I think we’d be very happy with all of them,’ she says of the roster.

By Larry Carroll

SAUGUS, California — Less than a month after Kristen Stewart confirmed to us the three leading candidates to direct “Breaking Dawn,” word has leaked that “Dreamgirls” filmmaker Bill Condon may have emerged as Summit Entertainment’s top choice for the final “Twilight” tale.

As Twilighters continue to hold their breath in anticipation of a big announcement likely to come soon, we spoke with another Stephenie Meyer fan who has a more personal stake in the decision: The lovely and talented Ashley Greene. Hard at work these days filming her first starring role in the supernatural thriller “The Apparition,” the woman sometimes known as Alice Cullen took a break from shooting to give us her breakdown of the big three “Breaking Dawn” candidates.

“They didn’t get to where they are by making mediocre, boring films,” Ashley said of her excitement over the names. “I think they would all bring incredible elements to the films, and that’s what I think we’ve been doing the whole time. You’ve seen such a difference between Catherine [Hardwicke], and then we went to Chris Weitz and then David Slade, and it’s progressively getting a little darker.

“They are all incredible directors,” she added. “I think we’d be very happy with all of them.”

To read the full story click here.

No deal is in place, but there have been negotiations between the ‘Dreamgirls’ director and the studio.

By Eric Ditzian

Last month, word dropped that three Oscar-nominated directors were on Summit Entertainment’s short list to helm “Breaking Dawn,” the yet-unannounced final installment of the “Twilight” franchise: Gus Van Sant (”Milk”), Sofia Coppola (”Lost in Translation”) and Bill Condon (”Dreamgirls”).

Now, it appears Condon has established himself as Summit’s top choice for the gig, according to a Deadline.com report. No deal is yet in place, but several meetings have led to negotiations between the director and the studio.

What’s more, citing unnamed sources, Deadline reports that “Breaking Dawn” will be split into two films (as has long been rumored) and will begin shooting in the fall. The director search kicked off after “New Moon” director Chris Weitz declined the chance to return to the franchise.

MTV News’ request for comment has not yet been returned by Summit.

To read the full story click here.

‘Twilight’ scribe Melissa Rosenberg talks about potential directors for the franchise’s conclusion.

By Eric Ditzian

The “Breaking Dawn” questions are familiar by now: Who will direct? Will the final book in Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series be split into one film or two? Could the whole thing receive the ever-popular 3-D treatment? Then there’s one query that has gotten less play but which is still highly relevant to the proceedings: Just how do you make a PG-13 movie out of a book that features oodles of vampire-on-teenager sex and the gruesome birth of a vampire/human baby?

Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg has stepped up to reassure Twilighters that not only will “Breaking Dawn” be rated PG-13 (as the two earlier films were) rather than R, but that nothing in the story will be sacrificed in the process.

“That’s your audience,” she told Film.com. “In this series, you don’t sacrifice anything. There are some movies that wouldn’t play at PG-13, like ‘The Hangover,’ but this is just not one of them for me. Again, if you’re capturing character, emotion and emotional journey, you’re OK.”

Rosenberg also addressed another pressing “Breaking Dawn” question: Who’s going to step into the director’s chair? Among the names floating around the Web are Sofia Coppola (”Lost in Translation”), Gus Van Sant (”Milk”) and Bill Condon (”Dreamgirls”). As the writer behind every ‘Twilight” script, does Rosenberg have any say in the process?

To read the full story click here.

It’s so hard to compare roles — [but playing Bella] was difficult for other reasons,’ actress says.

By Larry Carroll

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Ever since she broke through playing Jodie Foster’s tough, imperiled daughter in the 2002 hit film “Panic Room,” moviegoers and critics alike have been quick to praise Kristen Stewart’s acting skills. Now, the 19-year-old actress is back in theaters next Friday (February 26) with “The Yellow Handkerchief,” a romantic drama she was cast in after Foster recommended her to the film’s producer, six-time Oscar winner Arthur Cohn. But when it comes to which role was tougher to play — her “Handkerchief” rebel Martine or “Twilight” icon Bella Swan — KStew and Cohn disagree.

