Director talks future of the vampire franchise
Although Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke always comes off as utterly laid-back and Zen-like in person, her familiar smile seemed to show just a little more teeth (but no fangs!) in the wake of the film’s remarkable run at the box office. She gave ShockTillYouDrop.com the down-low on if, when and how she plans to sink her teeth in the next installment of Bella and Edward’s epic romance.
ShockTillYouDrop.com: We talked before opening weekend and you were playing pretty cool as far as box office predictions. Did that opening weekend response exceed your wildest expectations?
Catherine Hardwicke: It was a pretty rocking weekend! Everyone is pretty shocked, I think. I mean, like the week before it was like “Hey, if we make in the $30 million [range] it’s going to be cool.” And then we’d already made $74 million.
Shock: Which kinda makes you a lock to get the job on the next one. Has that been formalized yet?
Hardwicke: No, but we’re working that all out, which is awesome. Summit [Entertainment] is doing it and we’re trying to figure it all out, if it’ll work out for me or whatever. So it’s cool. It’s all exciting.
Shock: Is there anything you’d want to do differently in the Twilight sequels? Somewhere that you didn’t go in the first one?
Hardwicke: In the other books, Stephenie [Meyer], like she went in completely different directions too. She created whole new back stories with the werewolves and everything. So in a way they’re just automatically different, each book. She took it to a new place. She didn’t rest on what was successful in the first book. So that’s what I think the film would have to do, just take you on that journey.
Shock: Is there an element of the second book you’re especially intrigued or excited by, as far as bringing it to life on screen?
Hardwicke: New Moon‘s really taking a whole other leap with this new story and there’s really a lot of new characters in it. There’s the werewolves which is pretty crazy. All the wolves. Then there’s also going to Italy in the second book and there’s motorcycle riding and cliff-jumping and diving. I love jumping off of cliffs. So it’s kind of up my alley â into water, yeah.
Shock: Do you think that you’ll do a separate film in between, something away from Twilight?
Hardwicke: I think that what Summit wants to do is make the next one right away so I don’t think there’s really an in between because we don’t want the kids to get any older because they’re not supposed to age. They’re vampires, man, they’ve got to stay young!
Shock: You have two newly christened superstars in Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson. What do you see in the future for Kristen? It seems like there might not be anything she can’t tackle as she gets older.
Hardwicke: I can agree with that, because she has this incredible depth. She’s so soulful and so solid. Our movie is kind of a fantasy, but you believe her. She keeps it grounded and she just puts her heart into it. She’s incredible. The camera loves her, that skin that just glows. She can do any stunt. She can kind of do anything.
Shock: And we’re hearing Rob might be into playing a superhero, like Gambit or one of the other X-Men?
Hardwicke: That would be so cool. To me Rob is really like an otherworldly creature. I think it’d be awesome if he created a whole strange and interesting character, like a Johnny Depp with weird Tim Burton characters. He’s also a beautiful musician. He’s a writer, pianist, guitarist. I think he’s kind of great. I’ve been amazed when I’ve been in the studio and watched him sing and create music.
Shock: Has the sound of teenage girls screaming finally stopped ringing in your ears?
Hardwicke: I like it, man! I think it’s awesome. Most of the time in our lives we’re supposed to behave properly, fit in a box and do what everyone tells us to do and you go to a premiere or a football game you get to scream. You get to have fun. That’s so cool!
Source: Scott Huver
