Summit has just confirmed that Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke will not be returning to direct New Moon. Official statement:
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.”
136 Responses to “No Catherine Hardwicke for New Moon”
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Oh well…
well,,ok
i wonder what that is all about. hmm.
I agree with the decision, end of 2009 does not seem like an unreasonable time frame to me at all.
YES!!!
I kind of agree, it seems too short of a time period to be able to work on a great film. New Moon has a lot of detail that can’t entail a years worth of work. Hopefully New Moon will be still great.
Late 2009, early 2010?!?! I want to cheer and groan at the same time! That’s greet that we won’t have to wait too long for the next one, but is that really enough time to make a film really great? oh, well. I’m sure they can do it. They probably wouldn’t aim for that if they knew they couldn’t make it.
Catherine did an amazing job with Twilight. I’m really bummed and quite nervous about New Moon now. The new director needs to keep the essence of the book. Catherine made it artsy and entertaining. New Moon needs to stick with that feeling.
Dang. She did really good with Twilight.
New Moon better be as good-it’s my fav. book.
Oh well though. It seemed like she wanted to rush it anyway.
I hate to say it, but the movie wasn’t that great. I am looking forward to seeing what a different director can bring to New Moon.
OMG OMG OMG
IM SOOOOOOOO SAD!!!!
why??? summit why???
catherine is a great director for all the twilight movies.
i hope they pick a good one for new moon.
because if its not a good sequel then its going to be summits bad.
HOPEFULLY THEY DO US TWILIGHTERS JUSTICE!!!! LOL
Look at the Harry Potter franchise, they have had many different directors and it has been insanely successful.
she did a good job but i want to see what someone else can do with it….catherine was just a little odd and i think someone else could bring that last lil bit that will make new moon incredible
Dude! That sucks! The Harry Potter movies have different directors and they’ve screwed up the whole series! WTF!
She did a terrible job with Twilight. My biggest hope after seeing the movie was that they would replace Hardwick with a new director for New Moon. I wasn’t thrilled about some of the cast, but in general, it is the director who sets the tone for the film and pulls the performances out of the actors. Great decision.
I’m honestly not that worried. Sure, she did a pretty good job with what she had to work with, but several other multi-movie franchises have used different directors (see also: Harry Potter), and things have worked out fine. Sad for Catherine, but I think it will be okay. Just as long as they don’t re-cast any roles. Heh.
YESSSSSSS
SHE FUCKING SCREWED THE NOVEL-TOTAL F-ED UP INTERPRETATION
Oh, well, we’ll just have to live with it. But take the Harry Potter movies–didn’t they change directors between the first and second movies? Well what ever it was…
Anyways, if they do pick a new director, the director must do really good on this movie. Twilight was alright, but there way so much stuff cut out and it felt very…thin…in a way…
Though, I did see Hardwicke’s Nativity Story two years ago and that was alright…(I can’t believe she did direct that!!)
We’ll see what happens.
thank god…
Peter Jackson would be SWEET
a lot of your complaints have to do with things cut out…thats the screenwriter, not her. I had the script for about three months, and they really did not cut anything from the script that was huge. the script itself was the problem.
thats sad. I think she really kept to the essence of the book and I hope they don’t pick someone to direct and its not what the series is about at all….
mmm wow….I was hoping for a new screenwriter not a new Director…I feel bad for Catherine…she is in the middle of Europe cheering Twilight right now and with this Summit decision is going to make it very difficult for her once the press starts asking her questions about this situation.
Oh goodie
I hope this one is good.
Catherine did a horrible job at making Twilight. Hated the movie.
I really like this, i do think cathrine understood the esscence of the book but I think they way she directed it was more…indie. plus new moon is not the love story that twilight is, it is dark and strange and i think it could be better in another director’s hands.
