Twilight Movie News – Director Catherine Hardwicke & Summit Entertainment “Part Ways”
This is worth mentioning because I know I have a lot of readers who follow Stephenie Meyer and Twilight news. Catherine Hardwicke, director of Twilight, has been fired. Deadline Hollywood (which is updating their page with new announcements) says “Summit Entertainment Co-Chairman/CEO Rob Friedman just phoned me to say: ‘Catherine and Summit have agreed to part ways on the sequel because our visions are different.’” I had to edit this post while drafting it! Summit has made an official announcement. They say it’s timing. I would say that’s just a nice way of putting it.
Personally, I’m thrilled! I enjoyed the movie Twilight (read my full thoughts here) but concede that it had some major problems. I was really worried what New Moon would look like if it continued with a limited budget and a director who couldn’t handle such a large fan-based film. This kind of reminds me of Harry Potter, which has gone through at least four directors. Each film got better than the last. So here’s hoping that New Moon will be even better!
Discussion question: Are you happy or not happy that Catherine Hardwicke will not be directing New Moon?
More Twilight inspired posts:
Tell Me Your Thoughts about the Twilight Movie
Another Twilight Trailer
Stephenie Meyer on Ellen Show Tomorrow
Stephenie Meyer’s Midnight Sun Put On Hold After Illegal Copy Distribution
Twilight & Harry Potter Both Change Movie Release Dates
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer Book Review
The Host by Stephenie Meyer Book Review
Breaking Dawn Book Cover Released
The New Twilight Movie Trailer
The First Completed Scene of Twlight Released
Thoughts on Attending Stephenie Meyer’s Book Signing
Twilight Movie Trailer
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I just hope the sparkling is more lulz-worthy and less bonerdeath in the second movie. Since it’s significant to the plot and all.
Steph
on December 7th, 2008 at 7:23 pmI enjoyed Twilight, but like others, thought it was lacking in alot of ways. Maybe a new director will help the movies to be more “book” like.
on December 7th, 2008 at 7:48 pmI just saw this today and actually thought this was a pretty good book to movie adaptation. That could be because I just watched the awful Flirting with Forty adaptation or b/c while I like the book, I’m not a huge fan.
on December 7th, 2008 at 8:45 pmI agree with you – I think a new director will step it up and it needs that for New Moon.
on December 7th, 2008 at 9:20 pmSteph – Maybe I’m just getting to old and you’re still so full of young life, but I’m not even sure what you just said!
Shelly – I think the acting and the special effects will get better.
Amy – I liked the book too, but am not a HUGE, HUGE fan. I liked the movie well enough with a lot of misgivings.
Janssen – Now that they know the success of the first movie, a new director seems to be in order.
on December 8th, 2008 at 1:20 am[...] of the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer | Blu.. Midnight Sun « The Folly of Human Ambition Twilight Movie News – Director, Catherine Hardwicke Fired | Maw Books Blog Read Midnight Sun Edwards Version of Twilight Partial Draft from Stephenie .. EDWARD CULLEN SOURCE [...]
on December 8th, 2008 at 1:30 amHAHA Natasha. I just meant I hope the sparkling will be better. =)
on December 8th, 2008 at 8:25 amI’m actually really excited about this. Hopefully it means bigger budget and better effects, which will mean a better overall movie.
Speaking of Harry Potter, I’m really excited to see Half Blood Prince! I’ve never been excited to see any of the others but this one looks really good.
on December 8th, 2008 at 11:55 amHmm, I don’t know that a new director will definitely mean New Moon will be better, but I don’t think we should count out the possibility. I think effects will be better with a bigger budget. Personally, I don’t think the Harry Potter movies got better progressively. I definitely think COS and POA were better then SS. Goblet of Fire surpassed them all, but OOTP was just bad. I didn’t like the way they portrayed it. I am optimistic for Half Blood Prince. That is my favorite book in the series.
on December 8th, 2008 at 2:08 pmI wouldn’t put it, that Catherine has been ‘fired.’ Summit and Catherine announced together, that she will not be directing the next film. Summit wants ‘New Moon’ out in ‘09 and Catherine felt she needed more time to do it.
