'Breaking Dawn': Summit, step up your game

"Twilight" star Robert Pattison has confirmed that a fourth film in the franchise will move forward. Hero Complex newcomer Emily Christianson has some thoughts on who might be best behind the camera for the "Breaking Dawn" adpatation. Here's her list of possible directors...

"Breaking Dawn" will see the light of day and that's exciting news for "Twilight" fans who thought it couldn’t be done.

With countless challenges ahead for anyone hired to helm the project, Summit would be well advised to take their buckets of cash and invest in a director who knows makeup, special effects and young love and won’t balk at the thought of a rapidly growing vampire baby. Not to mention inheriting the vampires and werewolves of past directors Catherine Hardwicke, Chris Weitz and David Slade.

Who is worthy of such a challenge? We’ve thought of six so far....  

Peter Jackson: The "Lord of the Rings" series -- "The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers” and “The Return of the King” -- and “King Kong”

The New Zealander carries emotional story lines and dialogue to full tilt. With the help of the Weta Workshop and his Oscar-winning friend Richard Taylor, the makeup and design effects would be a cinch.

Guillermo del Toro: “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Hellboy,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” and “The Hobbit”

With "Hellboy," he dressed a grown man in latex prosthetics for a movable and realistic look and then commissioned dozens of individual creatures for "Hellboy II." A dozen or so werewolves and some vampires would be a walk in the park for this director, who’s overseeing “The Hobbit” next.   

Len Wiseman: “Underworld,” “Underworld: Evolution” and “Live Free or Die Hard”

If Slade (“30 Days of Night”) can direct “Eclipse,” then Wiseman could definitely lend his vampire and werewolf experience to “Breaking Dawn.” He would have to leave the goth garb behind, but bringing along his wife, Kate Beckinsale, for a vamp cameo would be even better.

Andrew Adamson: “Shrek,” “Shrek 2,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and “Prince Caspian.”

Mixing fantasy with reality is his forte, which would be a natural progression from what we’ve seen so far. From a live-action Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy) to the computer-generated Aslan, Adamson's got enough tricks up his sleeve to make Renesmee look real.

Sam Raimi: “Spider-Man" 1-4, “Drag Me to Hell,” “The Evil Dead” and “Army of Darkness”

Raimi is where horror meets sci-fi, and he doesn’t shy away from romance. His humor and camp could do wonders with Jacob’s sometimes snarky attitude in the final book. He’s also the most qualified for Bella’s gut-wrenching birth scene.

Alfonso Cuarón: “Great Expectations,” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” “Paris, je t’aime” and “Children of Men”

A fav director among the Harry Potter filmmakers, he was also the one to bring Lupin (a.k.a. the werewolf prof) to the big screen. Cuarón disrobed (in the most innocent sense) the teens and made them more relatable to audiences, which "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer would surely appreciate.

-- Emily Christianson

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Photo: "Twilight" actress Kristen Stewart and director Catherine Hardwicke. Credit: Stefano Paltera for The Times

Comments

[Jazzed]

Breaking Dawn should be 2 movies. Only logical to film back-to-back. What about the Weitz brothers? Makes sense as they've worked in tandem before and also have the ability to tweak dialogue/story too.

[Rebecca]

Alfonso Cuaron - love the idea of this! We need someone who can do sexy/romance, strange relationships, quirky humor, disturbing moments - sound perfect for the director of Y Tu Mama Tambien and Children of Men. Say no more.

[Connie]

James Cameron would do a great job. You might remember him, he did a low budget, cute little love story with some great special effects called "Titanic".

[Arthur]

Andrew Adamson and Alfonso Cuaron and maaaaybe Guillermo del Toro could pull this off. but everyone else on this list would just ruin it. this series isnt action oriented, at all. Sure, the other directors listed here have experience with special effects and make-up, but that doesnt mean theyll do justice to the Twilight books.

[angel]

I think taht len wiseman would be grat to direct Breacking dawn.

[Alicia Martin]

I would have to say that Len Wiseman & Guillermo del Toro would be my choice. The movies they have done in the past gives them a lot of experience with weird effects & all that good stuff. & yes I do believe that Breaking Dawn should be either 2 movies or one really long movie, there is too much in that book that needs to be in the movie. Too much that shouldnt be cut out or worked around. & hopefully New Moon & Eclipse wont have a lot of stuff cut out. but man I cant wait for them all. its such a good series so thank you Stephanie!!!

[alicia fernandez]

i think the director that has made underworld because i just saw the third movie and i think he can pull this off

[Kamberli]

I totally think that Andrew Adamson should!! I have seen the movies he has directed and he has done an amazing job!

[PJ]

Bring Chris Weitz back for Breaking Dawn. The cast speaks highly of him and he's familiar with the cast, characters and story. He'd be my first choice!

[Cass]

Uwe Boll is only one director worthy enough of this adaptation.

[Kachina]

PETER JACKSON!!! Though all have great potential to bring incredible direction to an incredible story, Jackson brings something beyond the rest!

Len Wiseman, second choice, but if put together, WOW!!!

There were many LITTLE mistakes that even an amateur could pick out on Twilight and though I LOVE the movie, I do not think Hardwicke should even be a consideration!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bring On The Masters!!!

[Nelma]

I really don't mind who directs the film as long as its good. Alfonso Cuarón did a very good job with Prisoner of Azkaban, and since I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, I wouldn't mind if its him.

