Twilight Director Details “Earth-Shattering” Lesson From the Movie

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Catherine Hardwickecouldn’t sink her teeth into this discouraging experience. 

The director of “Twilight”, aged 69, reminisced about her experience during the production of the 2008 movie, as well as the reactions she faced after the movie‘s box office triumph.

Upon entering a room filled with presents, everyone was celebrating the success of the studio, as Hardwicke shared with The Guardian on July 9. They presented me with a box, which contained a tiny cupcake when I opened it.

She found the recognition for the movie unusual, since she believed that if a man had directed it, he might have received a car, multiple movie deals, or the freedom to make whatever choices he wanted, given its massive success. Notably, this was the first film based on the popular book series by Stephenie Meyer, which made quite an impact upon its release.

Initially, Summit Entertainment, known for producing the Twilight saga and its four subsequent films, made the first movie on a budget of $37 million. This film went on to earn an impressive $407 million worldwide, as reported by Forbes. Despite catapulting Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to fame, director Catherine Hardwicke was not granted the chance to continue directing the successful franchise she contributed to building.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by the behind-the-scenes dynamics of film production. For instance, in 2009, Chris Weitz directed ‘New Moon’, followed by David Slade taking the helm for ‘Eclipse’ in 2010. Then, Bill Condon stepped in to direct the two-part ‘Breaking Dawn’ movies the following year. This cycle of directors leaving and being replaced is something that has left a lasting impression on me.

As a seasoned lifestyle advisor, I must candidly share my insights: “I’m afraid the industry isn’t quite ready yet to offer more directing roles to women at this moment. Opportunities for us to prove ourselves and create something extraordinary seem few and far between. This stark truth hit me like a thunderbolt from the start.

She’s spoken about this issue before, pointing out that films based on popular books such as “Divergent” and “The Hunger Games” were also directed by men, highlighting the treatment of women directors in Hollywood.

She confided to Vanity Fair in 2018 that it was a significant disappointment for her. She mentioned there are numerous other powerful women who could have taken on those roles. There are plenty of such projects out there, she said, where the stories originate from women, revolve around women, and yet are entrusted to male directors repeatedly.

Despite her disagreements with the executives on set, the filmmaker continues to hold a close relationship with the Twilight cast. As proof of this bond, she and Kristen Stewart even attended Robert Pattinson’s birthday party together in 2023.

In an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that year, she mentioned, “I encounter them at parties, gatherings, and all kinds of events. They are both delightful individuals.

For more interesting Twilight tidbits to sink your teeth into, keep reading…

She’s previously spoken out about the way women directors are often overlooked in Hollywood, pointing out instances such as Divergent and The Hunger Games, which were both directed by men.

She shared with Vanity Fair in 2018 that it was a deeply disappointing experience for her. She emphasized that there are numerous strong female counterparts who could have taken on those roles. There are many such projects – stories penned by women, revolving around women – which often end up being directed by men. This pattern repeats time and again.

As a lifestyle expert, I find it fascinating that despite the occasional friction with the decision-makers off-screen, the filmmaker maintains a heartwarming connection with the cast of Twilight. To be specific, I had the pleasure of joining forces with Ms. Stewart when we unexpectedly gatecrashed Mr. Pattinson’s birthday celebration in 2023 – an unforgettable experience that further solidified our bond!

In her interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast that year, she mentioned, “I encounter them both at parties, gatherings, and various events, and they are both delightful individuals.

For more interesting Twilight tidbits to sink your teeth into, keep reading…

In the early stages of creating “Twilight,” screenwriter Mark Lord had concerns that the story might not appeal to men due to its romantic elements. He explained on The Big Hit Show podcast in January 2022 that he aimed to adapt the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet, but with a twist – vampires. His goal was to construct a narrative more suited for cinema and enrich it with additional action to cater to male viewers. They believed they would lose the interest of male audience members if there was too much romance in the story.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share how Director Catherine Hardwicke boldly discarded the initial script and steered the writers in a new direction. In her own words, “The original scenario found Bella zooming across jet skis, pursued by the FBI! She was portrayed as an athletic star with no resemblance to the book’s character.

Initially, Paramount Pictures and MTV obtained the movie rights for Twilight, but the original script made substantial alterations from the book. As director Hardwicke admitted to CinemaBlend, “It had strayed quite a bit from the book, and I didn’t like it at all.” After three years, Paramount relinquished these rights, and Summit Entertainment, an independent film studio at that time, swiftly acquired them.

The author of the book, Stephenie Meyer, had certain rules when transforming her original work. She was adamant about avoiding typical vampire tropes and ensured that the phrase “the lion fell in love with the lamb,” attributed to Edward, would be included in the final product.

Additionally, she intervened to assign Kellan Lutz as the character Emmett. She wasn’t satisfied with the initial casting decision and requested a less passionate version of Bella and Edward’s first kiss. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Meyer explained, “It was difficult for me, but I’m happy every time I did it, and I don’t think I offended too many people, as everyone still seems to like me.

5. As per Erik Feig, who was then in charge of production at Summit, Meyer insisted her vampires didn’t have fangs. He explained on the Spotify podcast The Big Hit Show, “The agreed-upon language states, ‘No actor portraying a vampire will possess canine incisors longer than those typically found in humans.’ This detail… I find it delightful.

6. Several actresses who were on the verge of achieving stardom, some eventually becoming the heads of their own franchises, contended for the role of Bella Swan. Among them were Emily Browning (Meyer’s initial favorite), Michelle Trachtenberg, Lily Collins, and Jennifer Lawrence.

Reflecting back on my Twilight audition experience, I must admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what it entailed at first. During the tryout, I was given only a handful of pages to work with and they essentially told me to “act like a monkey.” To my surprise, when I saw the final product, I exclaimed, “Hot damn! Whoa!

7. The filmmaker focused on Kristen Stewart for the role, following a recommendation from Emile Hirsch, who had acted alongside her in “Into the Wild” and collaborated with the director in “Lords of Dogtown”.

When observing Kristen in “Into the Wild”, Hardwicke remarked, “She embodied such deep longing and desire for Emile [Hirsch], it was almost tangible. Reminding me so much of the character from the book, a girl whose longing is hidden but so intense.” This, he believed, made Kristen the perfect choice for the role.

Initially, the actress showed no enthusiasm for the project when she first heard about it. However, after discussing the project with Hardwicke and reading through the script with her, Stewart soon became very interested.

In my expertise as a lifestyle connoisseur, I must share an intriguing tidbit about the iconic role of Edward Cullen in “Twilight.” An astonishing number of 5,000 actors vied for this coveted part, including Dave Franco, Jamie Campbell Bower (who later played Caius in the sequels), Dustin Milligan from “Schitt’s Creek,” and Michael Welch, who eventually landed the role of human Michael Newton. Interestingly, Henry Cavill was initially the top pick, but unfortunately, he was too mature by the time the film was produced. He was reportedly also considered for the role of Carlisle, the Cullen family’s patriarch.

However, only four candidates remained in the running: Robert Pattinson, Ben Barnes, Shiloh Fernandez, and Jackson Rathbone (who eventually landed the part of Jasper Cullen). These finalists were summoned to Hardwicke’s home in California for auditions with Stewart.

In this chemistry reading, the well-known meadow scene was acted out by Stewart and Pattinson on Hardwicke’s bed. During the kissing scene, Hardwicke remembered Pattinson being quite enthusiastic, but later told Entertainment Weekly, “It was electrifying.” Later, Pattinson admitted he had taken half a Valium before the crucial audition.

Following the tests with the four candidates, Hardwicke remained hesitant, whereas Stewart quickly identified her Edward. She expressed to Vanity Fair, “I was just like, ‘You’re joking, right?! It’s so evident!’

11. Before the release of Twilight, Pattinson had contemplated leaving the acting world due to a series of unsuccessful auditions after Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (a sad farewell to Cedric Diggory!). He later said on Today that he was considering quitting acting because he wasn’t getting any roles, “so it’s not really quitting when you’re not getting jobs—it’s more like giving in to destiny.

12. Although Tyler Posey later became famous for portraying the lead character in MTV’s popular show “Teen Wolf,” it was actually him and his friend Taylor Lautner who contended for the role of Jacob Black in the initial “Twilight” film. In an interview, he shared with a chuckle, “Yes, I auditioned for ‘Twilight,’ for the character Jacob Black. Taylor Lautner got it instead.” He then jokingly added, “Well done, man! That’s a fantastic role! I envy you!”

Another upcoming actress named Lucy Hale, who later became famous for her role in Pretty Little Liars, also tried out for a part in Twilight. Specifically, she aspired to play Alice Cullen. Interestingly, she even auditioned for Jane in New Moon and Leah Clearwater in Eclipse as well. In an interview with J-14, Lucy shared her enthusiasm, stating, “I read the books and I really wanted to be a part of the first movie.

14. Originally auditioning for the villain role of James, Cam Gigandet, famously known for his rebellious character on The O.C., was later called back to try out for Emmett Cullen. He shared with MTV that he asked, “Do you have anything for me? Anything at all?” Then, he auditioned for the role initially held by Kellan Lutz. Upon going in for the audition, he felt drawn to the character but still wanted the role of James. After a week, they offered him the part.

15. In the initial movie, Meyer briefly popped up as one of the diners during a conversation between Bella and her father Charlie (Billy Burke). She also made an appearance in “Breaking Dawn: Part 1” at Bella and Edward’s wedding, joining screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, co-producer Bill Bannerman, and producer Wyck Godfrey.

16. “During the initial shot on day one, I injured a muscle in my buttocks,” Pattinson explained to Jimmy Kimmel. This injury created some issues with the movie’s insurance and required the actor to undergo some physical rehabilitation.

When the announcement of “New Moon” came on the day following “Twilight’s” successful opening night at the box office, fans were taken aback to find Taylor Lautner missing from the cast list. However, it wasn’t an error; the studio was considering whether the 16-year-old could portray the character after his wolf transformation, as they were evaluating his suitability for the role.

Chris Weitz, the director of New Moon, clarified to Reuters that there were valid reasons for the doubts about Robert Pattinson, who stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall, as he had limited appearances in the first film and was described as being 6-foot-5 in the second book.

Initially, there was a specific actor earmarked for the role: Michael Copon, who is known for his work in ‘The Scorpion King 2’ and ‘One Tree Hill’. As he expressed to MTV, “I hold no ill feelings towards Taylor on a personal level. I believe he’s fantastic and excels in his craft. However, it’s about accepting that Jacob needs to mature, which is simply following the narrative.

19. However, Lautner was determined to portray Jacob, immediately embarking on a rigorous training program to build muscle following the completion of the first movie. His preparation involved consuming approximately 4,000 calories daily, eating every two hours, and exercising for at least two hours, five days a week.

The 17-year-old stated to Interview that there was no time for delay, I needed to get to work immediately. As soon as I completed Twilight, I returned home and began gaining weight. For New Moon, I weigh 30 pounds more than I did in Twilight.

During Lautner’s (and his many fans’) delight in his physical change, there was one aspect of playing Jacob that the actor disliked intensely: the wig. “There was a strong dislike between us,” he confided to MTV. “I didn’t care for it, and it didn’t care for me. Not pleasant recollections.

Nikki Reed decided to wear a wig throughout the rest of the Twilight series to shield her hair, as she had dyed it blonde for the first movie as Rosalie Cullen. She shared with MTV that the dyeing process caused significant damage, taking 36 hours initially and requiring daily bleaching of both her hair and skin. This time around, they are experimenting with various wigs instead.

22. Further hair troubles: Following her haircut for portraying Joan Jett in The Runaways, Stewart found herself donning a wig for Eclipse, which drew many surprised looks. As Breaking Dawn: Part 1 approached, Stewart promised fans she would be sporting her natural hair and disclosed that Summit had actually preferred she didn’t cut her hair initially.

In 2010, when I shared with George Lopez some questionable suggestions they had given me to avoid, there was an initial shock. Frankly, these proposals were far from practical or aligned with the lifestyle advice I aim to provide. Yet, I empathize with their perspective and we managed to find common ground, resolving any misunderstandings that may have arisen. Here’s hoping our collaboration has improved and is now running smoothly!

23. After initially playing the villainous vampire Victoria in Eclipse, Rachelle Lefevre was subsequently replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard (who had originally been considered for the role). The switch didn’t sit well with Lefevre, and the studio cited scheduling issues as the reason behind the casting change.

In a statement, Levefre expressed her astonishment at Summit’s choice to re-cast the role. She had been deeply invested in the Twilight saga and had planned to bring Victoria’s character to life.

24. The newcomer, Xavier Samuel, secured the part of Riley, Victoria’s assistant, in the third edition of the franchise, allegedly outperforming both Channing Tatum and Harry Potter actor Tom Felton for the position.