I don’t know what to think. I was very disappointed in the movie. Was it the screenwriter or the director?
im actually really happy…
i feel she made the film awkward…it felt like 13 with vampires…
hopefully someone with a less dark point of view will be chosen…
i got tired of EVERYTHING feeling dramatic too…
Twilight the book version had lighter moments…i also feel she should have spent less time on awkward camera angles…the ended up looking strange in a vampire movie.
wow, I’m kind of really bummed.. because she had great relationships with all of them, although i’m sure the new director will.. i’m really nervous about the outcome of new moon now, honestly. I really hope it’s going to be worth watching, even though I know it will.. but still. catherine made the film great, but weird at the same time, oh well we can’t change their decisions.
Wow. I’m shocked. The only good thing that came out of catherine was that she had good relationships with the cast. But her directing was pretty bad. I loved the movie but not everyone did. I hope they get someone good!
That makes me really upset.. Catherine did an awesome job, and now i don’t know who could fill the spot she did, it was an amazing outcome of the movie that i fully enjoyed. now i’m really upset
Fuck Summit.
I am so sorry for my language. But, in my opinion, this is PURE and FRESH BS!
Screw them!
New Moon is going to be so different from Twilight!
Imagine if New Moon is COMPLETELY different from the book. UGH!
The cast did so well with her!
I am crying tears of anger.
I have to go, it’s getting all blurry, I can’t type anymore.
i agree with chris. harry potter is very successful and as an avid potter fan for all who are concerned with the time harry potter and sorceres stone was released in nov. of 2001 and the sequel was of nov. 2002 so it is enough time. the best that we can do is just support summit and especially the cast :]
i read on TA that she got FIRED
but i agree w/ earlier comments, she didn’t do that great of a job with the interpretation …hopefully the new director will do a better job and not make awkward scenes/lines
oh no!
oh well, I really liked her, but I’d rather the movie be better and come out later, then come out sooner and be worse
They should get a screenwriter/director so the idea doesn’t get lost with two different visions. As a matter of fact they should teach Meyer how to produce a screenplay and she should do it, I don’t think there is anyone else in the world who knows whats the really important stuff.
I like Catherine but twilight is just not very her.
And they should make it longer instead of cutting important things now that they have the money.
I am glad they did fire her. Sorry to say, but she really didn’t do a great job showing the audience what made Edward and Bella’s relationship special. It seemed more like a crush. I know she isn’t completely to blame. They should have fired Melissa as well. I agree with the majority of you saying that it was a good idea to get someone elses perspective, just like the Potter films. I do hope that they take their time and not rush into it, like they did with twilight. And because of that, the movie seriously wasn’t that of a success. If it werent for the devoted fans of the book, this movie wouldn’t have made that much money. I think summit realized that Catherine didn’t do it well. Well I hope that whoever directs this movie rocks it.
I am so disappointed with Summit and their decision fire Catherine Hardwicke.
She did an absolutely wonderful job with adapting Twilight to film. People can complain all they want that favorite parts were cut out. But look at what she had to work with, a $37 Million budget and a 500 page book shoved into 2 hours. She did a kick-ass job. I think Summit is making a grave mistake. And repeat watchers of the movie (5 times) will not be going to the theaters multiple times to see New Moon when it comes out. Rome wasn’t built in a day…and this applies to New Moon as well. Catherine Hardwicke was able to bring to life a book that so many of us love. Let her finish what she started.
-Disheartened
Good Evening Twilighters!!
Come on Twilighters lets come together and get the RIGHT person back to direct our belove Twilight films!
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/bringbackcatherine
When I went to see the film on Nov. 21st I walked out of the theater disappointed. A lot of important scenes, and event sequences were badly filmed. I blamed the director, the screenwriter, and the film editor for producing such a mediocre film. So I am glad that they are choosing a new director. However, the thing that worries me now is that they want to get New Moon quickly into theaters. I hope they take the time to produce a good quality film. Rob and Kristen are good actors and both deserve to be in a good quality film.
dont get me wrong katherine did a good job but i bet someone else is going to do NEW MOON way better and up to peoples expectations
hmm…this kind of makes me sick. i think catherine rocked. i think eveyone has put an unesessary amount of blame on her for not having a perfect movie. a novel adaptation is never going to be what the book was. this really dissapoints me. new moon is going to be completly different and now there is a bigger chance for cast change, and i really dont want to see that happen
you’re kidding. aw man. well, it would be good to have some new creative ideas and a new perspective.
