'Twilight' sequel 'New Moon' gets the greenlight from Summit

UPDATE: "Twilight" will take in a staggering $70.6 million for the weekend. How many times are you going to see it?

Good news "Twilight" fans — "New Moon" is officially on the way.

After news broke that the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance made a big $35.7 million in its first day of release — the second biggest opening day gross outside of summer after "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" — Summit greenlighted production on the sequel "New Moon."

Here's the word from Summit Entertainment:

Los Angeles, CA November 22, 2008 — Summit Entertainment announced today that the studio is officially moving forward with the production of NEW MOON, the second installment of its filmed franchise TWILIGHT, the action-packed, modern day vampire love story. The movie will be based on the second novel in author Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, titled New Moon. The first movie in the TWILIGHT franchise, the self-titled TWILIGHT, arrived in theaters this weekend to sold-out showings.

Stephenie Meyer stated, "I don't think any other author has had a more positive experience with the makers of her movie adaptation than I have had with Summit Entertainment. I'm thrilled to have the chance to work with them again on NEW MOON."

This isn't a big surprise. But, given the early fan reaction — which has ranged from ecstasy to, well, plain unhappy -- is this a good thing? (Or is that a stupid question?)

Is there anything you'd like to see that was left out of "Twilight" included in the "New Moon" movie? (Say, Carlisle's history with the Volturi, perhaps?)

And what about the Jacob dilemma? Is someone starting a "Keep Taylor Lautner" campaign? Do you all want to see him as older-looking werewolf Jacob? If not, which actors would you like to see cast in the role?

As usual, I want to hear all your thoughts and concerns. Leave them below!

Catch up on past Countdown interviews: Robert Pattinson (Parts 1, 2 and 3), Kristen Stewart, author Stephenie Meyer, director Catherine Hardwicke (Parts 1 and 2), screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, Peter Facinelli, Edi Gathegi and Taylor Lautner.

— Denise Martin

Related:
Complete "Twilight" Countdown coverage
Complete "Twilight" coverage on Hero Complex

Comments

[Siobhan]

Ok so I saw the movie the Tuesday before it came out in theatres and I HATED the movie.
I have read Twilight a few times and I was so happy about the movie but when I went to go watch it, I felt like someone day just slapped me across the face. I wanted to leave about 20 min into the movie. I liked edward and his family and i liked everyone else EXCEPT for Bella. Wtf is up w/ her? She was WAY to uptight in the movie. And the writers skipped around to much. Like the part w/ Jacob telling her about the cooled ones. His telling her the ENTIRE story is what gives him the loop hole in the second book. And, they did way too much w/ Rosalie and not enough w/ alice and jasper. They skipped so much out of the book. They didn't even go into detail about alice's past or anyhing. AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! And like the other girl said it was like one second edward was saying we shouldn't be friends and the next he was following bella into the forest (and it looked like they we skipping school) like they were going to have some personal time. Like everyone has said I would LOVE to sit through a 3 or even 4 hour movie just for them to get every detail into it. Also they mad edward seem like some winny puppy dog. If edward had know that there were vampires in town he would have NEVER let bella out of his site for a second. And what was up w/ them going out to eat all the time bella was suppost to cook and have a chiled like room and edward's house was suppost to be old and he room and bella's entire house and ok soooo many things were off w/ the movie. But, you know what if jacob goes to the gym more and can grow a few more feet soon next movie may be great and I will go see it even it the first one sucked.

[LADi]

I think a hijabi should be in the movies......

I loved the movie and am very pleased with all the actors. Robert is very funny and like how in his interviews he is very hummble.

[Tony]

I am impressed people actually liked the movie. The books were great, but the movie was horrible. It had the same story line so it worked in some way, but honestly they need to change directors. Felt like i was watching a poorly made MTV music video. At least get someone else to write the screenplay which was a huge let down. I would be happy to see New Moon, but only if they get a new director.

[Tabitha]

I loved all of the choices for the actors in the movie, however, I think the special effects could have been better, and a few important parts were left out of the movie, I feel the 2nd movie should be longer and that they should not skimp on things. This movie was good but they failed to portray relationships such as that of Alice and Bella. I really hope they show more in the second movie, fans will stay the 3 hours. :)

[Gitzel]

I read Twilight, and I was disappointed in the movie.