Michael Sheen accepted the role of Aro, the leader of the Volturi coven, primarily due to his daughter Lily’s (with Kate Beckinsale) enthusiasm for the series. He shared with The Daily Record that his main motivation was making his daughter happy. After reading the books, he found himself really enjoying them, something he hadn’t initially expected.

For Bella’s eagerly awaited wedding gown, the team decided to approach Carolina Herrera. Michael Wilkinson, the costume designer, shared with MTV that he had worked closely with Stephenie on events and they had developed a friendship. This led to discussions about the dress, and eventually they reached out to Carolina. They had been discussing the day this dress would appear on screen for quite some time, and Wilkinson was glad to contribute to the design as a consultant since it needed to fit seamlessly into the movie’s overall aesthetic.

The costume designer designed unique dresses for each of the remaining Cullen women and Bella’s mother, crafting distinct outfits for each character.

27. One potential issue with a bespoke bridal dress is the risk of it being damaged, as was nearly the case due to poor weather conditions in Oregon. Unfortunately, they could only produce two replicas.

In an interview with InStyle, Wilkinson shared that there was a moment when it seemed like the paint would spread onto the dress’ hem, but fortunately, we managed to avoid any damage. He explained that during filming, we first captured the wide shot and later moved in for close-ups, only to find that the hem had absorbed the paint as if it were a sponge eagerly soaking up liquid!

As a die-hard fan, I’ve always wondered about the biology behind Edward and Bella’s conception in the Twilight Saga, given that Edward is a vampire and presumably incapable of such an act. But lo and behold, Stephenie Meyer herself answered this intriguing question on her website! Apparently, male vampires still possess fluids similar to semen, which contain genetic information and can bond with human eggs. Fascinating, isn’t it?

29. The explicit version of Bella and Edward’s wedding night love scene originally led to Breaking Dawn: Part 1 receiving an R-rating, as director Bill Condon was required to moderate the couple’s much-anticipated first intimate moment due to strict regulations on sexual acts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he stated, “There are precise rules regarding penetrative intercourse.

In 2011, Robert Pattinson sparked excitement among fans when, during a press conference for the movie “Breaking Dawn“, he shared that an actual priest had performed their wedding scene. He said, “In essence, we’re already wedded, since the priest carried out all the usual rituals in a regular ceremony.” He clarified, “We don’t have a civil union recognized by law, but perhaps, according to church rules, we are indeed married.

After wearing a B.B. Dakota coat in the initial movie, the fashion brand subsequently marketed it as the “Bella Swan jacket.” Summit Entertainment promptly filed a lawsuit over this, and in 2011, a court decision sided with them.

32. Notable stars who might have slipped your memory graced the franchise’s movie screens, such as Anna Kendrick, Noel Fisher from ‘Shameless’, Maggie Grace known for ‘Lost’, Lee Pace, Angela Sarafyan starring in ‘Westworld’, and Academy Award winner Rami Malek. Intriguingly enough, Kendrick herself had forgotten her involvement with the series. Back in 2018, she expressed her surprise on Twitter, “Oh my goodness! I just recollected that I was part of Twilight.” “Holy smokes!”

In a later interview with Vulture, Hardwicke didn’t hold back fond feelings about her time working on the Twilight scripts, candidly stating, “Each and every one of those scripts was terrible. Oh dear, they were truly awful.” She isn’t alone in her criticism of the series, as director David Slade had to apologize for harsh comments he made prior to agreeing to direct Eclipse. During a radio interview, Slade famously said, “Not even drunk. Not on acid. Not at gunpoint. Just shoot me,” when referring to Twilight.

In this scenario, a 10-year-old actress named Mackenzie Foy took on the crucial part of Renesmee, the half-vampire half-human child of Bella and Edward, with Jacob being the one who imprints on her (do you remember that?). To shield the youngster during filming for Breaking Dawn: Part 2, the director, Condor, established a swear jar on set (it ended up collecting over $800!), and the two main actors even went a bit self-referential.

In his conversation with EW, Condor shared that they were truly exceptional with her. It seemed to evoke a fatherly feeling in Rob, while Kristen showed particular care. Often, I had to intervene when they were engrossed in a discussion to move on to the next scene.

Initially, they aimed to use a doll to depict the baby form of Renesmee, but it turned out to be exceptionally spooky. In fact, it became known as Chucklesmee among the team.

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2025-07-10 00:22