[Karmen a.k.a Mrs.Cullen]

I think Cathrine should direct the movies!! She's done a wonderful job at the first movie, put a lot of effort in the second movie now, and I'm sure she'll do good job on the other two movies. And I'm sure she didn't do all that work just to put it to waste. And if you could show this to Cathrine in person i would appreciate it and i think she will too. And Cathrine if you read this i love your work and you should keep on going! Peace out people and god luck Cathrine.

[Greta Bella]

Gosh... I think they all good enought to direct Breaking Dawn but I'm for Andrew Adamson

[vote!]

I vote for Alfonso Quaron!!!!!!
He's the best for this sequel, that's my opinion

[J]

As long as it is not Catherine Hardwicke. She is terrible.

[kelly]

After reading the book I feel that Breaking Dawn should be very similar to the old movie The Cell with Jennifer Lopez! I mean I hate JLO but I loved the costume, the colors in that movie wow! It was strange, sexy and dark but not grundgy! The costumes and the set made the movie and if you can make it look like JLO can act you must be good! Underworld and Harry Potter are good but so in the shadows dark! I feel that with vamps from all over the world you really have a chance to get creative with costume and in keeping with the first film make it bright! In the books most of what they focas on is the vamps style well do something about it! If they have money why did they look like they shopped at american eagle! I just hope that the effects are better in the next movie!

[Michael]

I got a kick out of Kelly's observation about the wardrobe. I wasn't thrilled with it but remember, the school is "Forks" Washington. The Vegetarians NEED to blend in. Bad enough that they are all beautiful. When the Euros and Amazons come to witness, they do not need to blend since they will be nowhere near town. American Eagle ..... I like your style Kelly. Thanks

[MrsErika]

I agree with Kelly about the wardrobe for the vampires in Twilight. The wardrobe was not very interesting, they better make up for it in NM, especially Alice! It was a real shame that the Cullen family was so sidelined in Twilight. It could have been done so much better. I LOVE the books, but the movie was not at all impressive. I hope someone will remake it in about 10 years. I don't understand why they keep hiring Melissa Rosenberg (is that right?) to do the screenplays, I would have fired her after the butchering of Twilight! Catherine Hardwicke should not be considered for BD, it is obvious she lacked the experience to do a good movie with Twilight.

I am seriously hoping New Moon is done well because although the book is pretty slow-moving, there is a lot of information that will set the stage for Eclipse. Which is the absolute best book of the series, I don't care what anyone says!

As far as Breaking Dawn, I am one of those who was not happy with the book and so I don't care to have it made into a movie. But I guess since it looks like it's going to be made anyway, I vote for either Len Wiseman or Peter Jackson. Mr. Wiseman has the vampire vs werewolf expertise down to an art and he is not foreign to the romance part of it. Peter Jackson also has experience working with a lot of special effects and of bringing a fantastical world to the big screen. I also agree that since Breaking Dawn is a huge book, it should be two movies, preferably released no more than 6 months apart. IMHO

[kelly]

Thanks Michael ... Don't get me wrong, wendy chuck did a good job with the costume .. very understated! I do feel that it would rep forks! I just would love to see a little more spice in the clothing for the next few movies! It has to be drastic to make bella look like a seductive new vampire! I am sure by now they have more designer clothing options!

I mean really what will Alice fill the cottage closet with .... ha ha

[Heather Thomas]

I think that Len Wisemen because I thought that the did at great job doing the Underworld movies but I don't really care who does it just as long as they stick to as much as the book is possible because Its the best Part of the Twilight Saga's yet..

[Carolyn]

James Cameron, Peter Jackson or Mike Newell. Hands down, Rob & Kristen & Stephenie deserve the best for this capstone to a beautiful saga needs to be a long movie or two, but needs to do justice to this story!!!!!

[Courtnie]

I want Catherine Hardwicke to direct the rest of the movies! She did a fantastic job on "Twilight" and I think only a woman can truly understand the love between Edward and Bella. Chris Weitz has changed some scenes in movie so that they won't be EXACTLY like the book which makes me mad! Because the movie needs to follow EXACTLY how the book is, if he screws up "New Moon" , I'm not going to be happy.

[Samantha Wolfe]

Breaking Dawn should definitely not be two movies. It would be cool, though. But still I hold my ground against the whole two movie thing. It's stupid and would be a waste of time and money to do two. But hey, I'm not in charge of it, so my opinion doesn't really matter. But it so shouldn't.
I don't know about anyone else, but I denfintely don't want to wait another year to see the rest of it. Plus, it would be confusing. I mean, really, why even bother. Just meke it a three or four hour movie, like the Lord of the Rings, or The Watchman, or whatever.
Just don't, dear God, do two movies of Breaking Dawn.
As for the directors, for sure, go with the one who made the Underworld Series. They were awsome. Plus, I've heard that Len Wiseman works well with the actors, and has worked with Vampires and Werewolves in the past, so HELLO!! who woulnd't pick him.
If Catherine hadn't have gotten fired, then I would totally pick her, but since she isn't the Twilight Saga director anymore. . . .

Thank You for reading. (And if you didn't take time to read this awsome section. . . Well, screw you.

[Michael]

Samantha's point about making BD into one film has merit. LOTR Return of the King was 201 minutes long. It was nominated for several Academy Awards. BD will need some serious screenwriting. The Harry Potter films are a good example of condensed screenwriting. Those that wish word-by-word translation in to film, need to wait to buy the 3 disk , 8 hour version DVD

Samantha ... no need to be vulgar. You tarnished your message by inserting your signature phrase.