12/7/2008

Jeffrey Harris

Catherine Hardwicke will not be returning to direct "Twilight's" sequel, "New Moon."

*Twilight* director, Catherine Hardwicke, will not be directing the sequel to the Summit Entertainment hit, says the *Hollywood Reporter*. Summit plans on releasing *New Moon*, the direct sequel to *Twilight*, in late 2009 or early 2010, and the company confirmed that the movie will have a new director.  
  
Hardwicke had previously directed the films *Thirteen* and *The Nativity Story* before *Twilight*, which recently became one of the biggest hits of the year. *New Moon* will be based on the second book of the same name in Stephenie Meyer's four-book vampire series. *Twilight* stars, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, are set to reprise their roles, and screenwriter, Melissa Rosenberg, will also be penning the sequel.  
  
*Twilight* has grossed almost $139 million in the U.S. box office in three weeks of release.