“I followed Jodie’s advice because she’s a great actress and director,” Cohn said of casting Stewart in “Handkerchief,” a love story featuring old and new romances blossoming side by side. “Kristen had an enormous sensitivity for an extremely difficult part. With all respect to ‘Twilight,’ I think this part was infinitely harder to pull off.”

Making matters more interesting, Kristen was only 15 when she landed the role. It wasn’t until “Handkerchief” hit Sundance in 2008 that she was even cast in the “Twilight Saga” films. But with all due respect to her producer, Stewart disagreed with his thoughts on which role was more difficult to pull off.

“No, I would say definitely not,” Stewart insisted, claiming that Bella is the more complicated portrayal from an actor’s point of view. “It’s so hard to compare roles — this was difficult for other reasons.

To read the full story click here.

Actress says she doesn’t want to give birth onscreen, ‘Avatar’-style.

By Larry Carroll

With “Avatar” riding high at the box office and everything from “Clash of the Titans” to “Alice in Wonderland” to the next “Spider-Man” film set on entering the third dimension, it seems like every blockbuster worth its salt is going 3-D. Now, the “Twilight Saga” fanbase is beginning to buzz with discussion over whether its eagerly anticipated final chapter, “Breaking Dawn,” should similarly leap off the screen. On Thursday (February 18), we caught up with Kristen Stewart — and she was quick to insist that she’d only do 3-D with certain limitations.

“I don’t know,” the 19-year-old superstar said with a laugh when told about the online movement to film “Breaking Dawn” with the same 3-D technology that made “Avatar” such an event. “I think that would be crazy!

“Maybe selectively, maybe,” Stewart added cryptically. “Maybe certain scenes.”

Of course, any Twilighter worth their Edward Cullen body pillow knows that in the final book of the saga, Stewart’s Bella gives birth. Let’s just say it’s a very vivid, very messy sequence, and one that Stewart told us she would definitely not want to shoot in 3-D.

“No, I don’t think that should be [in 3-D],” she laughed, admitting that the birth scene was among the moments she was suggesting should be “selectively” shot in normal 2-D. “Also, you don’t want Renesmee to be scary. You don’t want her to fly into your face.”

To read the full story click here.

‘Breaking Dawn’ To Become Two Films? Not Yet, Says Studio
While reports on the Web say the final ‘Twilight’ installment will be two movies, the studio is staying mum.

It’s something Harry Potter has blazed the trail for, “Twilight” fans have suspected for quite some time and several of the franchise’s stars seem eager about. Now, it seems, the word may finally be official: “Breaking Dawn” will be split into two movies.

The news was reported Thursday (February 11) by Deadline Hollywood, although it should be pointed out that many news outlets have “announced” the same fact over the last few months, all apparently premature.

“No decision has been made,” a representative for Summit Entertainment told MTV News after the Deadline Hollywood story ran. “As we have said all along, we are continuing to work with Stephenie Meyer to bring ‘Breaking Dawn’ to the big screen.”

“I have this from several sources and it’s definitive,” the Web site insists. ” ‘Breaking Dawn’ is the longest in Stephenie Meyer’s four-book series lengthwise and it’s the most graphic — presenting birth, attempted murder, death and of course vampire bites. … Summit Entertainment no doubt could save money by making these ‘Twilight’ Saga movies #4 and #5 back to back and is currently looking for director or directors to helm both features.”

To read the full story click here.

On the Critics’ Choice red carpet, ‘Up in the Air’ actress also fills us in on upcoming Seth Rogen film ‘I’m With Cancer.’

By Larry Carroll, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

My, how little Anna Kendrick has grown!