Since I feel she did as good a job as possible on ‘Twilight’, with the _budget_ they gave her, I’m not happy with this change.
‘New Moon’ will be even more daunting, to bring to the screen. I’m not thrilled with Summit wanting it out, *soon as possible.* [Do I see $$$$$$$$$$$$$$, as a motive?<--Shame on me. -grin-]
Nope, not happy with this turn of events. I want [a trilogy at least] to be as good as possible. I want a director, who has already proven that their heart and soul are in the making of these books.
Tessa
on December 8th, 2008 at 2:53 pmBtw, I did what you told me, to change how my Icon shows up, in Word Press blog comments. [As my NOW Icon and not as this old Word Press icon] And it’s reverted back again. -sigh- Perhaps I should just give up on commenting in Word Press blogs.
Tessa
on December 8th, 2008 at 2:59 pmSteph – I figured that’s what you were saying!
Rebecca – I’m really excited about Harry Potter! I wish it hadn’t changed dates. Can’t wait.
Tessa – Noooo!!! Don’t stop commenting on WordPress blogs. You’re the first to tell me that you’ve had problems with the avatar. Hmm . . . I’m not sure what to tell you. About New Moon, I know they made a joint statement about “timing” but I don’t think that’s the whole of it. Twilight did have major directorial problems and I hope that a new director will smooth those wrinkles out. Just because Catherine loves the books doesn’t mean that she can translate it well on screen. And I hope they throw way more money into it otherwise werewolf special effects could be pretty scary to watch.
on December 8th, 2008 at 3:04 pmHehhh. But here I am back with another comment. Just found a write-up on this, which I wish all would read. This is link to article.
Note it says that “Summit does want a ridiculously speeded-up sked for the next installment.”
And it also says “this terrible news for Hardwicke comes just as she and the Twilight cast are on their European press tour. Tomorrow’s interviews in France will now focus entirely on what, if anything, Catherine did to deserve this treatment.”
My comment… Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Tessa
on December 8th, 2008 at 3:09 pmTessa – That’s the exact same article that I linked to in my post.
on December 8th, 2008 at 4:47 pmAmy BTW M – But they did get better!
With the exception of Dumbledore. I don’t like the actor that they got for him. Too gruff. I can’t wait for the next one.
on December 8th, 2008 at 6:06 pmI thought the movie was beautifully done but yes, I do see what you are saying about it. I am very much looking forward to seeing the next movie and hopefully it will be even better.
My website has a beautiful glass Twilight,
on December 8th, 2008 at 9:23 pmBella and Edward pendant that people are going nuts over.
I’m kind of ambivalent about the decision. She did a good job for the most part but then again there were a lot of roll-your-eyes parts too that another director might be able to handle better.
on December 9th, 2008 at 2:50 pmLadytink_534 – It was okay but it could be so much better! I’m thinking of the scene where she walks into her science class and Edward talks to her in the hallway. One, he looks like he’s going to throw up. Two, he’s way to awkward. And then when she’s in the hospital begging him not to leave. Yeah, just not good.
on December 9th, 2008 at 4:25 pmIt’s funny i was talking to my friend I went to see the movie with and we were comparing it to Harry Potter. I’m not sure that I would say they got progressively better…but the special effects did. I was hoping desperately that the screenplay stuck closely to the storyline of the book in Twilight and I think, for the most part, they did. The same with Harry Potter. The first movie was very much like the book.
I know I’ve said this before, but I was so afraid this movie would be butchered like the movie version of Eragon. I enjoyed the books, even though they aren’t my usual style, and I was actually yelling at the tv when we rented the movie. My husband told me if I said, “But that’s not what happened” one moe time he was going to turn the movie off. Now because that movie was brutalized, they can’t finish the rest of the movies into books. I was going to say trilogy…but now it’s not a trilogy…he split the last book into two and I can’t think of the word for a four-part series and I’m too lazy to look it up
I AM getting old. That and i had 8 children running around my house al day. thats enough to make anyone feel old.
