08 Dec Catherine Hardwicke Will Not Direct Twilight Sequels

Robert Pattinson & Catherine Hardwicke During Happier Times. File Photo

In a move that had to be brokered while overseas promoting the movie, the movie company who released “Twilight” had to announce the director Catherine Harwicke was not being brought back for a sequel.

Here is the press release:

Summit Entertainment and director Catherine Hardwicke jointly announced today that the filmmaker will not be directing the next installment in the newly minted TWILIGHT film franchise. Summit’s targeted end of 2009 or early 2010 release of the film, NEW MOON, does not work with Ms. Hardwicke’s required prep time to bring her vision of the film to the big screen. Thus as has been done before with many successful film franchises, the studio will employ a new director for NEW MOON. 
 
“I am sorry that due to timing I will not have the opportunity to direct NEW MOON,” said Hardwicke. “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.”
 
“Catherine did an incredible job in helping us to launch the TWILIGHT franchise and we thank her for all of her efforts and we very much hope to work with her on future Summit projects,” said Erik Feig, Summit’s President of Production. “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. 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.”

Something smells fishy.  The movie has made $140 million so far but brought just around $13 million in this past weekend, it’s 3rd week in.  With overseas totals, the movie should gross over $300 million.  Something tells me the studio was looking more at $400 to $500 million and it won’t get those numbers.

So, they will find a director who will make the franchise more money down the road.  I am sure female directors will be none too pleased as this was seen as a huge step for female directors.-Dr.FB

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