10.14.08
Early Hints of ‘Twilight’ Success Prompts Sequel Talk, Which Is Old News, But Now It’s Official
A ‘Twilight’ sequel is getting the go ahead, based on ‘New Moon,’ the second and most internalised and difficult to read book in the series, probably. But we all knew it would come to this, right? Set to bow competition free this November 21st, the low-budgeted “soon-to-be-a-megahit” will not only be rivalling the success of “Harry Potter” in terms of box-office pull [sort of], but in terms of merchandise too.
“When your soundtrack isn’t even completed much less released (not until November 4th), yet it’s already in the Top 5 Best-Selling Albums on Amazon based on pre-sales alone, you know you have a hit,” says Nikki Finke. I wasn’t always hot on the idea of the books by Stephenie Meyer (which sat at #1 on the NY Times bestseller list for 59 weeks) getting made into films, but then of course I hadn’t read the book. Which I now have, and I kind of love it and I am kind of popping out of my skin with anticipation to see the film.
Everyone is quick to assume that the only people who are truly interested in the film are young female teens and slightly older woman, because they are the novels’ core audience, but clever marketing and a genuinely gripping story – with little gore, but a lot of angst – could see more than a few males buying their tickets for what I, and most people, think could be the biggest hit of the season. Catherine Hardwicke directing great female actresses like Kristen Stewart and Nikki Reed is enough to get this male interested, so what’s to say it won’t do the same for others?
Sure, on opening night, audiences will be predominantly filled to the brim with screaming girls and their moms/aunts/sisters/bffs/imaginary friends, but word of mouth and the power of female persuasion could prove the notion that boys just aren’t interested in anything without explosions wrong. I am not the only one who thinks so, either. It’s the new millennium people, anything is possible and I could end up being totally wrong, and that’s fine. One thing is for sure, “Twilight” is going to be huge, regardless of male interest, and it deserves to be (or so I hope).
Check out the newest trailer below, which I should add, got 3.5 million views in 48 hours of its release.
What I want to know is whether or not you give a damn about the upcoming ‘Twilight’ film, as well as its subsequent sequels.
Jerry said,
October 14, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I couldn’t give a damn.
Salmaya said,
October 14, 2008 at 9:20 pm
New Moon is such an internalised, angsty story that it will be hard to make into a successful film, but I would love to see it done right.
Cam said,
October 14, 2008 at 9:30 pm
New Moon was the hardest book to read because of all the angst, but I would love to see it as a movie. Since the movie won’t be from Bella’s perspective, we would probably get to see some of what is happening to the Cullens during this time period, as well as watching the werewolf pack develop. There’s lots of stuff there besides the angst
Kerry said,
October 14, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Like you Nick, I’ve read all the books with anticipation of the film(s), and it really has made me more interested than I was before. I think the books are just as entertaining – if not more – than Harry Potter, and the Harry Potter films aren’t as good as the books, but with Hardwicke – who has a knack for getting under the skin of young females – at the helm, it could turn out differently with ‘Twilight’ and its sequels. Personally, I want to see Breaking Dawn made into a film more than all the others.
Justin said,
October 14, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Twilight OWNS Harry Potter, and has more insight into the inner workings of young teens in the face of adversity than Potter ever did. So. I think its gonna be huge too, and I cant wait.
Susan said,
October 14, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I am in my 20s, and I love it. Most of my friends do too, male and female. And Catherine H is a legend, so this is going to be great – as a film, not only as a money maker.
Santiago said,
October 14, 2008 at 9:55 pm
The naysayers can say what they like – many, many males are interested in this book series and are excited for the film, so you are right. Let’s just pray it lives up to expectations.
Eleanor said,
October 14, 2008 at 9:57 pm
What I hate is the people who hate on it even though they have not read the books, nor do they intend to, they just hate on it because so many people are INTO it. Its unstoppable, Harry Potter better move over, a new, cooler, more edgy, more interesting series is about to blow our minds. I am sure of that.
whosaidwhat said,
October 14, 2008 at 10:00 pm
My only problem with Twilight are its overly obnoxious fans that make Twilight-virgins uninterested in reading the books.
donald said,
October 14, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Summit is overestimating this films box-office potential, and so are you. Only females are interested in this film/books – and you, there is no other male interest, stop making things up.