I just feel like we did not get any of Bella’s personality in this film. Is it just me? All of my favorite parts were left out. I know they can’t put EVERYTHING in, but it just felt rushed. I do wish they would take their time. Also, the scenes they added were just awkward.
thank god she is not coming back! and now just to get rid of the screenwriter…
i think everyone has complained way to much about this movie personally. its a movie, deal with it. everyone complaing about every little detail has left a woman that put a lot of work into a movie fired.
ugh no!
some new director is gonna end up making it a glamorized movie.
Catherine Hardwicke was great because she made it raw and not cheesy.
I wish they would have put the phone call between Edward and Tyler concerning the prom in the film. That one had me laughing.
i think that will do good for the second movie. not that i didn’t like the first one but i think it could have been alot better.
well i think i can safely say then ….. THE NEXT FILM WILL SUCK……. they are going to f*cking rush it and ruin it …… I thought catherine did an amazing job with how much money she was given in twilight!! And i think that waiting that extra bit longer for her to make it ‘PERFECT’ would have been fine… A year isn’t very long AT ALL to put a GREAT movie together.. so good luck for the next director because he/she will be rushed and probably make a bodge job of it…..So GOOD LUCK making those werewovles look real and trying to come up with a way to make edward part of this movie when for alot of it he isnt there… ALL IN ONE YEAR! … what people will do for money aye ..
I’m done ranting now
over and out
Amy from UK….
I’m like really sad right now. I love her.
Thank God! I am hopeful they will pick the next director who is really competent enough to handle the action sequences. I enjoyed Twilight but it was lacking in the “could have been” department because of the unfocused direction.
I’d love if Guellermo del Torro does it. New Moon could benefit from a director who is visually skilled w/ special effects and a dark tone.
i agree amy…
Thanks..
x
I just think…
1. Bringing another director could possibly mean CAST changes :O
2. The mood will be completely different!
3. It will be rushed!
4. She got on with the cast the next might not and then theres the chemistry GONE
and 5. We knew what we could expect with catherine and now it’s going to be like waiting for the first film to come out all over AGAIN!
ergh!!! ….. I’m actually quite mad about this!.
She might not have done a fantastic job, but she had little money to do it and any other director would most probably just shot alot of cg in their and not bother too much on the chemistry and acting!
Over n Out
Amy Uk
awww. ]= late 2009/early 2010 DAHHSZ A LONG TiME FOR MEHH !!! >:[. New Moon was my favorite of all da 4 booksz. It is a wonderful book && i agree that it has so many details..Would it suck if dey only do it in ONE YEAR?! Like i was acutally mad when they cutted out to many parts in Twilight.. I hope dey wont do it on New Moon. I know I know "Im too picky its only words" w/e i want it gud dough.. like Twilight was okayy book was better!! =] New Moon Babesz.
i definately agree with amy!
@ Samatha
Too bad Guillermo del Toro is in New Zealand doing “The Hobbit” for the next like 3 years…
I hope that the new director will make NEW MOON exactly how we’ll like it!!
it’s unlikely that the cast will change, the major actors all have contracts i presumee
and yeah i’m not too bummed about the decision as i’d like to see a new creative perspective for the movie..and yeah i agree i’d really wished they’d change teh screenwriter more than i’d wished for a new director..but i guess since she had already written the script, it played into the whole “fast paced” thing they’re going for…
a new screenwriter would mean more time to prepare..
bleh..
one thing i hope does not change because of the new director is the cinematography…which was AWESOME in the movie..
also i hope that the new director is passionate about twilight as Hardwicke
ann–the only 2 signed for new moon is rob and kris
its sad…but thats reality!! if i were summit i would choose Sofia Coppola…. she amazing and she won an oscar 4 best directing…
WELL ALL I HAVE 2 SAY IZ THEY BETTER PICK A GOOD DIRECTOR.