Natasha- They had to get a new Dumbledore….the other one died
I suppose the new director could have chosen someone different, but the old one had to be replaced.
Okay enough of my rambling, I have dishes to do and a floor to mop….don’t I sound domestic!
on December 9th, 2008 at 11:17 pmNatasha Maw; “…the scene where she walks into her science class… he looks like he’s going to throw up…”
Have you read the draft of “Midnight Sun,” which is ‘Twilight’ from Edwards’ perspective? In this, he explains how HORRRRIBLE that science class was for him.
If you scroll to the bottom of this link/page
on Stephenie’s Net site, you’ll find a link to “Midnight Sun.” And if you don’t want to read the whole thing, you can skip to Page 12, and see how totally HORRIBLE it was for Edward. Keeping from throwing up, was a way to convey his horror.
But naturally, you could think of other ways, which would have conveyed it better, for you.
But I DO mean Horror, though! Please read it. Wow!!!
Now, will Word Press show a click-able link? Only way to know, is to Submit Comment…
Tessa
on December 10th, 2008 at 10:36 amTessa – I admit I have not read Midnight Sun (I’d rather wait for whenever or if it ever comes out) but when I read Twilight I envisioned him being extremely rude and arrogant as if he’s above her, not that he’s going to throw up. I mean she’s supposed to smell fantastic not gross. Why would you throw up from something smelling so good? Yeah, hold your nose, but to lose your dinner? No. I understand they went over the top in his portrayal. But it’s a minor thing. Overall, I liked the movie but it did have directing problems.
on December 10th, 2008 at 12:41 pmJenn M. – Yeah, I know the other guy died. So sad when that happened. I just don’t like his replacement. He looks the part but he doesn’t act the part to me. I haven’t read Eragon nor read the book. Hmm . . . not really tempted either.
on December 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pmSorry Natasha, didn’t mean to insult your intelligence. I agree Dumbledore #1 was much more the Dumbledore I pictured when I read the books. Dumbledore #2 is just Gandolf (did I spell that right?….The Lord of the Rings Guy) You are right, he plays Dumbledore as a much more agressive character.
As for Eragon, the books, although not my usual genre, were good. Don’t waste your time with the movie.
By the way, finished The Time Travelers Wife last week and I am upping my swear word warning. I promise, the first half has hardly anything worth mentioning and then, Whoa…out of nowhere we start seeing the f-word. Oh, and we even get the 4 letter C-word! That one was a shocker for me.
Putting that aside, I did like the book. I liked the way the plot builds up. It really is a love story. A crazy-mixed-up love story, but a pretty good one nonetheless.
on December 10th, 2008 at 1:47 pmHey…Just found this article. Apparently Summit Enterntainment is not entirely happy with Tyler Lautner playing Jacob for New Moon. Again, rumor, not comfirmed fact, but I guess they claim this has something to do with the release of Catherine Hardwicke. Here is the article:
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/12/twilight-sequel.html
on December 10th, 2008 at 1:55 pmSeriously Jenn, you could never insult my intelligence!
Aggressive is the right word for him. Thanks for the warning on Time Travelers Wife. Now I’m getting really nervous, but I’ve heard so many great things about it.
on December 10th, 2008 at 1:55 pmDumbledore, to me was supposed to have an intimidating air about him….but it was the silent type. The kind of guy who could command a room just by being there, not speaking. Well, I think they were trying to match visually the best they could. It’s not that he’s a bad actor, I just agree with you, he doesn’t play Dumbledore the way I would like him to. Well…I guess you only have to put up with him for this next movie
on December 10th, 2008 at 2:02 pmI actually read that Catherine and Stephenie Meyer had a disagreement about the direction of New Moon, and Stephenie was not pleased with Catherine’s “vision” for the sequel. I’ve seen the movies that Chris Weitz had directed and I am confident that he will show New Moon the justice it deserves. I am very excited to see where he takes it.
on December 18th, 2008 at 2:56 pm