‘Orphanage’ Director Juan Antonio Bayona Rumored to Direct ‘The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse’

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CHICAGO – There were rumors last month that Drew Barrymore might be tapped to direct the third film in Stephenie Meyer and Summit Entertainment’s “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse,” but this morning The Hollywood Reporter’s Risky Biz blog reported the Spanish director of “The Orphanage,” Juan Antonio Bayona, a protege of Guillermo Del Toro, could be the man to take on the third film in the “Twilight” franchise.

“The Twilight Saga’s New Moon,” the second film based on Stephenie Meyer’s book called just “New Moon,” starts shooting soon and will be wrapping post-production when Summit wants “Eclipse” to go before the cameras for a Summer 2010 release. So, Chris Weitz, the director replacing Catherine Hardwicke on the franchise, will be replaced himself.

Summit has yet to comment about Bayona being tapped to direct “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse” and they claim that the studio is still looking at several candidates to helm the project. Other possibilities that have come up lately include Barrymore, Chris Weitz’ brother Paul Weitz, and even “Walk the Line” director James Mangold. THR claims that Bayona’s name is coming up more than anyone else in rumors.

The Hollywood Reporter also makes the argument that the move to a more artistic, genre-driven director like Bayona makes sense given the source material.

“The shift would make sense on a number of levels — “Eclipse,” while continuing the romances and love triangles of previous books, does contain a mystery of unsolved murders that protags Bella and Edward seek to solve. (Notably, Bayona’s debut “The Orphanage” also contained a plotline centering on children who had been killed under mysterious circumstances.) It also features battles between werewolves and vampires that could call for a practiced genre hand.”

Bayona directed the amazing “The Orphanage” and is currently signed on for his English language debut, a thriller called “Hater” but that could be put on the back burner if Summit brings the vampires to Juan Antonio.

Stephenie Meyer’s Eclipse
Image credit: Summit

The Chris Weitz-directed sequel will star Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, and, recently, Dakota Fanning. Lucy Hale, Vanessa Hudgens and AnnaLynne McCord have also been the subject of casting rumors.

“Twilight,” which stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Ashley Greene and Taylor Lautner from director Catherine Hardwicke, has grossed $178 million domestically. This has put the “New Moon” sequel, now called “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon” into production immediately and has spawned a series of casting rumors. Other books in the Stephenie Meyer series include “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn”.

Read about Dakota Fanning casting in “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about DVD release parties for “Twilight”.
Read about Drew Barrymore directing “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse”.
Win a walk-on part in “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about Bronson Pelletier casting in “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about the release date of “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse”.
Read about the new name and logo for “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about why Catherine Hardwicke left the “Twilight” franchise.
Read our story about AnnaLynne McCord auditioning for “New Moon”.
Read our story about Dakota Fanning talking about “New Moon”.
Read our story about the open casting call for “New Moon”.
Read our story about Lucy Hale auditioning for “New Moon”.
See our 2009 Summit release slideshow with “New Moon”.
See our high-quality, 28-image “Twilight” slideshow.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com