Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon, and starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn will be two movies, Summit Entertainment has officially announced on Thursday, June 10. Considering that Breaking Dawn is a long book, not to mention all the contractual negotiations, especially what went on between Summit and Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen) and Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen), this bit of "breaking news" should come as no surprise to anyone.
Additionally, the Twilight Saga is Summit’s fat cash cow. The more mi$k they can get out of that cow, the better. (Think Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part II.) And of course, fans will be thrilled to have more Edward, more Bella, more Jacob, more – ugh – Renesmee.
Breaking Dawn – Part I will hit US theaters on November 18, 2011. According to some early reports — rumors, if you will — Part II should be released in summer 2012.
Melissa Rosenberg is currently working on the screenplay. Breaking Dawn parts I and II should begin production in the fall; the films will be shot back-to-back — or perhaps "simultaneously" might be a better description of the shooting schedule, as one assumes scenes will be shot according to locations, logistics, costs, etc.
Author Stephenie Meyer will be one of the film’s — or rather, films’ — producers.
The real announcement I’m waiting to hear has to do with Renesmee’s casting. Will they get a weird baby to play the fast-growing, mind-writing half-human, half-vampire hybrid? Or will Renesmee be a cgi creation like the werewolves? I’m hoping for the latter option. That should be really creepy.
Also coming back for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn are Peter Facinelli, Nikki Reed, Elizabeth Reaser, Billy Burke, and Jackson Rathbone. I’m assuming Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen, Daniel Cudmore, and the other Volturi actors will also return. Plus Julia Jones, Booboo Stewart, Chaske Spencer and all the werewolves.
Photo: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment)