ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: TWILIGHT COVER STORY
As we told you the other day, Robert Pattinson is on the cover of this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly. In the cover story of the issue, they discuss Twilight’s box office numbers, some specifics of New Moon, and much more.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
On Saturday morning, after celebrating news that the film had already taken in more than $35 million, Summit e-mailed a letter to Twilight fans, signed by stars Pattinson and Stewart, expressing gratitude and delight at moving forward with a sequel. But the studio still hasn’t confirmed whether the rest of the cast will be brought aboard for New Moon. Fans are particularly invested in whether Taylor Lautner, who is markedly shorter and more boyish-looking than Meyer’s description of his character, Jacob, will return to vie for Bella’s heart. ‘’We are definitely talking and thinking about it right now,'’ says Erik Feig, Summit’s president of production. ‘’Taylor’s fantastic as Jacob in Twilight. I think when we get closer to shooting, the director is going to look at everyone as if they are brand-new to the role.'’And just who that director will be remains to be seen. As of press time, Hardwicke — who now holds the record for best opening-weekend box office for a female director — hadn’t signed on. But she spent much of the weekend sequestered in meetings with lawyers, agents, and studio executives. She felt hamstrung by her modest budget through much of the Twilight shoot. ‘’I had more elaborate stunt sequences designed and very crazy, cool stuff that I wanted to do,'’ she says. ‘’We had locations taken away. We had five days cut before we started to shoot. But, you know, I kind of got past that, I just had to let it go.'’
After the grueling production, Hardwicke now wants to make sure the studio shows her the money to properly tackle New Moon’s tricky plotline — which includes location shooting in Rome and several characters who must realistically morph from teenage boys into werewolves. Summit’s Feig has nothing but praise for Hardwicke, but he maintains that the sequel doesn’t necessarily demand a bigger budget. ‘’I don’t think there was anything excessively lavish about Twilight, and yet the world was fully realized,'’ he says. ‘’We’ll do exactly the same thing with New Moon.'’ Still, the studio might want to throw more money at the universally trashed special effect that was supposed to make Pattinson sparkle magically in the sunlight but left him looking merely sweaty. ‘’People make realistic CGI dragons, so you wouldn’t think making people sparkle would be that hard,'’ says Meyer.
For now, only Pattinson and Stewart are sure to live on in Meyer’s fantasy world. The two young stars, neither of whom banked on this sudden explosion of fame when they signed on for the movie, are currently limping through the last lap of their American promotional tour. (After a brief Thanksgiving rest, they’ll gear up again to spread Twilight fever across Europe.) Stewart in particular seems ill-suited for the rigors of sound-bite TV, as she fidgeted and frowned her way through awkward appearances on Late Show With David Letterman and the Today show. ‘’I think she’s had a lot of trouble,'’ says Hardwicke. ‘’She knows it’s important, but it’s not her favorite part of the job.'’ Pattinson seems to have a better game face, drowsily mystified when teenage girls throw themselves onto his moving car or when Tyra Banks asks him to bite her neck on her talk show. He did have one flash of rebellion, however: ‘’I cannot wait to cut my hair,'’ he told EW in September. ‘’It’s so annoying! I was at a photo shoot the other day, and people were saying, ‘They say we can’t touch your hair. You have trademarked hair!’ No, I don’t.'’ And so, despite the studio’s request that his ragged mop not be touched, he cut off his hair in between press junkets.
To read the complete article, click here.
(Thanks to Esther from EW)
Wow, so many things to discuss! It’s interesting that they said they are “talking and thinking” about Taylor’s return in New Moon. I couldn’t imagine anyone else as Jacob, and it’d be particularly sad to have him be in Twilight, but not future movies.
What did you think of the cover story?
How do you feel about Taylor’s possible return: would you like him to, or would you prefer a replacement?
And what about Catherine: do you understand some of the difficulties that she encountered with the budget now that you’ve heard it directly from her? Does that change how you feel about her possibly directing the second film?
