SUMMIT BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW MOON DIRECTOR
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.”
This is frustrating.
Catherine Hardwick was so creative and her filming style was awesome. They better get someone with this same style or there will be so many disappointed fans.
AAAAGH. I wonder who will do it.
I’m kindof freaked. They had better get someone *really* good.
Until I get an OFFICIAL EMAIL from summmit about it… like they do with EVERYTHING ELSE THEY ANNOUNCE I wont believe this
this could just be another NASTY RUMOR for everyone to freak out over
**What you see above is the officail email we received from Summit
that’s SUCH bs! catherine herself said in an interview that it would be easy to complete the movie in that time frame.
summit, you fail.
the whole thing is going to be totally screwed up now. the entire look of the movie is going to be different, and chances are the new director will not be nearly as passionate about the books, which is an essential trait to convey them properly onscreen. yes, the movie had its flaws, but if anyone should be fired it is melissa rosenberg, NOT catherine.
UGH!
NOOOOOO
i loved catherine hardwicke. she was amazing.
they better get a damn good director.
OMG IM MAD!!!!
SHE DID SUCH A GOOD JOB ON TWILIGHT!!!!
SHE HAS TO DO NEW MOON!!!!!!
i’m worried. it’ll be really weird if they get some one with a completely different style. Then twilight and new moon are gunna be so different style-wise. They’re supposed to be part of 1 big story, not just cut up little sections.
…if that makes any sense
They can’t leave it too long between films because Robert Pattinson etc *are* going to get older, unlike their characters. And it’s not about the actors – it’s about the stories, and it matters if they don’t look right, if they age.
Directorial changes worked with the Harry Potter series. I love what Catherine brought to Twilight, I’m sorry she’s going, however can’t wait to see what the next director brings…. So long as they keep to the story…
sad panda
This is really unfortunate. Catherine Hardwicke obviously put her heart and soul into Twilight and she’s got such a good relationship with the fans. I would gladly wait a little longer to see New Moon in order to get a good result. Late 2009 seems like awfully fast to try to turn this movie out.
I am so sad. Catherine watched out for the fans, and the integrity of the book. Please let there be another fan.
OMG!!,I hope that those are the real reasons for her to get “let go”,please get a great director , someone who can make a good movie and respect the story
This is going to be just like harry potter, changing directors a lot.
Hmm..this is a bit disappointing I’m just glad she stuck so true with the books. I hope the new director does the same.
i feel bad for catherine. i know that she loved working with the cast and filming twilight. i hope summit change their mind about this. i think it is a big mistake.
To Luke,
which is eventually going to ruin the movies as adaptations of the books as it did Harry Potter.
Fantastic.
WHAT?! WHAT?!? WHAT?!?!?
I liked Catherine as director.
I agree with Clarabella. It works for Harry, so perhaps it will be shot as a film for everyone, not just book fans. I really like Catherine. I felt like we bonded when I told her I was from Texas as well. I hope she can give input on something at least. Tear…
I feel bad for Catherine, but I was not a huge fan of her directing style (and not a fan of the screenwriter either, to be honest…)
But I DO admit that Catherine seemed very dedicated and really cared about the project
I’m looking forward to see if they find someone with the same passion and drive who could possibly do a better job with New Moon
hmmmmmmm… i wonder how this will affect new moon? catherine was good, but it definitely could have been better. i wonder who they will get?
it’s going to be just like harry potter with all the changer directors. i don’t know – those weren’t that bad, were they?
Ah, politics as usual, Hollywood?
I am… HAPPY.
You know what? I love Twilight. I loved everything about it. and i thought Catherine did a good job. but my two most important issues with the movie is the pacing and the flow of the scenes. which is unfortunetly the director’s job. Catherine did not sucsseed.
Another problem was that i expected the movie to be that of sort of like the Harry Potter stylings or other movies such as the dark knight or spider man. Twilight came of as an indie film and it did not please me.
Therefore, I am glad in a sick way that Catherine will not be directing new moon. Trust me, I ADORE Catherine as a person. i absolutely love her. But her as a director, i am not so sure.
That being said, i loved the twilight movie. but it could have been LOADS better.
Thankyou Summmit. I am sorry Catherine. But i think this is a good thing, at least i think so.
Now, i want them to get a kick-ass director. i don’t care if it’s male or female. as along as they can do a good job. i am up for them.
I enjoyed Twilight a lot and thought that Catherine did a great job especially for the budget that she had! I will miss her and the passion she had for the whole Twilight story. The only thing I ask of Summit is not to change any of the cast! THAT would be a mistake!
I’m really happy to see new directing because Twilight was missing so much and this gives us a chance to see it differently.
Breaks my heart. Catherine is a fan of the story…just like me. I’m a reader, so I usually just ignore movie adaptations of my favorite books. It was Catherine’s enthusiasm that made me interested in the movie. I wish loyalty had a place in Hollywood. We’ll miss you Catherine.
I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. All I know is that they better not rush the movie and they better give a bigger budget.
This is so horrible. Changing directors is going to change the overall look and feel of New Moon and make it too different from Twilight.
I don’t think that the directional changes for Harry Potter have been good at all. If you watch the movies, you can tell exactly which movies are filmed by different directors because of their differing interpretation, making it hard to keep continuity with the story.
Now I’m really worried that New Moon is not going to be good as Twilight!
OME! This can’t be happening. Catherine knows how much this franchise means to each and everyone of us and has constantly included us with all of the details involving Twilight. She knows how much this story means to us.
I can’t see anyone else doing it right, I can’t see anyone else respecting us as a fan base. This will be a nightmare.
