Variety’s Anne Thompson wrote a rather large column on Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke’s decision to bow out of the sequel New Moon.  It looks like creative differences is the reason. Summit Entertainment, the production company, wants to rush the sequel to a release date at the end of 2009 or the start of 2010.

Behind the scenes, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg handed over a draft of New Moon the same weekend its predecessor opened. The book, “New Moon,” is focused on werewolves not vampires, which left the heartthrob Edward out of the picture. Summit wanted Edward in the storyline more, which Rosenberg had figured out. But, Hardwicke felt the script needed more work.

Needless to say, negotiations lasted two weeks until the decision came out this weekend. Now, no director is attached and Summit is moving forward.  

As Anne Thompson pointed out in her column Hardwicke delivered the biggest opening weekend ever for a woman director. The movie is still performing strong while the director and cast promote it overseas. If you check out Screenhead’s Box Office Report, you’ll see that Twilight came in second with $13.2 million.