Summit Entertainment isn't wasting any time moving forward with the second installment in
Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling Twilight series, New Moon. After Twilight generated $138.6 million you’d think the studio would be hesitant in making any major changes but the upstart distributor is not bringing back director
Catherine Hardwicke.
Both Summit and Hardwicke cite Summit's wish to rush the movie into production as one reason for their split. Summit wants to release the picture, which will demand substantial CGI work, by the end of 2009 or the start of 2010, reports Variety.
The studio released a statement saying, “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.”
Going on to explain, “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 thru the statement. "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.”
Erik Feig, Summit’s President of Production, concluded by saying, “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. 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.”
http://www.hollywood.com/news/Twilight_Hardwicke_Fired/5362358
