Updated: David Slade is confirmed to direct the third film in the franchise, news inside! While Variety and Deadline Hollywood were blasted for reporting that Juan Antonio Bayona (Guillermo del Toro produced The Orphanage) was locked down to direct in early March, Deadline is now reporting that Summit Entertainment is in talks with the incredible David Slade (Hard Candy, 30 Days Of Night) to helm Eclipse, the 3rd pic in the Twilight Saga. “I understand he’s met with author Stephenie Meyer and Summit prez of production Erik Feig. But let me be clear: there’s no deal yet.” Watch this spot for an official announcement when made.
Official press release:
Summit Entertainment announced today that David Slade has been hired to direct THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE from a screenplay written by Melissa Rosenberg. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, the third film in the studio’s TWILIGHT film franchise based on the Stephenie Meyer’s blockbuster book series, will be released theatrically in North America on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. The announcement was made by Erik Feig, Summit’s President of Production.
Meyer stated, “I am thrilled that David Slade will be directing ECLIPSE. He’s a visionary filmmaker who has so much to offer this franchise. From the beginning, we’ve been blessed with wonderful directorial talent for the Twilight Saga, and I’m so happy that ECLIPSE will be carrying on with that tradition.”
Feig said, “Stephenie Meyer’s ECLIPSE is a muscular, rich, vivid book and we at Summit looked long and hard for a director who could do it justice. We believe we have found that talent in David Slade, a director who has been able to create complex, visually arresting worlds. We cannot wait to see the ECLIPSE he brings to life and brings to the fans eagerly awaiting its arrival in summer of 2010.”
Filmmaker Slade came to prominence as a director for his work on 2006’s engrossing film HARD CANDY starring Academy Award