Twilight sequel gets new director

[Dream]

There will be a new director atop the Twilight franchise: and he'll be a man. Sources tell EW.com that Summit Entertainment is about to hire Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) as the shepherd for New Moon, the second installment of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling Twilight series. Weitz is best-known for his work with his brother Paul. The two directed and produced American Pie and then were nominated for an Academy Award for best screenplay for About a Boy, which they also co-directed. Chris' first solo directing gig, The Golden Compass, didn't do well stateside but was a hit internationally.

Twilight, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, has grossed more than $141 million so far, but Hardwicke had clashed with the studio during production. It was announced early this week that she would not be making New Moon.

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/12/its-official-ch.html

Hopefully Chris Weitz doesn't try to change the story too much. The changed ending for The Golden Compass was annoying. But Chris Weitz has had more experience working on an effects heavy movie compared to Hardwicke so we might be getting a better looking sequel at least.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Weitz is a pretty good choice, considering he has experimented in similar genre shoes before with The Golden Compass (a film I've yet to see). I'm more of a fan of his in regards to About a Boy, and it is that film in which I think he has the chops or proven he has the chops to handle something like the Twilight series, which is more about relationships than vampires.

I think I'm more curious about New Moon than I was for Twilight, mostly because it'll likely have a bigger budget, thanks to a successful first film, and because hopefully the main setting will be Italy, and woo for international locations! Plus I love Italy. What a beautiful country...