Color me completely shocked. I actually ended up liking Twilight a lot. More than that… I loved it. Who would have thought? I’ve already outlined all the reasons why I enjoyed Twilight so much, so I won’t go into it all again.
But whether you loved or hated Twilight, there is no denying how successful it is. The film cost just over $37 million to make and has already made over $160 million world wide. You’d think that even with all of the criticism the film has received that they wouldn’t want to mess with the chemistry for the sequel. Well… they have. Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke will not return for New Moon, the sequel to Twilight.
Our friends over at IESB give us this:
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.
They said the decision was mutual and both the studio and the director are talking very highly of each other so there really is no reason to doubt the official statement. But I doubt it.
I think this “break up” has more to do with the fact that a lot of Twilight fans and critics did not like the movie, but that’s just speculation on my part. Hardwicke is actually a very solid director with films like “Lords of Dogtown” and the brilliant “Thirteen”. Personally I would have liked to see her return for the sequel… but I don’t think this will kill or save the next film either way.
Catherine Hardwick was marginal at best. I hope New Moon’s director has what it takes to bring this epic to film. Peter Jackson is one of the most gifted directors out there. I hope they would consider him for Breaking Dawn. This will be the most difficult of the series with the graphic content. Jackson has credentials with the Lord of Rings trilogy.
i thought twilight was fantastic and whoever dosent like it are mongss & if there wass a number 2 out i would be over the moon because number 1 wass really
goodd , soo do a number 2 i know everone wud buy it right :) !!!!!!!!!!! x x x
Do you know if the third and forth books will be made into a film. And will Robert and Kristin be starring as Edward and Bella?
I will just make this plain and simple. I took my three kids and my husband to see twilight and I must say, I was shocked. I loved the movie. It had suspense, romance, humor, and a plausible ending for a part II. Im not a director, but as a veiwer, I would say that the movie was an excellenct change in the movie industry. Im proud of the director because no matter how much anyone else wants to be a critic the movie made over 160 million and is still climbing. I just hope the next director can be as imaginative and inspiring as the first.
Anything hated turns out good. It may not be today but it will go down in history. Look at Elvis he was hated b/c it was a new idea that others rejected and look at him now. I hope the directors decide to come back and make another movie. Twilight was a very good movie I can’t wait in till it comes out on DVD. Don’t give up now. You are only letting them win. I wish you all best. Make another movie and who cares what others thing.
omg i thought twlight would be an awsome movie i wuld knw im 12 and i can tttal make a better drector she gets to the parts to fast i thot da movie wuld b better den da ook but i was wrooooooooooooong i wasted my time on dat moie
You want to know what I think is a good film?
Well that’s easy. Herzog. Anything he touches.
Bergman. Kurosawa. Harmony Korine. Lynch. Fincher. Cuaron. Gondry. Fellini. Truffaut. Cronenberg. Joe Wright. And, if it’s the right movie, Scorcese.
However, my blood does not get pumped over the director of “The Nativity Story.” Nor “Transformers.” That’s not directing, that’s just pretty editing.
But then again, these are harsh times. We all must find comfort somewhere.
It’s YOUR taste, Mullins, that I’m wondering about…
*bangs head on keyboard*
Seriously, John? Seriously? Why do you constantly give us listeners pause towards your taste in film? Thirteen was brilliant? Lords of Dogtown was watchable? Seriously?
Your Christmas copies of B.A.P.S. and In the Army Now are in the mail, buddy! Enjoy!
I never had anything against this film. The first i had heard of the twilight phenom was a few months back. I liked the trailers and i am a sucker for a cool vampire flick.
But, man o man, was this film shit. The dialog was terrible, many of the actors were wooden, and there had to be about 50 long, extended, slo-mo pauses/stares where two of the characters just eyed each other. They could have cut out 20 minutes of film by jest removing these “stare scenes”. Oh god. And i can only blame the director.
The topic seemed cool enough. The “main” actors were servicable. But, the presentation was horrible. I may be in the minority, but i am glad that there will be a new director for the next chapter. Maybe i will like it more…
I hear something like hard thunder, but that is not a snowstorm, although I wish it was…that sound I hear is *me* banging my head into the wall…
Here’s my understanding:
* Not all Twilight fans hated the film adaptation.
* Those who have not read the book yet or about to, come into the film with few if any preconceptions. Granted, some dudes may have been dragged there ball and chain by their girlfriends, wives our daughters…but someone outside the core base has helped made this film a hit.
* It seems to me the only reason why Hardwicke is leaving is because of the short prep time between release of this film and the start of the new one. It is quite reasonable, if, shortly after this film’s success, she were offered other films, or a film she was interested in got an extra push. It wasn’t with Summit. That’s not far fetched as you might think. Happens all the time. In addition, I’ll take her word for it at face value. It IS a short turnaround time, and should be on hold for at least another month or two. Yes, there may have been a few shaky things and problems in the first film. One learns from errors. all the more reason to treat the sequel with TLC.
