Los Angeles, CA, December 7, 2008 – 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."
...I think that's code for: "we want to crank out this franchise as soon as possible, but this chick isn't workin' fast enough, so we're going to hire someone else."
On one hand, don't get me wrong I'd love to see New Moon come out soon. However, I want to see a GOOD New Moon, especially since with that book there's a lot of different ways you could screw it up. I think if they had let Catherine Hardwick direct it, she'd take her time and do a good job. I want a fan to direct...I want someone that's as excited and nervous to see the film as all the hardcore fans are, and Catherine Hardwick was exactly that. I don't want to see someone who's wanting to jump on to the "next big thing"...or just the "big thing," because Twilight is already huge. I hope that whoever the choose as the next director won't screw it up. Oh jeez...I'm getting flashes of like some big top-name director that they'll get. Just because they have a big name doesn't always mean they're good. Or the director will take the movie into a whole other direction. I mean Catherine Hardwick wanted to focus on the intensity and passion between the two main characters, and I hope they don't get a director that completely goes in the opposite direction.
Ugh, whatever. I feel sad that Catherine Hardwick isn't signing on to the project. I guess that HUGE step forward that was taken after the movie opened was useless, because this is two giant steps back.
6 comments:
Completely agree. It kind of makes me wonder about the author's decision not to finish or release MIDNIGHT SUN anytime soon. If the studio is pushing for New Moon to be knocked out SO quickly, I wonder if Meyer's publisher will start to pressure her to publish the book now as well. Love you, baby!
Don't forget to read the TO DO LIST I sent to you! It's important and a key ingredient to maintaining your mother's sanity. Hugs & Kisses....Can't wait to see you! Love, Mom
Not only do you attack my email but now you bombard my blog as well!?
Dear Mother, I know what I need to get done. I'm only one person and there are only 24 hours in one day, so I can't get it all done in one day. BUT, I will get it done so just relax!
Hey, chill-ax, already. It's your own fault...you gave me your blog address! It could be worse--I could've copied the entire list and put it on your blog. Wouldn't that be special?
Anyhoo, I wanted to make a comment on what I'd heard about the new New Moon director (ain't I cute?). More than likely I'm not telling you anything you haven't already heard, but...I heard that the new director is the guy who did the Golden Compass. They're expecting big things. I think I heard the Golden Compass grossed like $200 million world-wide. Hugs & Kisses...have fun with the "Honey Do List"....honey.
Yeah, he's also the guy that did About a Boy.
What no magazines will tell you is that he's also besties with a higher-up in Summit Entertainment. I guess Chris Weitz is learning that it's nice to have friends in high places. However this is kind of a shady move I think. Just because you're friends with the guy doesn't mean he'll do the movie justice...arg@#&^%&%#
Don't get me started...I do NOT like their choice. AND he's not a female, which really bummed me out.
I can't believe this new director will give it the "heart" that Hardwicke did. She seemed to really care about the book and making the movie true to the book. I was surprised at how many similarities there were between the book and the movie--I was really pleased about that. I bet this guy does a 180 and makes his own thing. I agree that they've made a bad choice here. (Regardless of who directs the rest of the series, they can't take away from Hardwicke what she's done as a director. Twilight rocked the box office! That's history and it will open up things for other female directors in the film industry.) I so want to see the movie again! It's at the IMAX. Do you think it would be better there? Hugs & Kisses.
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