New 'Twilight' director named (and it's a he)

It's official: Chris Weitz is taking over the director's chair for the "Twilight" sequel "New Moon."

"Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer confirmed the news on her official website Saturday morning in a post designed to calm the rising anguish among fans who loved the first film adaptation. After bidding a fond farewell to "Twilight" director Catherine Hardwicke, Meyer went on to praise Weitz and to let fans know that "torches and pitchforks are not going to be necessary."

On the one hand, Weitz has shown his skill at adapting popular modern novels for the screen -- "About a Boy," from the Nick Hornby novel, won Weitz and co-scripters Paul Weitz and Peter Hedges an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay. On the other hand, Weitz also directed last year's "The Golden Compass," which was an expensive mess that failed to capture the fan base of the book.

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-- Patrick Kevin Day

Comments

[Melissa]

For all of you worried that they re-cast Jacob take a look at New Moon's IMDB.com page and you will see that Taylor Lautner is still Jacob. And if you don't believe that, go to Taylor's IMDB.com page and see for yourselves there. So calm down! It's amazing what they can do with makeup and camera angles to make someone look bigger than they are. Or smaller...for instance take Gimli from Lord of the Rings...that guy is actually over 6' tall! Everything is going to be ALRIGHT! lol

[kelly]

I don't get how they're going to portray Jacob in these, as he's supposed to get taller and taller and older looking. The Jacob they had now was a little young looking for what he becomes, but it would be hard to find a replacement that looks like him?

[Nina]

yikes, he's such a tossup. Loved About a Boy, HATED Golden Compass. New Moon will be the trickiest movie to pull of in the series, since Edward is MIA and Jacob as a character is a bit on the ricecakey side. I say they shorten the middle half, and give a lot of time to the Italy section, cause that's the best part by far. Oh, and here's a nother suggestion....split screen the time Edward is MIA, that way we broads can watch him brood in bed the whole time Bella tries to get her groove back!!!

[veronica]

I hope he does a great job or even better job than Twilight.
Don't get me wrong, Twilight was awmazing but it could've been better **i.e the meadow scene only lasted about 2 mins!!! really dissapointed me** but that was the only thing about the movie and the editting, that really dissappoiinted me, and i hope Chris does a great job with New Moon, since rumors are goin around that were gonna loose our Taylor, that played Jacob, I believe he did a great job as jacob! and i dont even like Jacob!!! but all we can do is wait and see

[Jenelle Clark]

Let's just hope that he does a good job with "New Moon." I heard rumor that they are not going to keep the same guy that plays "Jacob" for this movie, but I hope that they keep him. I like him and I hate when they switch characters like that in the middle of movies like that. We'll have to wait and see.

[Cynthia]

i loved the movie! i hope the new director makes the second movie just as great.

[Samantha]

I look forward to seeing New Moon !!!!!!!!!

I think you will do a great job :)

[stephy]

OMG!!!! He better do a good job in capturing the story behind New Moon. He should also keep Taylor Lautner to continue playing Jacob Black. If they recast its going to be really stupid because there will be two different people playing the same character and its going to be confusing. THEY SHOULD KEEP HIM!!!!

[carol]

Excellent choice. Hardwicke is too into the teen-angst thing and a little un-focused. Twilight was choppy and cheap looking. It will be nice to have someone who understands the 'big shot' and special effects which is what New Moon is going to need.

[lakin]

catherine i thought was really good, but this guy seems okay.

[jacob fan]

is he going to replace taylor? omg if he does i might cry