@Geo
Darnit!
NEW SCRIPT WRITER NOT DIRECTOR
Let’s just hope that the new director whoever she/he is will do a fantastic job making the movie! so..i’m keeping my fingers cross…
I don’t think anyone could measure up to Catherine Hardwicke. If you’ve been following the production since casting last December, you would understand the dedication Catherine and everyone involved had for Twilight. The cast couldn’t have said better things about Catherine, and besides, the Oregon weather was crazy while they were filming. Suffice to say, I don’t think anyone would have been able to motivate the cast and crew in the freezing wet cold like Catherine. Who else could make the set as fun as she did with cloud dances? People have also said that Twilight was the most fun set they ever worked on. I personally think they way Twilight was directed gave the film emotion.
And I agree with others, I don’t know if the new director will be as faithful to the book and fans as Catherine was. Plus she already understands the actors, what motivates them and why they were casted. (I’m specificly thinking about Rob and Kristen’s interpretaion of Edward and Bella.) I personally think Catherine was asking for too large of a budget and too much time for special effects research. More prep time = better movie imho.
I also forgot to mention that the casting of the rest of the pack could cause a problem. Catherine did so well choosing the Twilight cast; they meshed so well together. I have a feeling the pack won’t look right, they won’t feel right and they won’t have the same chemistry as the pack that is already casted. If the new director isn’t as dedicated as Catherine, the Volturi casting could be a problem as well.
@ hailie: ahh i seee, yeah wasn’t sure about the rest of themm
All I can think about is how the Harry Potter movies all have different directors, and how they all seems separated from each other.
I think its rather raw, after this awesome success with Twilight to fire her from New Moon, but I guess that is business.
Hardewick has set extremely high standards for New Moon after directing Twilight. I only hope they can be met.
I’m kind of glad that she’s not directing New Moon. Her other films were well done, but I don’t know why, but I don’t think Twilight was as good as it could have been. I hope the new director can make the movies better. Catherine was very dedicated, though…so I guess we’ll just have to see how it turns out. I hope they don’t re-cast major characters…that’d piss me off just a tad. Although I don’t think Kristen makes the best Bella…but I guess we’re stuck with her now.
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/bringbackcatherine
Naomi don’t be like that. Kristen is an AWESOME Bella. So, just shut it. I am mad enough as it is. Stupid Summit. Oh, and I wonder how you would take it if someone told you that they were stuck with you. It’s not that pleasent.
I was a little bummed at the news, but I hope Summit picks a good director for New Moon. Twilight looked very raw and edgy so with a new director, New Moon can do a total 180 and be very clean and precise like the Harry Potter films. I prefer the documentary style fillming Hardwick did, but maybe a different style is best. I dont know, but I hope New Moon turns out great. Just make sure that Bella and Edward’s relationship shows through, in that they are inseperable, not in the first crush kind of way but in the everlasting, obssesive kind of love. That is all I ask for.
*coughs*
*dances*
Now they need to can the writer. She was worse than Catherine. It was the actors and the people working on the visuals that saved that movie.
I liked how the Harry Potter films grew up with the audience and reflected their darker subject matters… New Moon is *really* dark to me; it’s Bella hitting rock bottom. I think Catherine did an amazing job with the tiny budget and mediocre-at-best script she was given… But… I’m cautiously optimistic. New Moon has a different mood, so a different director’s viewpoint might not be so bad… I’m much more concerned about the script!
Dude, EdwardLover, you’re the first person I’ve seen on this site to flame on someone. WTG. Let’s all take it easy with each other. We all love the books and characters, we all feel like we “own” them in a way. Let’s all be respectful of our passions.
But yeah, I’m really hoping Kristen can pull this off, since New Moon is like, even more Bella-centric than Twilight… I felt like Rob pretty much carried all of their scenes by himself. All of my hope rests squarely on Taylor’s shoulders!
I bet I am not the first one. I am sure that I am not, but I am sorry. I am just so angry that they didn’t pick Catherine, and people are still saying negative things. It just get me mad.
