My (very) few favorite parts of Twilight were the moments where Catherine Hardwicke’s old sensibility seemed to come forward. Bits like Bella’s interactions with her dad, and a few relatively mundane conversations between Bella and her female friends. So I’m not sure whether or not to hope Hardwicke will get the job directing New Moon, the first sequel, which will feature more effects and fewer ‘normal’ beats. That deal is evidently not locked, as Hardwicke continues to talk about it in theoretical terms. The sticking point, as she describes it? The need to find a consensus between her ideas, Summit’s, and those of author Stephanie Meyer, and how to find enough time in the story for big new star Robert Pattinson, who isn’t as prominent a character in book two.
But the reason you should care about New Moon is simple: werewolves.
“I was doing a lot of research on wolves before [filming ‘Twilight’], and we had a scene with the wolves in it,” she tells MTV. “So we’re already thinking a little bit about [Jacob’s transformation into a wolf]. Then there’s the stunts, and there’s Italy…The wolves will be tricky, because they are supposed to be these giant wolves,” she continued. “Is it going to be CGI, real wolves or a combination? There are five standard industry ways of doing it. Which will be most effective. [sic] When you read the book, you see how quickly they transform, and you see the shredding clothes and the popping collars, so that’s a challenge. How does that read on film? How does that translate to film?”
Taylor Lautner’s character Jacob (also one of the few palatable bits of the film) is the primary subject here. Basic research tells me of a romantic plot between him and Bella, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to read the books to get more details. Just give me some decent werewolves. Ones that run as if their feet are actually touching the ground would be nice.