the outgoing message said in part: "We've been kicked out of the `Twilight' editorial, so we're homeless, so please leave your name and number after the tone."

Via associatedpress

Twilight director leaves sequel

Record breaking Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke will now not direct its sequel, New Moon.

According to reports, the US film-maker felt that she needed more time to work on the film and could not commit to a late 2009-early 2010 release date.

"I am sorry that due to timing I will not have the opportunity to direct New Moon," said Hardwicke in a statement.

Producer Summit Entertainment said it had "a mandate" to release the next instalment "in a timely fashion".

"We are able to pursue an aggressive time frame as we have the luxury of only adapting the novels into screenplays, as opposed to having to create a storyline from scratch," said Summit's Erik Feig.

'Great story'

Based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight tells of a young girl, played by Kristen Stewart, who falls in love with a vampire, played by Robert Pattinson.

The film has been hugely successful in the US, where it set a new record for the biggest opening weekend for movie directed by a woman.

Hardwicke, whose other pictures include Thirteen and The Nativity Story, said New Moon had "a great story" and sent Summit her best wishes.

No replacement for the sequel has been named, while the film has yet to announce when it will commence shooting.

Twilight, which had its London premiere last week, opens in the UK on 19 December.

Via bbc.co.uk