I’m really happy they’re getting a new director, actually. I enjoyed Twilight, but there were quite a few faults that ruined parts of the experience for me. Hopefully they find someone better for New Moon… I’m just so glad they’re doing New Moon!!
I beleive Catherine is a great director, she has so much passion for the project. But if she can’t do it I consider Guillermo del Toro the one who made Pan’s Labirynth and Hellboy great director. But I love Catherine lol
<3 I hope the new director keeps the same look that Hardwicke gave Twilight. I’m sure if Meyer is invloved in the pick and agrees with new director, all will be good. CANT WAIT FOR NEW MOON! <3
don’t know what to feel. i didn’t really like the movie, but i feel sorry for Catherine. i hope New Moon exeeds my standards, though! so exited!!!
I agree! Forks better be wet and gloomy. I’ll be madder than heck if it’s not!
Its sad because i think she did a great job with twilight but these kind of things happen in hollywood. I mean look at the harry potter movies and how many directors they all went through. I just hope they find someone who is going to do great and be as passionate about it to.
Ok so…. I don’t have a problem with them changing the director, maybe someone can do a better job, but she wasn’t the problem bacause she even said that she had different plans for thilight with the special effects but because of the budget was not enough. The presidend of Summit enterteiment said that they did not think that new moon didn’t need a bigger budget. Now is that the real problem? they not wanting to spend more money so the Edward actually sparkles and Jacob doesn’t look like a warewrolf from a hounted house, but if she got fired becuase she was requesting a bigger budget so we the fans get to see the real story not a 2hour movie (which i had low expectetions about and it was better of what I thought) that shounld of been longer and have better special effects. I know that most of the books that make it to the big screen always get screwed up and they are never the same, but I really expect a bigger effort for New Moon, not just becuase it will require the most kick ass special effects but because if I think that if they don’t do a better job many of the fans like me would be sooooooo disapointed I don’t even imagine what would fans do.
If they can make brooms fly you can definetely make Edward sparks the way that he deserves..
awww but she made my favorite book of all time come to life.. thats okay.. she’ll miss one of my least favorites.. POO. NEW MOON.
edward’s girl
wtf! I know some of you are happy that she got canned but look at the facts. She made the cast do things they thought were silly and it turned out good despite what critics say. I am truly afraid that most of the cast will be replaced. I would hate that. They are all in my head. I hope summit makes good with new moon. Please have a bigger budget, better effects, and keep all of the cast. Or else i will boycott the movie with all of my 300 friends.
Ok well as much as i think she will have done a good job (not out in the UK yet) It is not the end of the world.
I dont think they will recast Rob or Kirst but that doesnt mean that other cast members couldnt be changed without dramatically effecting the story line
I hate this because I don’t want a new director who doesn’t understand the fans because catherine understood the fans better than anyone
i feel sorry for her BUT I am so happy and relieved that she wont be directing the next one.
I think that they should have held on to Catherine. She’s got something good. She did great with Twilight considering their budget and how unique the story is. I’m not so sure that the next director will actually read the books (they’d probably have to read both Twilight and New Moon) and put the same feeling into the film. They should have given Catherine the extra time she felt she needed – not much, but a bit – but I’m sure they’re worried about ‘losing momentum’. They definitely won’t be losing fans or anything like that – look how big this is. Just the fans of the books who will go to see the movie are a huge group, let alone who they’ll bring, or who will come because they saw Twilight and liked it, or who just has nothing to do on a Friday night. They needn’t worry about that at all, so I don’t know what’s wrong with letting Catherine work on it for a little while longer than expected – maybe a May of 2010 release. Besides making us undying fans wait anxiously, I see nothing wrong with that.
thats so sad D:
Hooray! Good thing Summit finally heard the fans’ opinions and finally came to their senses. Catherine did screw big time. I hope the new director would give New Moon the respect and justice it deserves.
I hope they would also think of replacing “THE SCRIPTWRITER” or try having two. So they could check on each other.
