Article by Alexandra Gambardella
“Harry Potter” did it for wizards, “Lord of the Rings” won big for hobbits, and “Narnia” brought it home for the talking woodland creatures. But can a soon-to-shoot movie similarly turn the creaky film cliché of vampires into the next multimillion-dollar fantasy flick franchise?
“The movie is called ‘Twilight,’” 17-year-old “Into the Wild” actress Kristen Stewart beamed when we recently spoke to her. “['Lords of Dogtown' filmmaker] Catherine Hardwicke is directing it in Washington. It’s based on a book that’s pretty popular [among] young adult, high school kids.”
Although Stewart and co-star Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory!) will soon film only the first movie, they’re already talking about turning the vampire storyline into a series that really sucks. And since the latest book sold over 150,000 copies in its first day alone, Bella and Edward fans everywhere are already counting down the months until the film’s release.
“People really love these books,” said Stewart. “Right now it’s a trilogy, and a fourth book is coming out, so hopefully we’ll get to shoot all four.”
For those who haven’t yet been bitten, “Twilight” will feature Stewart as Bella Swan, a teenage girl whose life gets turned upside-down after she meets and falls in love with a vampire. Additional names will be cast in the next few weeks, but according to the actress, 21-year-old Pattinson is already sinking his teeth into the role of Edward.
“He’s so good and he’s so soulful and he’s just not a liar — you can feel pain from him,” Stewart cooed. “The cool thing about the story is that it’s a seemingly wonderful fantasy — let’s fall in love with vampires and live forever — but it’s so much harder than that. Imagine living forever. Living one life is hard enough.”
But don’t get fooled into thinking this is going to be “The Notebook” for the undead. “The main character is like, superhuman,” Stewart said of the action scenes in the script. “He’s a vampire, but with really [heightened powers]; he can run faster than a car can drive, and he’s super strong. He throws me over his back [in one scene], right before he’s going to tell me that he’s a vampire, and then he runs over the treetops. And we’re going to be in real treetops; we’re not just going to CGI it. We actually get to go up there, and that’s what I’m stoked on.”
“It’s a pretty triumphant love story,” Stewart concluded, looking forward to stepping in front of the cameras. “It’s gonna take a while, and it [deserves to be] at least a series of three.”
UPDATE (2.28.08): ‘Twilight’ Co-Star Rachelle Lefevre Talks Treetop Controversy!
They can so not cut out the Port Angeles scene
it's like one of the major scenes
Oh no how much are they going to change!
:*(
I also understand that some things have to be changed when a novel gets turned into a movie. I mean, come on, guys - as much as we wish they would, the directors can't keep everything the same. So even though the "over the treetops" scene wasn't in the book (I'm guessing it'll be the part right after the meadow scene), I still really want to see it.
~melissa
I'm really glad that Kristen is in her "Bella" shoes. Ohh, what she said about Robert made me even more excited. "You can see the pain" awwwww. oh man. So, he tells her in the treetops. I read that in one of the script sides, so it seems they are sticking to it. =]
Wooo. This is going to be one of the best movies ever. I can hardly wait. =]
it's a movie BASED on the book
pleaaase don't start complaining people
but cheers to Kristen Stewart
i'm so happy they're starting to talk about it
i want to hear what robert has to say
and they're going to announce the rest of the cast soon!
woooooo!
im not afraid of them changing the book that much
obviously they have to take somethings out of it like maybe port angeles to get an 1 and half movie
i mean they are taking a 498 page book and making it into a movie
ill be happy as long as they don't change the main plot of it
And yeah, honestly, people. It's based on the book, it's not supposed to BE the book. I'm pretty sure it won't be nearly as messed up as the Blood and Chocolate movie. *laughs*
I really do like her for Bella - nail it, girl!
i'm confused about "running on treetops" though.
that was not in the book.
and i'll be really dissapointed if the take the car scene out.
But she doesn't do the fans justice--we are seriously rabid! haha
I'm not so sure about being above the treetops either...I loved how Bella was scared of him running just past their trunks and having them flash past her.
how is jacob gonna be involved if edward is gonna be the one to tell bella? grrr!!!
"He throws me over his back [in one scene], right before he’s going to tell me that he’s a vampire, and then he runs over the treetops."
dosent that interfere with teh plot line of the book?
do you think thats just his super fastness or do you think they are actually putting things in there that arn't in the book?
and besides in the book isn't it in the car she FIGURES out hes a vampire then they go on a date where she first hikes to the medow then they talk and he's dreamy with liquid topaz eyes,
THEN he CARRIES her on his back back to the car
and they go home?
tat means that they arn't sticking to the plot line of the book, oh well i might be looking into it a little to much...
I’m really heartened to hear that the two are really taking this and making it something special. Congratulations to them both and hope to hear more from them about their journey through Twilight.
The way Bell a figures out that Edward is a vampire shows the little things we love about her–her intelligence, nervouseness and then her complete dedication to her decision that it does not matter what he is–she’s already in love. And then the entire car scene–Theory–is completely one of my favorite scenes. It sends you on this emotional rollercoaster that reminds me of when I was on a first date/car ride with someone I was infatuated with.
In regard to how Bella finds out about Edward being a vampire, this new information doesn't change the story. Possibly Edward is corroborating Jacob's story and Bella's conclusion in this scene. Instead of just telling her outright "I'm a vampire," he shows her by running through trees. Really, I don't think they can mess up this story that badly. They're just going to jazz up the action sequences and, most likely, heat up the love sequences.
As for the actors, I honestly don't mind. I think that they both will do a great job.
Did they like, totally cut the port angeles scene out or something? Because she finds out in the car on the way back form port angeles.
that's a critical scene!
they definately can't cut that scene.. if they did..
grrr.
haha.
i'm not going to say anything just yet - i'll wait and watch the movie.
but it SOUNDS like they're just going from jacob's story to edward taking bella to the meadow...
hmm.
i don't know.
i guess i'll wait and find out!
I really hope they keep the important parts in the movie. the scene in the meadow is a MUST in the movie. If they dont have it, I will be very very heart broken. That was when Edward gives Bella her first kiss. ahhh. I can just imagine it...
Well I wish Robert and Kristen the best luck!
I am scared though that this will be like another 'Blood And Chocolate' thing. Where the movie TOTALLY ruins every aspect of the book.
Congrats and good luck to the actors!
but for now i guess we'll all just have to trust stephenie when she says her "baby is in good hands"...