Related Articles
NO! I can’t imagine anyone else playing Jacob! Taylor captured Jacob down to the T. I mean yea the whole getting taller thing is something to talk about, but they CAN’T change Jacob. They need to keep the cast that they stuck with Twilight. I HATE seeing cast change.
I understand where Catherine is coming from. But let’s face it- New Moon ABSOLUTELY needs a bigger budget. One compund word to think about…WEREWOLVES! That transformation of the quileute boys into werewolves NEEDS to look good with the CGI. It CAN NOT look as corny as the jumping and running in Twilight. New Moon is well deserved to have a good budget. If they don’t give it the budget it deserves…ugh I don’t even want to think about it. I’m going to look at the glass as half-full and hope that they will seriously think about the numbers here.
Another EW with RPatz on the cover?!!! YAY!!!!
Wonder if THIS one will get stolen out of my mailbox?!!! It BETTER not be!!!
Lol
And, I want Taylor back, and Catherine…
im shocked they think they can make new moon for the same amount of money. i love the twilight movie, but the special effects sucked and were kind of embarrassing to watch and it will only be easier for them to make new moon look cheesy with the werewolves. they need to spend way more money! 37 million is just not enough
I would REALLY like to see Taylor back as well as the rest of the cast. You can make anyone look older with makeup and it’s not like you have to make him look 50, so that shouldn’t be a problem. I don’t know of many 6′7″ actors that would look like Jacob, so the height thing would be a problem anyway. I think Taylor has done a great job with Jacob. He’s been great on tour and in interviews. I think he will handle the fame pretty well. When I saw him at Hot Topic in Hollywood, he seemed pretty buff to me. Also, I hate when actors are changed in sequels. The cast should remain the same, although I wasn’t thrilled with some of the casting.
PLEASE KEEP TAYLOR!!!!
if they replace taylo lautner for ANY of the movies, i will NOT see them!!!!! i know i will be ridiculed for this, bt he is WAYYYYY hotter than Robert!!!!! they CAN’T REPLACE HIM!!!!1
taylor was amazing as jacob. exactly how i pictured him. i cant believe they would even think of replacing him.
I cannot imagine Jacob being played by anyone else but Taylor Lautner. How silly that the studio would think about cashing in on someone else. I am sorry, we fell in love with ONE Jacob, ONE Edward, and ONE Bella! Any new changes would be greatly looked down on by the fans. You don’t make a sequel with different actors than the first. That’s a call for a riot and we’ll bring it.
I’m very excited about New Moon and just pray they do it right with a bigger budget. I mean, hasn’t this franchise “earned” it?
I think Rob and Kristen are irreplaceable at this point so without them there is no movie. Surprisingly, I think the characters of Charlie, Carlyle and Alice are also locked in. Beyond that, I think the other characters ‘could’ be replaced although it would be a really bad idea. They all did a really nice job at becoming the characters.
I wondered about Jacob from day one. Tayler did a good job, better than I even expected but it was as “kid” Jacob and I just am not sure how he fits into this evolving character. He looks VERY young and small. The kid has charisma but I think they HAVE to think about where this character is going. If they are going to make a change, now would be the time to do it.
I love Taylor Lautner. He was awesome as Jake and I hope he reprises the role.
Keep Taylor and Catherine! And the whole cast-all of them did great jobs. Catherine is right-New Moon needs and deserves a bigger budget!
The werewolves and the Volturi are very IMPORTANT to the plots of New Moon and the other 2 as well and must be done right! With fantasy movies, great special effects are very important. They’ve got a great cast and story-don’t screw it up by scimping on the special effects.
I think they need to keep the whole cast, Taylor included! It would just be weird if any of the actors weren’t in the future movies. That’s usually what sucks about sequels is most of the actors are recast and so it’s not as good as the first movie was. I can’t imagine any of the characters being played by anyone else! And I love what Catherine did with the movie and pray she directs New Moon. They can’t do New Moon with the same budget as Twilight, that’s just crazy talk! Hello werewolves morphing!
i think taylor did a good job as kiddie jacob.. but i think steven strait should be the 6′7 jacob..