There were many things that didn't happen in the book like the scene where Bella sees the Cullen family for the first time--they were supposed to be in the cafeteria when she sees them, not walking inside. Then, Edward and Bella dance in his room, which doesn't happen in the book. The big one though was the fighting scene between James and Edward- first, Bella is supposed to be unconscious, not watching as the action unfolds and second, Edward and James don't fight.

Despite these discrepancies. the lack of good special effects, the not-so-"beautiful" Cullen family and the dead look of Robert Pattinson throughout the whole movie, the love story contained in the book was present in the movie...or perhaps a little if you take out the awkwardness.

[Cyndi]

Although Taylor Lautner was perfect for the role in Twilight, I think that Steven Strait would present the much more developed and older Jacob as read in the book. Remember he does get a lot talker, muscular and older looking than Bella and she is three years older than him.

I did not care for the directors or screen writers work. Also, make-up artists were horrible. I don't think it was the movie that drew the crowd, it was the writer that brought the audience. The cast was good, but they need someone to develop their talent. Also, they should have taken the opportunity several times to show Bella's love for Edward and vice versa in the movie. Also, they should have had Edward's voice show that he couldn't hear her....having the dialogue with his family wouldn't have been good. History of actors that were going to die was not necessary. Showing that Edward couldn't hear Bella but everyone else was important.

[SheilaBud]

The movie was very good considering its budget. Edward should have acted more like james when he caught Bella's scent with a startled and angry look rather than holding his mouth like he was going to throw up. The blood scene should have been included in the nurses's office and the running could have been a lot letter. If they include Edward more in New Moon, like what he was going through when he was apart from Bella, that would be an improvement even on Stephenie's book. Mybe she has some of that in her Midnight Sun version. The Volturi have to be there if the series is to continue as movies it is such a big part of Breaking Dawn. I hope the special effects can fix some of the issues that were avoided in the first movie. Just jumpiing in place is not adequate for the fight scenes in future books. SheilaBud in PA

[Cullenista]

Well - Jacob grows and physically matures so quickly in New Moon. If I remember correctly, he looks closer to a 27-yr old man than a 16-yr old boy.
When I read the book, I pictured someone like Adam Beach to play Jacob. He has a young face (but maybe he will be too old.) Just my opinion.

[Amy LaVerghetta]

I went to see Twilight on the Saturday after it came out; I heard very mixed reactions from my friends who saw it the day before. Some said it rocked some said it bombed so I went there with no real expectations. I couldn't fight the fact that I enjoyed it very much. However there were a few important things that were left out. As said Carlisle's history, any mention at all of Tanya's family and the Denali coven, the character Lauren, the fact that all the guys asked Bella or asked her to ask them to the girl's choice dance, the dance all together (that didnt bother me so much bc they substituted that w| prom.), the tangible proof that Alice and Bella had become friends. And one thing that really bothered me was that Jacob didnt tell Bella the true legends; and that she had to go to the book store to find out what they were. And I was also dissapointed that they didnt put Bella's dream of Edward and Jacob in the movie; I was really looking foward to seeing Bella's idea of a werewolf and her idea of "evil" Edward. Well, aside from those the movie was good and I liked how they added the parts with the nomads; you got a better feel of how dangerous they were; but they did make Laurent seem a little too scary when he was actually the "good guy" out of the bad guys. (if that made any sense.) So all in all I thought the movie was a sucess; I'm excited to see how they show the Volturi on screen; and how the make Taylor Lautner grow a few feet in New Moon. (lol)

[Crystal]

I very much enjoyed the twilight movie, but i felt dissapointed that they left out so many good points. Where were all the nights he spent with her? she never even hyperventilated? OR the long drive back from Port Angeles? and Jasper never really said anything. althought i really liked Kristen Stewart as bella, she was wonderful i didnt feel that they were exactly like the characters as in the book. they werent so cheesy, although that was my favorite part about them. But i think the directing was very poor. It could have been so much better! If it was directed exactly as the book, well at least fit in the key points, this movie would have exceeded my expectations as im sure it would for every other twilight fan.

[Katie Traynor]

I saw twilight on opening night and then sunday night! and i already wanna see it again! I absolutely loved it. as for the actors: I think they should keep everyone as is! I hate it when they change people in the sequel.. needs to be same faces!

[kim]

i don't actually mind if they keep taylor or have a new actor. he played the role of jacob well, but if the writers/directors are looking for someone older, i think that steven strait would make a good older jacob. i think he and taylor have similar looks, but that's only a suggestion. i don't really care who they play as jacob in the next movie. but i think it'll be a little difficult because jacob ages and grows throughout the book, so iono.