This is not suggesting New Moon will be lousy. I am suggesting simply don’t give it increased chances of being lousy.
As stated, this is a huge hit film. It is actually irrelevant if there were some disagreements on the set. Yes, you heard me right. If the film tanked, who do you point the finger at? Well, it was a hit…and Hollywood tends to give the hitmakers the keys to the goodie barn.
And why is it now reported that “there were problems”/”she was a problem” blah blah. With all the crap you and I heard on frictions regarding actor-producers on sets with studio execs and other producers regardless of if they were (or were not) in the right in the past year just before the release of those films…why was this under the radar?
Was it because the film itself was under the radar? No, because the buzz was strong. At any time, anyone who had a “problem” with the director could have spilled it to anyone with an ear.
Again, even if were so, irrelevant. Show me a director, man or woman, who doesn’t have to fight for a scene or two, regardless of if they win or lose, and I’ll show you swampland for sale. Let me put it this way….
There are many popular directors today who we film lovers respect and admire; we love the films they have done in the past, treat those films like gold. But if you or I did our research, we would quickly discover some of those popular directors butted heads with studio executives, had caused some of their crew to dislike them during production, being second guessed a lot…but in the end, the final film is the result of those visions and labor.
And those directors are still around today.
And yet, that too, is irrelevant.
This lady just came off a hit film. That is relevant.
One effect they won’t have to worry about is the sparkling skin, in fact, we don’t ever have to see it again. Sure there is a part in Eclipse that mentions the sunlight reflecting off their skin, but that can easily be left out. If they make it to Breaking Dawn there is one spot that might be cool to toss in the sparkling skin, but only if they can do it better than Edward’s fiber optic disaster.
BY THE WAY
am i the only one thats becoming aware of the RIDICULOUS advertisement under this very comment…saying “TWILIGHT VS HARRY POTTER” ????????????????
i know twilight was a great book, it made alot of money and peopel liked the movie but COMON! harry potter?? ppsshhhht
theres no way twilight is as big as harry potter. this advertisement is so luducris
WOLFPACK
i agree, theyve got planty of money now for the effects, all they need to do is get some better CGI then what they used in twilight….because you cant get morphing werewolves right in that strings special effetcs they used in twilight…..
Matt aka gigan300
too bad that wont happen
I’m sure they want to go with a director that can do FX scenes because the ones in this were awful. Meli is right that Hardwicke did a good job with the character scenes but I couldn’t help but laugh at the poorly done effects work, but let’s not forget that the budget wasn’t that great either.
I never read the book because I didn’t like the first
maybe now this film will turn out to be shit and they will cancel any other twilight films.
Meli, agreed 100%
I was really surprised by this announcement, but I can’t say I’m disappointed. In fact, I have mixed feelings. I like Hardwicke, but I don’t think she was a solid fit as director for Twilight. The best scenes are the ones that focused around the teenagers; I think she has a good eye when it comes to portraying them.
However, she was not very good with the action or the flow of the storytelling and her decision for wire work was a huge mistake. For these reasons I would like to see what another director could accomplish.
To me it sounds like Summit would rather churn out another so-so flick in a short amount time and cash in the moola. Recently, I watched an interview with Hardwicke and it sounded like she wanted to take her time with New Moon, which I thought was fabulous because they churned out Twilight in seven months from filming to release. I don’t think it’s too much time would lapse if they wait for a 2010 release. I guess we’ll find out how rushed Summit really wants it as the movie moves full speed into production.
If I could choose who Summit should have replaced it would have the screenwriter before the director because no matter who they hire for the next film, if we have the same quailty screenplay we can’t expect that much of an improvement, can we?
I wanted to hate this movie so bad, but ending up thinking it was ok. So suprised you loved it John.
Dennis
I read a ton of other articles online the past few days where they mentioned that “insiders” were claiming that studio thought Hardwicke was extremely difficult to work with and that the look of the film mainly came from the DP and they spent “lots of time” in the editing room trying to piece it together.
Personally, I though the direction was poor.
It can only get better because it can’t get much worse. twilight was awful.
ah well thought it was a bad film anyway!!
Good!! she won’t be back!! she’s a horrible director, aleast twilight was
I have no desire to see this film but I think it’s shitty that the studio is trying to rush and put out any garbage instead of continuing with the director that made a successful debut and obviously cares more about the quality. Fuckin stupid.
Rush, rush, rush, it’s always the same with these things. The studio is so terrified that the public will forget about their product or it will go stale or (God forbid) a hundred copycat Twlights flood the market that they must get a sequel out as soon as possible.
I doubt the Twlight fans will get the best film possible because of this.
I found the article over at Nikki Finke’s site interesting, especially the comments, you can read it here,
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/hardwicke-fired-from-twilight-franchise/