Summit Entertainment is believed to be on the cusp of signing the upcoming Spanish film-maker Juan Antonio Bayona to direct Eclipse, the third instalment in its Twilight franchise that will open on June 30, 2010.
Bayona directed the Spanish-language Gothic tale The Orphanage, which
grossed more than $78m worldwide after premiering at Cannes in 2007.
The young Spaniard has been mentored during his early career by
Guillermo del Toro and is attached to direct the thriller Hater for
Universal, which del Toro would produce.
Meanwhile Chris Weitz is due to commence principal photography shortly
on New Moon, the second episode in the Twilight franchise that
reunites Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner and,
echoing the release pattern of Twilight last year, is set to open
day-and-date with the North American launch over Thanksgiving weekend on November 20.
Twilight launched on November 21, 2008 and went on to gross more than
$371m worldwide. Catherine Hardwicke directed the first picture but
declined to reprise her role on New Moon citing creative differences.
A Summit spokesman declined to comment on the status of the Bayona deal.
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