IT said,
October 14, 2008 at 10:02 pm
The trailers looks *horrible*. I really don’t have any idea how this movie became to something that everyone is talking about.. I think it will have a nice opening weekend (more than 30 million), but after the bad reviews it will fall very quickly.. I hope so.
Ramona said,
October 14, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Hey does anyone know how to get cast in the movie?
Any information hit me up at my email: Bonitaangel331@yahoo.com
I cant wait for the other two books to become a movie too i want to own them on dvd already!
Dame James Henry said,
October 15, 2008 at 12:17 am
I just finished reading “Twilight” and I think once they edit out all of the repetitive scenes, they will have one hell of a movie. I do think that you’re being a little over optimistic that Kristen Stewart and Nikki Reed will get the male population in the theater. They’re not exactly accessible like Megan Fox, who offers nothing but a good rack and appeals to horny boys. I’m excited for them, but most boys probably aren’t.
Vera said,
October 15, 2008 at 1:04 am
I work in a bookstore and I have sold a lot of copies of the Twilight series but never to a guy. Not once. I think the interest for the movie is very high indeed, but mostly among girls and young women. That wasn’t a problem for Sex and the City and it won’t be a problem for Twilight. But it will never reach Harry Potter levels of popularity, just as the books haven’t. That isn’t a knock against them, I’ve never read them, but I can read sales figures.
J.D. said,
October 15, 2008 at 1:12 am
I know I’m gonna see this in theaters just to humor you and your theory, Nick. *sigh*
Sam Juliano said,
October 15, 2008 at 2:25 am
I am intrigued by all this stereotyping, but it sounds like the immense popularity will trump any sexists constrictions.
Marcy said,
October 15, 2008 at 5:07 am
I picked up the book. Read about 1/3 of it and put it down. I couldn’t renew it so I had to turn it back in. 27 other people wanted to read it too. I guess I don’t hate the book (not that I have any right to), I just hate the fangirls, haha.
I know guys who’ve read the Twilight series and liked it, but I don’t think Kristen Stewart and Nikki Reed are enough to draw the boys into the theaters for the reasons James stated.
It kind of bothers me that all the promo material for the film makes the cast look kind of plastic, though.
Nick Plowman said,
October 15, 2008 at 9:06 am
I think guys have to be kinda stealth if they wanted to read the book anyway, so. I know I wouldn’t BUY it from a bookstore, but I’d borrow it from someone who had it already. So.
Also, I don’t think ANYTHING will beat the success of Harry Potter, but I think overtime Twilight could perhaps come close. At least, it will be the second best selling overall teenage-targeted supernatural-esque book franchise made into a movie franchise.
So, yeah, I am always over optimistic with things I love, but I don’t think Reed and Stewart will get males into the theatres, but if more people are like me in this world and would pay to see them in a movie, I am sure there are other males out there who would too? Maybe? I don’t know. I’m not saying they are the reason guys will want to see it, but I’m just saying that it’s not like there is nothing in it that guys would not be interested in. Ugh, it is impossible for me to make any sense!
And yeah, Marcy, they do look oddly plastic, I don’t like that either. Shrugs.
douglas.racso said,
October 15, 2008 at 7:58 pm
i am so linging up and watching this when this comes out
Nick Plowman said,
October 15, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Apparently, it only opens in SA in January, so I’ll be waiting a really long time in that line :(
Matthew Lucas said,
October 16, 2008 at 11:04 pm
I fully expect this movie to be terrible, even though I loved the book. Aimed squarely at the MTV generation, it will probably join the ranks of other bland teen product movies.
I hope to be proven wrong.
New Moon on the other hand, well…I couldn’t finish the book. I hated it so much I stopped reading after 200 pages…people keep telling me to finish but I’ve lost all interest in the Twilight series…I honestly don’t care anymore. I’m moving on to better things.
kmp said,
November 25, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I loved the first movie. What a great summary of young, strong love. I am looking forward to future movies, however, I will be utterly devastated if the fourth book does not make it to the theatres. I really want to see the showdown on the screen.