[Jamie Lynn Villescas]

twilight: the greatest movie yet! can't wait till new moon comes out. i went to see it on the opening day then again...and again! ugh i can't get enough. back at my school everyone was talking about the movie. i love robert pattinson...

[just me ;]]]

I didnt like the movie at all
i am a HUGE fan of the books i LOVED them!!!!!!!!!
but the movie was just undescribable seriously
for ex the part with edward && bella at the medow was suppost
to be soo different
also at the end when victoria was at the prom come on!
the movie lacked a lot of detail
&& i didnt like the character at all
how sad :[[

maybe if somebody else than summit would
have done it i duno i just didnt like it at all :/

[Sasha T.]

Twilight was amazing (even though I do not approve of Robert Pattinson as Edward) but I think Jacob should stay Taylor Launer.

I must say... I'd rather New Moon not be made into a movie.

I love the books as much as anyone crazed fan does, but if you think about it... Twilight has the heart of so many teenagers out there and now it's being made into something similar to harry potter. (First books, everyone loves them, all of them get made into a movie). It going to kill the book for lots of people like myself. The picture of Edward and Bella and everyone else in my head are gone and replaced with the actors in the movie. Setting and all.

I wish they would just keep the movie Twilight without sequals to the movies.

(P.S. I hope they don't start making actin figures as well)

Oh yeah, and whoever came up with the idea to put Kristen's and Robert's face ont he cover of Twilight should be punished. Brutely. That was a HORRIBLe idea sorry to say. But c'mon! Think about it! Sure their face can be in the movie and on the magazines and on posters and on the movie posters but like.. The BOOK COVERS TOO!?!?!?!?!. Any new Twilight reads are going to be like, "Oh! Thats Edward and Bella I guess!" And that's how they will picture their face when they read the book. it's very upsetting.

- A concerned Fan

[laney]

hello well i absolutly love twilight and the books are awsome i have to protest to you not to cast different people for the second movie i think that all the actors and actresses did such a wonderful job taking the characters from the books and making them come to life. i hope that you do not change anything please and thanks.

[Gina]

we need better writing in the second movie. the first seemed to rushed and awkward. it was cool that they kept some of the good lines from the book, but put them in some sort of context don't just blurt them out!

[kati]

i loved the books they were amazing they give so much detail. i realy wish that the movie provided more of these details though and i wish that they didnt add the part at the end where victoria was there at prom because if you realy paid attention and read the books then you would realize that if she was there then edward would have known she was there and would have imeatly been on guard and if not then alice should have seen it and they wouldnt have let her go for her own protection. there are sooo many more details that i wished were in the movie and so many things that were different, and i wish that the movie didnt jump around so much. i understand the low budget but sence you will have a better budget then i hope that there are more details and descriptions because if you didnt read the books then you were probaly pretty lost a some parts. dont get me wrong the movie was amazing and i loved it (espically when edward was on screen=)...) but i loved it in a different way than the book. i would go and watch it every day if i could (and i wasnt broke right now) but for me i dont compare the two because nothing can compare to the book and nothing can compare to the movie... the acters were awsome and they did an amazing job of portraying the charecters of the book, if i were you i wouldnt change any of them they all did so good. well thanks for letting me tell you what i thought... =)
p.s i cant wait for new moon to premear =)

[courtney]

Okay, I gotta say, The movie was ok. It could've been better, they did rush it. You could tell in alot of parts. Edward is perfectly amazing! :) I love him. So, far I think that Kristen Stewart needs to read a little more into bella. Kristen isn't clumsy enough, she is a bit too stiff, and has the same facial expression, she needs to loosen up and work on that more, if so the next movies New Moon would be perfect! I'm not too excited for it, considering Twilight.

[Stephanie Flory]

I think Jacob is good for the 'nice, best friend' Jacob, but as the books go on, he seems to act more cruel and mean, not only to vampires, but to Bella as well. I can't see Taylor Lautner as a "mean" guy for some reason. He always seems to be smiling.

Also, with New Moon, I think the trigger from Edwards leave is because of the danger he puts Bella through, so her birthday party will be a very crucial part I think. I really really hope the part of Bella and Alice going to Italy is going to be as suspenseful and dramatic in the book, because all I can think about from reading the book is that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time from Carlisle's car being parked on Bella's street to the end of the book. That part in the book is so excruciating, even though you kind of know what's going to happen, just the extension of time being in Italy gave it so much more suspense. Having to come across every 'bad' vampire, thinking Edward and Bella were going to die.