The first time we spotted her was years ago, when she made a splash at Sundance with the indie film “Rocket Science.” In the time since, we’ve enjoyed her as Bella Swan’s fast-talking friend Jessica Stanley. And now, at still only 24 years old, Kendrick is an awards-season juggernaut with her new movie “Up in the Air,” showing up on another red carpet at Friday’s (January 15) Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.

And, naturally, she had a lot to talk about. Like “Breaking Dawn,” the final novel in the “Twilight” series. Depending on whom you speak with, Stephenie Meyer’s last Bella and Edward book will either be split into two films or remain intact.

“If it is [split], great. If it’s not, great,” Kendrick insisted, saying it’s not that she doesn’t care, but that she has no control over the situation. “I understand why they would want to do that, but it’s not my call.

“I find out when the fans find out. That’s true,” she laughed when asked when she expects to be briefed on how “Breaking Dawn” will be shot. “You will find out before I find out, actually. Text me.

To read the full story click here.

Among the many topics discussed here on this blog, and especially on my Twitter, are questions about The Twilight Saga. More specifically, “what’s the deal with Breaking Dawn?” I’ve avoided saying too much here because most of the information being posted (leaked) has been nothing but rumors and speculation. But thanks to the astute Los Angeles Times’ writer Gina McIntyre, we may have some bonafide facts.

Let’s get right to the bottom line: McIntyre spoke directly with the film’s producer Wyck Godfrey, who is stating publicly that no decision has yet been made as to whether or not the Breaking Dawn novel will be split into two scripts (and two movies) or one. But we’ve heard that before. What is news, though, is that he is all but confirming that New Moon director Chris Weitz will NOT be back to helm Breaking Dawn, one film or two. He’s also confirming that the three stars are on board and the plan is to begin shooting this fall in Vancouver.

“I think everyone would be happy and excited if he came back, but I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Godfrey told The Times. “But right now we’re just focused on the treatment and getting that right. At that point, we’re going to see who’s available and who’s appropriate. It’s such a complicated book because you have the emotions and the intensity of the love story — so you need somebody who’s just a wonderful director of actors — and yet it’s really complicated from an action and visual effects standpoint. They’ve got to have both tools in their kit.”

To read the full story click here.

Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz and others talk about splitting the book into two movies, who should direct and more.

By Jocelyn Vena

With the box-office success of “New Moon” and fans eagerly anticipating the June release of “Eclipse,” it looks almost certain that “Breaking Dawn,” the final book in the “Twilight Saga,” will hit the big screen. But there are two big questions surrounding the potential film: Who will direct it, and will it be split into two movies?

MTV News spoke with the “Twilight” stars last week at a New York screening of “New Moon” and asked them to weigh in on the saga’s future.

“If I had a wish list, Gus van Sant would be pretty cool,” Peter Facinelli said, mirroring Robert Pattinson’s director pick. “I just think he’d be an interesting choice for it. I mean, ‘Milk’ was phenomenal. I would just love to see ‘Breaking Dawn’ done, because I’d like to finish the whole chapter.”

To read the full story click here.

‘No official offer has been made,’ he says of fourth ‘Twilight’ movie.

By Eric Ditzian

Unlike so many film franchises with ultra-loyal followings, the “Twilight” series has roped in a new director for each successive installment. After Catherine Hardwicke steered the first flick to over $380 million in worldwide ticket sales, Chris Weitz took over for “New Moon,” which is already getting plaudits for its impressive CGI-enhanced action. “Eclipse,” meanwhile, will soon be wrapping principle photography in Vancouver under the watchful eye of director David Slade.

All of which raises a compelling question: Who will be tapped to helm “Breaking Dawn,” the expected adaptation of the fourth and final of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire book series? According to Weitz, it just might turn out to be him, as he hinted in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

“No official offer has been made,” the director said when asked about directing “Breaking Dawn.” “The fans have been enthusiastic about the ['New Moon'] footage and the trailer, and the studio responds to that by feeling good about me. We’ll have to see how people feel about the entire movie, not only the studio but the fans, before the verdict is out whether I direct # 4.”

To read the full story click here.