The next installments should be grand so the fans wouldn’t be disappointed!
I loved Twilight and I thought she did an awesome job being director of it. It might be a good thing to get another director in though, might not! I cant wait to see how NEW MOON will turn out with a new director.
I think everyone ought to be concerned that Summit is rushing the next installment to the screen without the proper lead time and without a bigger budget. Whether you are a fan of Hardwicke or not the fact that this parting of the ways seems to be about time and money for the next movie is very disconcerting. Remember the Summit execs told carter Burwell that he should drop the dissonant B-flat from Bella’s lullaby because teen girls wouldn’t like it! These execs are dangerously out of touch with the fan base on the entire concept. I’m very concerned they are going to churn out a piece of trash to try and make a qucik buck, when iff they took a longer lead time they could make a much better film and a bigger profit.
While it’s sad that Hardwick won’t be directing, I don’t think the time frame is too unreasonable. Firstly, there won’t be as many special effects to undergo as is is a vampire-less book for a long time. Also, even though under no means am I comparing stories, the Harry Potter films have changed directors several times, and in my opinion all of the movies are extremely well done. So Twilighters, cheer up and have hope!!!
Well I hope who ever takes the wheel for NEW MOON does an awesome job. I thought Catherine did a very good job on TWILIGHT. I loved it. Saw it 3 times. It easily made the jump to my top 3 fav movies. I’m really looking forward to see who the new director will be. Catherine will be missed =(
Oh no…! But she was SOOO looking forward to do the other movies! I just love how she is always so excited and entusiastic… Oh well… Can’t wait to “meet” the new director!
I personally think she did not do a great job with Twilight. It left much to be desired. I hope a new director will do much better with the rest of the sequals. Also, I hope Stephanie finishes Midnight Sun, and then they can make that into a movie to redeem Twilight.
Why is everyone so concerned with “rushing” the movie? A year is a long time! Most movies are filmed in 3 months or less, so it’s not the time frame that’s the problem. Also, there’s no way that Catherine quit – she’s been going on and on in interviews about how excited she is about New Moon and trying to get all the fans to go see Twilight over and over to justify the cost of New Moon. AND, she said in an interview last week that she hopes to start shooting New Moon in March, so she knew what the time frame was. The crap about “the timing”…..whatever. Poor girl was made to say that. The Potter movies have changed directors almost every movie, and they keep getting worse. In Prisoner of Azkaban, that little jamaican head in the knight bus just about made me crazy. I have never watched that movie again because of how crappy it was. Summit sucks!!
I am personally very happy she is gone. It wasn’t time or money that got her off the movie, it was the crappy reviews. She isn’t really much of a director. Yeah, I’ll admit she was passionate, but she was not a good director. Melissa Rosenberg was also not too good at adapting the book to a script, I hope she’s next to go.
Also, I wouldn’t freak out over a male director if such a thing were to happen. Majority of the directors in Hollywood are men, and plenty of men have directed some epic love stories. James Cameron both wrote and directed Titanic, which is one of the most famous romance films of all time. Titanic has made more money than any other movie ever. He did a fantastic job. Nick Cassavetes directed The Notebook, another intense love story and did a great job as well. Men can be just as good with romance films as women. Twilight is a love story that touches anyone with a romantic bone in their body. Male or female.
About the budget thing, I wouldn’t fret too much over that. It’s pretty much a give in that the budget will be substantially increased. The increased budget has already been hinted at. Rob and Kristen’s pay has increased by 10 million dollars. There would not have been such an increase in their pay unless there was going to be a major increase in the budget.
The only thing that’ll keep me out of theaters to see New Moon would be if they decided to get a new Jacob. Taylor is a perfect Jacob in my eyes, plus switching actors in the middle of a saga is cheesy. I can’t even believe they’re considering it.
If you guys think things through, you’ll find that most of your worries are not needed.
i wonder how new moon will turn out ??? i hope they dopnt change any characters </3 catherine you’re awesome
this sucks but its all about money… this is why im wary on entering the film life. some ppl say that there looking for a male director.