A recent press release by Summit Entertainment, entitled “SUMMIT BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW MOON DIRECTOR” just made waves announcing the departure of director, Catherine Hardwicke, from the film Twilight which made close to $70 million in its opening weekend beating out Daniel Craig’s Quantum of Solace.
With the money the bank, Hardwicke also became the first female director in Hollywood to set new box office records. Alas, the marriage between Summit and Hardwicke just wasn’t meant to be. As of Sunday night at precisely 5:40pm, a press release announced that Hardwicke “will not be directing the next installment in the newly minted TWILIGHT film franchise.”
From the release:
“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.'”
While this all seems sad and a peaceful separation, Nikki Finke over at DeadlineHollywoodDaily reports otherwise. According to Finke’s sources, Hardwicke was terminated from the Twilight franchise as she as reported to be “difficult” and “irrational” during the making of the film. It was also reported that “Summit didn’t like her.” And she contributed little if anything to the visual look of the film, with credits heavily favoring Elliot Davis, the Director of photography instead.
Ouch.