The entire cast needs to be the same for New Moon, including Taylor Lautner. So what if he isn’t tall enough, Edward was supposed to sparkle, but he didn’t. There are ways to make someone appear taller. Summit can’t possibly be serious about producing New Moon with the same small budget that Twilight had. There were all kinds of things that would have been done better, had Twilight had a bigger budget.
It would be great if they had a native actor playing Jacob - there are plenty to choose from.
Here’s what I just posted on EW’s site:
My friend Diane and I must be the only ones who thought Edward’s sparkle was perfect! I was unsure about Twilight till I saw it for a 2nd time. Now, I love it and will be seeing it for a 3rd time this weekend. But, really, Summit? You’re not sure you want to up the budget for New Moon! I’m very surprised considering how much Twilight has made, will continue to make, and you have Italy and werewolves in New Moon. I can forgive Taylor’s shortness, b/c I thought he had a comfortable chemistry with Kristen as described in the book even tho’ I’m Team Edward!
I love how they think they can just pick up new cast memebers even though we have already fallen in love with them. They should have thought about that when they shot Twilight. *le sigh*
~Bree
I’m astounded at Summit Execs saying they think New Moon should be made for the same amount as Twilight. Are they crazy? Or just mean?
I’ve seen the movie 5 times now and I love it, but I cringe every time the sparkle scene comes on, and the fight scene has a certain cringe factor for me too, but all in all, I love it more each time I see it.
As for skimping on effects for the wolves. That would be the biggest mistake the studio could make (other than changing the leads that is). As for finding another actor than Taylor Lautner to play Jacob. Why cast him in the first place if they were going to do that? I know I’ve always felt very uncomfortable with someone 5′9″ playing the role of someone who has to be 7″ tall in the subsequent books - I still am - but Taylor was great as Jacob (and I don’t even like Jacob until he imprints with Renesmee in Breaking Dawn!!!
Havn’t the studio learned anything about Twilighters? Do they realize that tampering with near perfection would be the biggest mistake they could make? The fans may have ‘giveth’ over the opening weekend, but we can also ‘taketh away’ if we feel we’re being used and abused.
Oh, and I hope they find someone more competent to write the script for subsequent movies. I’m afraid I thought the dialogue was a bit ordinary, saved only by the quality of the actors for Twilight.
I just hope they don’t change any one from the cast. i hate to see a sequel with different actors from the first. it just plain stupid. you already have them portraying that character. it wouldn’t make any sense. and of course catherine should be back as the director. i think she did a great job and i knew from the beginning they had a low budget. it was expect for the special effects not to be up there as we all probably thought. no changes what so ever just a bigger budget!!!
Taylor needs to be recast! Please be realistic here for the sake of the integrity of the movie! He will NOT right! He was GREAT as the young Jake, but the older, buffer, taller Jake needs to be a different person. It will NOT be weird to recast him as he so drastically changes in the book. Now, it would be weird to recast the other’s who stay the same, but not Taylor. IF Jake does not change so much that he freaks Bella out, it will ruin the movie.
Please pick a gorgeous, authentic, REAL native American! There are plenty!!!
summit is really crazy if they think they can do new moon justice with the same budget. The special effects of twilight were distractingly atrocious. they need to readjust their thinking. the fans may not be as forgiving the second time around, and many nonreaders have already abandoned ship.
I do hope they plan to spend a little more on New Moon. Actually if they spent more money on Twilight especially the scene where Edward is suppose to sparkle, it would of been better. If they want the scenes to be realistic, they need to spend to achieve that look. It will be worth it in the long wrong to get a great finished product.
As for Taylor Lautner, he’s ok. I can’t think of anyone else who be would replace him. Taylor will have huge part in New Moon, so I hope he works out fine. I’m reading New Moon for the zillionth time.