I just really hope they don’t screw it up, I would love to see the other movies made, but if this one is a disaster, and the new director gets it wrong. I don’t think they’ll get a second chance.
I am so sad to see Catherine go . . .she will be missed!
Wow! I’m not sure what to say. I know a lot of people blamed Catherine for the shortcomings of the movie. I feel terrible for her because I really feel like she did the best with what she had to work with. I honestly feel if a change was to be made, it should of been with Melissa Rosenberg. I know Catherine put her heart and soul into this project and really looked out for the fans by staying true to the story.
I am saddened for her and wish her well.
I don’t know whether to be happy or sad. I mean, Catherine did a great job on Twilight and I adored the movie, but there was something lacking. I hope that whoever the new director is will do even better. I trust that Summit will get the best directer they can.
THIS.SUCKS.BUTT.
I wanna cry. She was the most amazing director for that movie.This can’t happen. UGH!!! I really hate this…I’m scared now.
I think Summit just wants to turn out more $ and thinks that we fans won’t really care whether the movie’s any good or not, so why not just make the next one as quickly as possible? This sucks. I agree that Catherine wasn’t perfect, but she was a fan of the books, of Stephenie’s, and she understood what was important to fans of Twilight. I am not hopeful that the next director will be as sympathetic.
WHAT??! Nooooo! Catherine brought SO much energy to the story and made Twilight into a wildly popular and successful movie! She LOVED twilight and was so dedicated to the story, the author, and its fans! I can’t believe that Summit would rather crank out a movie faster than keep her for all that she’s accomplished for Twilight so far…
And, cranking out New Moon in only a year? Holy heck, that’s so soon! hey, we’re tough fans…we can wait if it means we’re going to get our expectations met/surpassed!
I gotta admit…I’m a little disappointed in Summit. Call me crazy, but i’m sensing a hint of “quantity vs. quality” behind Summit’s decision here…
I can only imagine how bummed Catherine must feel over this…
malaz, the pacing is actually a thing for the editor and the screenwriter to fix, and the “indie” look of the film is due to the low budget that SUMMIT gave the movie, so none of that was catherine.
Does anyone know where I can sign a Petition against Summit’s absolute stupidity?
F*** F*** F*** F*** F*** F***
i cant imagine anybody doing new moon besides catherine!!!!!!! she did such an amazing job with twilight nobody can live up to that. im depressed now
I agree malaz…I am happy too. I was not totally satisfied with Twilight. It was too fast paced and the romance between Edward and Bella just was not there.
Don’t get me wrong I did like it, just think it could have been better. So here is hoping we will get an even better director and with a bigger budget…a better film!!
I can’t wait to see who they cast for the Volturi!!!
For now I’m just staying positive. But what is so unfortunate that most of that cast had signed on for Twilight BECAUSE of Catherine.
:c We can only hope for the best.
This figures…Im so mad!! Summit is to freaking greedy and they dont care about the story or the fans, just money. Catherine mentioned in an interview that she wanted to make new moon properly and thoughtly, not just hurry and crank out another blockbuster. Summit is so freaking stupid, greedy and they are a bunch of low life scum.
I read someplace else that they are trying to film New Moon and Eclipse back to back. That could have something to do with it.
As long as the new director comes in with the same love of the books and characters that we all have I’m ok with it.
Change can be good.
Aw that’s so sad! It’s not exacally encouraging to hear that they might not take the right amount of time needed to make it great… I would trust catherines judgment as far as that goes =/ I’d rather it took a little longer and was brilliant wouldn’t you guys?
All I can say is the new director better be ready for us Twilight fans, and she/he better be a devoted fan themselves. These books have so much meaning to them, and if the director doesn’t fully grasp it, the movie will portray that.
But filming NM/E back to back in such a short time frame?? I hope this doesn’t mean the movies will be getting shorter. Sorry I’m just disappointed.
I dont think a guy director will touch the passionate love story between Bella and Edward as great as Cahtrine or any female direcor can
I pray for a woman director
NOOOOO!!!!
THIS REALLY MAKES ME MAD!!
SUMMIT TOTALLY BETRAYED HER.
THIS SCREWS EVERYTHING UP.
THEY CANT DO this.
I don’t know about you guys, but I fell in love with everyone involved in the making of Twilight and this dissapoints me so much.
SUMMIT GET READY FOR A PROTEST.
I am not going to sit back and take this.
They better get ready for some hate mail.
no joke.
Oh, and one more thing.
if the new director even thinks about replacing Taylor, I swear…
ARRGH.
I’m not surprised… the studios push projects sooo much now. But props to CH for standing her creative ground!
Kizmet – dude, the director is in the editing room with the editor. She directed the editor how to edit the film. The way the film was pieced was her job. the Editor just followed her comands. They are there to edit because abviously Catherine (guessing here) doesn’t know how to use the movie editing progams.
Now I wonder who this new director dude is?
Uh I hope dudette . . .
I’m glad Summit did this. She’s a cool person, but she doesn’t seem to have what it takes to make an “epic” movie, the kind that will have a bigger budget (since this has become a franchise now and will make bucketloads of cash) and be longer hopefully and just, better. It needs a better director, closer in rank to Steven Spielberg, at least. Not to say that he should do it, god no, but someone who is better known would be good. I don’t even care if it’s male or female, it just better be bigger!
They should also change the screenwriter… she wasn’t so good…. didn’t seem like she really got it and she only tried to add the lines in the book at random spots so it sounded all weird… (like “my personal brand of heroin” line in the movie… if you hadn’t read the books, that probably wouldn’t have made sense to you and it seemed really out of place…) so yeah… shooting for a new screenwriter as well! haha
JUST DON’T CHANGE THE ACTORS!!!!