Summit on Breaking Dawn: No decision on how many films, but Weitz is out of the picture

Among the many topics discussed here on this blog, and especially on my Twitter, is 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) is 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. That's not really news. 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 shooting is expected to begin 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."

As for as breaking up Breaking Dawn into two films, "It's a work in process," Godfrey told The Times. "The issue [of whether there will be one or two movies] is not going to be resolved until we get the full treatment and see whether it's organic. If it's not organic, I don't think it will be done, and if it is, it will be. It really has to do with how much level of detail from the books there is, with all of these new vampires that appear in Breaking Dawn, the whole section about Jacob...It's a very long single movie if it does become a single movie."

The three principal actors, Kristen Stewart, Rob Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner have apparently completed their negotiations and have "signed contracts." In addition, shooting is expected to begin "this fall" in Vancouver.

I'll be back to update this piece but, for now those are the facts.

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