I'm sure several people have said things like this, I'm just really excited! I loved Twilight, even though I wish the blood sample for biology part was in the movie!

[shawn]

I think they need a new actress for Bella. I don't really think Kristen Stewart did a good job on her, mostly the personality. Kristen is too dull, and stiff, she doesn't act like Bella should. I also didn't like who they chose for Alice, she wasn't Cullen beautiful. I would be more thrilled and happy if they found better actors. the actors for Esme was perfect, so was Edward, carlisle, jacob, emmet, rosalie, jessica. I also didn't like the actors for Mike Newton, and Tyler.

The movie Twilight was a dissapointment, I really don't look forward to New Moon, I loved the books, more than anything! But I just wish the cast was better, they need to upgrade. Also, show more emotion between Bella and Edward, and not only show what Bella does in spare time, but what Edward does also.

[courtney]

ok, I saw the movie Twilight saturday. I also Hated it.
I Hated the Characters. And everything about it!

It should have been everything in the book! Ugh, It was gayyy!

If they don't don't change the characters, or something, idk, then they shouldn't make the next sequal New Moon. It would ruin everyones thoughts and their own pictures of Bella and the rest of the characters if they don't fix it.

[Melanie]

I had some pretty big problems with the film version of Twilight, the most important being the way Edward was played. I think Robert Pattinson is hot and his look is Edward enough, but I thought that movie Edward came across as mildly mentally retarded. Also, some of the scenes came across as SO CHEESY which wasn't the case in the book. Also the vampire make-up was distractingly awful. All of that being said, will I see New Moon? Yes, but may wait for DVD and will be crossing my fingers for a new director, screenwriter, and make-up artist.

[meg]

hi, well i don't think this will ever be read, but here goes.
i thought the movie was amazing. after it was done, i just sat there. in awe. i was astonished that i could be that good. obviously, the book was better, the book is always better, but the movie came pretty damn close. i saw it opening night and it was all i could think about for the rest of the weekend. i also finished breaking dawn this weekend and i feel like i have a void that needs to be filled. i was so sad that i had finished the series and seen the movie. taylor lautner is beautiful :)(he has an 8 PACK!) and one scene that wasn't in the movie either was the dazzling scene. when they're sitting down and bella's like, do you realize the effect you have on people?! and they start talking about how much he's dazzling. and he asks, do i dazzle you? and she replies, frequently.. :) i loved that part from the book. i also wished that the "meadow" scene, would have been different. i was hoping it would be sunny EVERYWHERE and not just a single ray on edward's face. the volturi thing would have been nice to have aswell. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE MOVIE. did anyone else notice that 1) stephenie meyer was IN the movie :) and 2) that some of the cullen's were wearing a family crest? rosalie was wearing a pendant, emmett, i believe was a writ band type thing, and carlisle, a ring? :) just thought i'd point that out :D

I have some tips for the writers of the New Moon:

When they introduce the Volturi in the New Moon, the writers have to give the nonreaders the idea from the very begining that the Volturi's are a big deal and they are a force not to be reckoned with (big strong music might also help). The movie Twilight didn't convince me(actually, Stephanie didn't convince me either, because why would he have left her unguarded in the first place with she being clumsy and all), but they have to convince us and the nonreaders that Edward is sooo much in love with her that he would kill himself, if she perishes. The writers have to remember that Edward's love for Bella is the driving force towards the climax of this story; and let's face it, Jacob's story plays second fiddle (at the end Bella chooses Edward, not Jacob). Although the book only hinted at some of his pain, they have to make us visualize to so we can feel it and feel his love for Bella is real.

The writers absolutely cannot exclude the Cullen family entirely during the middle of the movie (like most of the Team Edward fans, we just skipped over Jacob's story and went to Italy). Taylor's cute, but he and Kristen cannot successfully carry the movie without the Robert and his fascinating vampire family (sorry, it is not the Paris and Juliet show). The Cullens have to be written in throughout the entire movie and not just as a delusion! However, the werewolf and the bear/killing incidents can keep the Bella/Jacob story interesting.

Finally, at the end, the writers have to exaggerate the near death dangers Edward, Alice, and Bella faced when they were in Italy (the book would have been better, if the danger or threat was greater). It would definitely be a disappointment if they cut the part when the Italian vamps dine on the humans. Yum!