Although it’s been rumoured for months, Deadline Hollywood has confirmed that Summit Entertainment plans to split the final Twilight book, Breaking Dawn, in two for the film adaptation. Although Summit has previously suggested that if they did it, it would be because there’s too much material for one movie, it’s fairly obvious that what they really want is another dip into the money trough before Stephanie Meyer’s stories run out.
The current plan is apparently to film the movies back-to-back, starting this October. Summit is currently looking at ‘high end’ directors to make the films, with Melissa Resenberg, who wrote the scripts for the other Twilight movies, currently busy coming up with the screenplays. However even with two films, it doesn’t explain quite how they’ll handle Breaking Dawn, as it’s not like the other books.
It’s split into three parts, with the first and third told from Bella’s perspective and the second following Jacob. While the major characters all feature prominently, it’s not a straightforward narrative, and also takes in darker themes than the earlier novels, not least the fate of Bella and Edward’s half-human, half-vampire child.
Now we just need to wait for the inevitable announcement that they’ll be made in 3D.