Friday, July 09, 2010

"Breaking Dawn" Will Rise In Vancouver

Summit Entertainment reports that "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" will be filmed in both Vancouver and Baton Rouge, Louisiana starting this fall.

The next chapter of "The Twilight Saga" will be released as two separate films with the first of the two slated to be released in theatres, November 18, 2011.

Academy Award winner Bill Condon will direct both films starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, with Billy Burke as 'Charlie Swan' as well as returning members of the 'Cullen Family' including Peter Facinelli as 'Carlisle', Elizabeth Reaser as 'Esme', Jackson Rathbone as 'Jasper', Nikki Reed as 'Rosalie', Ashley Greene as 'Alice' and Kellan Lutz as 'Emmett'.

The project, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series, is currently being written by Melissa Rosenberg with Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt and Stephenie Meyer producing.

"...'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions..."


Director Condon posted an 'open letter' on "The Twilight Saga" Facebook page:

"...Greetings Twihards, Twifans, Twilight Moms, Team Edward, Team Jacob and Team Switzerland,

"I just want to say hello to all of you and let you know that I’m stoked to be getting underway on the adventure of making BREAKING DAWN. As you’ve probably heard, I’ve been given a very warm welcome by Stephenie and Team Summit - who are super-focused, as you know, on getting these movies right.

"I’m pretty busy bringing myself up to speed on what you already know by heart: I’ve read BREAKING DAWN twice, rewatched Catherine’s and Chris’s movies 2-3 times each, have all four CDs playing in my car, and have Catherine’s notebook, Mark Cotta Vaz’s companion books, and even Volume 1 of the graphic novel here on my desk - a corner of my office is starting to look like Hot Topic. I realize that this barely qualifies me for “newborn” status in the universe you’ve been living inside for a few years now, but a guy’s gotta start somewhere.

"Like many of you, I’ve always been slightly obsessed with vampires, dating back to the prime-time series DARK SHADOWS, which I followed avidly as a kid. But that alone hadn’t been enough to get me interested in making a vampire movie, even though my early screenwriting and directing efforts grew out of a great love for horror movies and thrillers. Since making GODS AND MONSTERS thirteen years ago, however, I’ve been yearning for a return to a story with Gothic overtones.

"The wonderful world that Stephenie has created has obviously struck a chord with you, and I don’t think it’s difficult to see why. For me, her characters are simultaneously timeless, yet very modern. Rooted in a beautiful, real landscape with a great sense of place, Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the rest of the Forks/La Push menagerie, experience emotions that are primal, and universal: desire, despair, jealousy - and it all comes to fruition in BREAKING DAWN. This is a final chapter in the best sense; not just wide in scope and scale, but emotionally charged and intense throughout.

"I’m a huge admirer of the already-iconic Kristen, Robert, and Taylor, and wanted to be the one to work with them as they face the challenges of bringing your beloved characters to the end of their journeys. Really, what could be more fun than that?

"I am excited and grateful to have all of you alongside me for my TWILIGHT journey..."

"Bringing Stephenie Meyer's 'Breaking Dawn' to the screen requires a graceful and intelligent hand", said Erik Feig, President of Production and Acquisitions, Summit Entertainment. "We believe Bill Condon is exactly the right steward, having shown equal and abundant talents of immense creativity and subtle sensitivity".

The 3-part "Breaking Dawn" novel, details the marriage of 'Bella', her honeymoon with 'vampire' 'Edward' on a private island off the coast of Brazil, Bella's pregnancy and her return home to Forks, Washington.

The novel's second part, written from the perspective of 'werewolf' 'Jacob Black' sees his 'Quileute' wolfpack planning to kill Bella and her unborn child.

Bella eventually gives birth, but loses massive amounts of blood, with Edward changing her into a vampire by injecting his vampiric venom into her heart.

As Bella's new daughter 'Renesmee' enters the world, the 'romantic monsters' Edward and Jacob finally regard each other as brotherly kindred spirits.

Condon scripted/directed "Dreamgirls", "Kinsey" and "Gods And Monsters", for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1999. He was also nominated for a second Oscar for his screenplay for the Toronto-lensed movie musical "Chicago" in 2003.

Most recently Condon produced the 81st Annual Academy Awards telecast, hosted by singing/dancing actor Hugh "Wolverine" Jackman.

Click the images to enlarge...