As for Catherine directing the second movie, I think she will do fine. I was a little disappointed in the screenwriting. I thought there should of been more about Edward & Bella learning about each other where they were asking questions about each other. How were suppose to fall in love? I wonder if they can put some of that before the birthday party in New Moon? I am stil looking forward to NM.
I wouldn’t mind if they changed the director and Taylor. The director b/c I think a bigger. more respected director would get a bigger budget, and would, hopefully, do a better job drawing out the important relationship aspects in New Moon. I don’t want it all to be about the werewolves morphing but showing the difficulties of that transformation on them personally and how Bella is able to show their story thru her eyes. And for Edward to have his great comeback in awesome theatric style.
Taylor is too baby-faced, and not at all sexy, which Jacob is supposed to exude with his height, his Native American looks, and his payful sexiness. Sorry Taylor just doesn’t fit the bill. He looks 14 unfortunately, and they need to start filming soon–just b/c the vamps need to stay young looking. But it would be hard to see Bella being attracted to Jacob when Kristen Stewart looks older and more mature than Taylor.
Oh puhleeeease! The entire cast and crew will return! Did you see how excited everyone was at the premire when they were asked about New Moon. Especially Catherine Hardwick. The script is written and Taylor is so adorably enthusiastic about Jacob it gives me diabetis from his over sweetness. Lol. I wouldnt worry, Im not at all. I felt so bad about Robs so-called trademark hair. He looks fantastic any way his hair is cut! I like it shorter anyway.
I’m not at all worrying about the cast returning. I think thats a given. No one would stupid enough to miss out on the sucess of the movie. I wouldn’t mind if they changed directors, as long as they stick with the book.
As for the budget topic, Summit is either naive or want a horribly cheesy movie. For one, the werewolves are going to need real wolves or extensive CGI to make it look real. Then theres the Volturi which will need to be filmed on location. If they do choose to have a small budget, its like punishing the fans and all the non-readers will loose interest in it. Its pretty much a deathwish if they don’t increase the budget.
Ahhhh !! I have been racing to the mailbox for 2 days looking for my EW to arrive and when I get it there is no Rob on the cover instead I got a crusty Meryl Streep ????
I think that Catherine did an amazing job and would do NM justice. I think she understands how to capture the essemse of the books and how very important it is to us fans to portray that.
I definitely however think Summit’s out of their minds if they think that they can really do NM on the same budget as Twilight?! There’s no question that a bigger budget will be needed in order to successfuly, creatively, and realistically portray the phasing of the werewolves! The scene in Rome as well. i just feel that if they do that it will be a BIG mistake.
As much as I hate to say this I feel that in order to accurately depict Jacob, they need someone taller. I absolutely loved the way Taylor did Jacob. He was Jacob. His openness, his smile, and his
whole demeanor is Jacob. I heard a lot of people say that they hate when sequels change out actors and I feel the same, so I’m very interested in seeing how they will make this work out.
It’s the movies, anything is possible, right? =D
I got ol’ Meryl too! There is only a TINY pic of Rob! >:(
Don’t tell me there are two covers and I got this one? Or did they change their minds?
Did anyone get the Rob cover???
AHHHH!!! When I saw this the other day, I was like Yes another cover with just Rob!!! And then it comes and he’s only in a little box
Now don’t get me wrong I love Meryl but, I was so looking forward to a Rob cover in my mailbox lol!
As far as the article, I hate when movies change actors for sequels, it just doesn’t work. And I think Taylor is so adorable, and with all the time between sequels, this kid will most likely grow up, And Summit is nuts if they think they can make the next movies on the same budget. One of the biggest complaints was the effects which people forgave considering the low budget but, with all the money they are making people will not be so forgiving next time. They should be fair and seriously consider that this film put them on the map.
I got Meryl, too!
i hope they dont make this movie the same … they need more money and they were right edward did look like he was sweating… im pretty sure they will get Jacob back ….. and i will not be forgiving … they need a freakin bigger budget… they made like 76.5 million dollars at the poening weekend!!! they better got to rome and they better make edward sparkle… i want to see kristen break down because edward leaves … i want it to be more like the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!