KRISTEN STEWART HAS BEEN CAST FOR BELLA IN THE TWILIGHT MOVIE!!!

Official Press Release:
Los Angeles, CA November 16, 2007 – Summit Entertainment announced today that Kristen Stewart will star as “Bella Swan” in the production of the feature film TWILIGHT, the thriller-romance based on Stephenie Meyer’s publishing phenomenon. The film, which begins production February 2008, will be directed by Catherine Hardwicke, with Melissa Rosenberg (STEP UP) having adapted the script. Karen Rosenfelt (DEVIL WEARS PRADA) and Greg Mooradian will produce along with Mark Morgan via his Maverick Films banner.

TWILIGHT tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward, a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together…even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires. Their unorthodox romance puts her in physical danger when Edward’s nemesis comes to town and sets his sights on Bella.

Erik Feig, Summit Entertainment’s President of Production stated, “We at Summit are truly excited about the franchise potential of this remarkable Romeo and Juliet story. Of course, you are only as good as your Juliet and Kristen Stewart has that magical combination of being a great actress, deeply appealing, and perfect for the part.”

Meyer’s Twilight is a cultural phenomenon, hitting legions of readers of all ages, that has spawned two sequels including New Moon and Eclipse. Twilight is a #1 New York Times Best Seller and has been lauded by critics. Twilight’s recent sequel Eclipse most recently debuted at #1 on the USA Today bestseller list unseating the newest Harry Potter.

Erik Feig along with Summit Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Production, Geoff Shaevitz, and Creative Executive Gillian Bohrer will oversee the project for the studio.

Kristen Stewart was introduced to worldwide audiences with her outstanding performance alongside Jodie Foster in PANIC ROOM. Stewart can now be seen in INTO THE WILD for director Sean Penn. She is currently shooting the female lead role in ADVENTURELAND opposite Ryan Reynolds and Jesse Eisenberg for director Greg Mottola. She will soon be seen in a starring role in the independent film THE CAKE EATERS for director Mary Stuart Masterson, the independent film YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF alongside William Hurt and Maria Bello and a supporting role in WHAT JUST HAPPENED alongside Robert De Niro and Sean Penn for director Barry Levinson.

Stewart’s additional film credits include IN THE LAND OF WOMEN, THE MESSENGERS, ZATHURA, SPEAK, FIERCE PEOPLE, CATCH THAT KID, UNDERTOW, COLD CREEK MANOR and THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS.

Stewart is represented by The Gersh Agency and lawyer Joel McKuin at Colden McKuin & Frankel.

Karen Barna, Summit’s Director of Business Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of the studio.

About Summit Entertainment LLC

Summit Entertainment is a worldwide theatrical motion picture development, financing, production and distribution studio. The studio handles all aspects of marketing and distribution for both its own internally developed motion pictures as well as acquired pictures. Summit Entertainment, LLC also represents international sales for both its own slate and third party product. Summit Entertainment, LLC plans to release 10 to 12 films annually.

***A note from Stephenie about the casting of Kristen Stewart:

I'm very excited to have Kristen Stewart play Bella in the upcoming Twilight movie. She's an amazing actress with experience all across the board—action, horror, comedy, romance, and more. Since Twilight has moments that fit into every one of these genres, I'm thrilled to have a Bella who has practice with them all.

Summit's vision of the Twilight movie continues to dovetail very closely with mine, and I'm comforted to know that my "baby" is in the right hands.

For every actress that has been suggested as Bella in the past few years, there are always a slew of critics that cry, "But she doesn't look like Bella!" (Which can often be translated thusly: "She doesn't look like ME!") To this I would like to say: "Of course she doesn't!" Bella is a fictional character, and she looks different to everyone. As is the same with every actor who will be cast in the next few months, no one is going to match up with your mental picture exactly—or mine. The thing to hope for is a really great actor who can make us believe she is Bella (or Alice or so forth) for roughly two hours. I think we've got that with Kristen Stewart, and I can't wait to see her step into the role!

Stephenie




Personal Thoughts:

Not everyone's gonna agree on this decision, but I myself am totally excited. I remember first thinking Kristen Stewart would make a good Bella when watching the Messengers. She's just got the right looks to me, not too pretty, but yet she's beautiful in her way. And she's a wonderful actress. Have you seen Panic Room? I mean, OMG. But then I figured, no, everyone loves Emily Browning, so they'd never think of KS. And guess what? She's cast! Woot. I'm excited. I would have been fine with whoever they cast... but this is just a little plus. Though the spectacles I've seen over the internet on this casting choice.... It just reminds me of Harry Potter all over again. When they first started casting for the movies, everyone was arguing and disappointed over casting. But most of the choices (most. not all.) have turned out quite wonderful. But not everyone is going to be happy, ever, but we can only hope that the movie will be wonderful when it finally does come out, perfect casting or not (is there even such a thing as PERFECT casting? I think not)

Unfortunately, no movie they make could ever be exactly like the book, or just like everyone wants it. My personal goal is to work on seperating book and movie in my mind. I'll keep my view of things for the book in my head, so that nothing changes in my reading and all that jazz. And then I can be like 'oh, this was a great movie in general' or crappy or whatever. Must.... remain.... unbiased... Yeah. That'll work out so well. *note the sarcasm.