McAllen's Hardwicke will not direct 'Twilight' sequel

McAllen native and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke will not oversee the franchise's second installment, New Moon.

The studio, Summit Entertainment, has not released the name of the new director or any names of possible contenders.

Hardwicke is said to have wanted more prep time, but the studio wanted the project in theaters by late 2009 or early 2010. Stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are scheduled to return for New Moon.

Hardwicke's cousin Sally Brace, of McAllen, said she learned of the news early Monday via the Internet. Neither she nor other members of the Hardwicke family have spoken with the director because she is promoting the movie in Europe, Brace said.

"I'm disappointed," she said. "I think she did a great job with Twilight and would have done a great job on this one."

Twilight has been a box office smash, grossing nearly $139 million in its three weeks of release. The movie made $70.6 million in its opening weekend, the biggest film debut ever by a female director. 

The McHi graduate's version of the popular book series by Stephenie Meyer has been met with mixed reviews from critics and fans, but a studio executive claimed in a statement that was not a factor in their decision, saying she did "an incredible job in helping us to launch the Twilight franchise."

Late Monday rumors were also circulating the Internet that claimed the director was difficult to work with on set, prompting the studio to decide against hiring Hardwicke for the second movie. Brace pays no credence to the rumors, saying her cousin simply cuts no corners when her name is attached to a project.

In an interview with Festiva in October, Hardwicke said she was working hard on completing the final sound mix for the movie. A week before the interview, Hardwicke said she was in the editing room "crying as I did the final mix because of this thing I wish I could have done but we didn't have the money for."

"She wants things to be perfect or as good as she can get them," said Brace. "She just cares."

This would not the first time the studio's push to release a Twilight movie placed Hardwicke in a tough spot. In August, Summit moved the release date for the movie from Dec. 12 to Nov. 21, which put Hardwicke in a time crunch, Brace said.

"I remember she had to work very long hours," Brace said. "I mean (she) had to get everything done in one month. But I don't think it hurt the quality of the movie at all."

Hardwicke was born and raised in McAllen. She graduated from the University of Texas and later returned to the Valley to work as an architect; one of her more notable works around town is McAllen's Waterwalk neighborhood.

She took off to Hollywood in the 1980s in hopes of achieving her filmmaking dreams. Prior to Twilight, Hardwicke directed the teen drama Thirteen, The Nativity Story and Lords of Dogtown, starring the late Heath Ledger.

"What's important right now is Twilight. She's so proud of it and how well it's doing," Brace said. "I know Catherine and I know something else will come along."

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Sandra Gonzalez covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4427.

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