'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn,' the quest for a director

Chaske Spencer - AP Photo

To those who are still keeping score, the vetting pool for a director of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn continues to deepen by the very day.

The more castmates that speak on the matter, the more potential selections there are. (Not to mention, fans themselves have their own opinions on the matter of director-choosing.)

It all started back in August, when we discussed the fact that fans want The Twilight Saga: New Moon director Chris Weitz to come back and helm the fourth (and perhaps fifth, if there is one). A vociferous "Yes!" was exclaimed almost universally throughout the comments.

Soon after, Weitz had an expositive interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where he stated that he was aware that "fans have been enthusiastic about the footage and the trailer [for New Moon] and [that] the studio responds to that by feeling good about me." "We'll have to see how people feel about the entire movie, not only the studio but the fans, before the verdict is out whether I direct Number 4," he told THR back then. Of course, you'll know what talks, but money walks. Nearly $700 million in the worldwide market later, it seems the fan response to Weitz's complete work on New Moon has been made amply clear. Peter Facinelli, too, recently supported the notion of a Weitz-driven Breaking Dawn.

Facinelli, however, is not in good company with that particular opinion as far as his fellow Twilight castmates are concerned. A few of them have shared their own two cents on the issue, and the results read like scattered darts thrown on a map of potentiality.

• Jamie Campbell Bower - suggested Tim Burton (who later shared, kindly, his lack of interest)
• Robert Pattinson - suggested Gus Van Sant (who happens to be a Portland-based director)
• Ashley Greene - supported the idea of Tim Burton for the position

Now, Chaske Spencer has pitched a thought - even if it was in jest - that it'd be interesting to see Rob Zombie (yes, that'd be House Of 1000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects, and Halloween director Rob Zombie) take the job.

Uh, no. Zombie is a fantastic director who has done some incredible, rightfully-followed and celebrated work, but the very idea of him trying to present any moment of the Twilight saga on-screen is so frightening it makes the Fishboy Scene in Corpses look like The Little Mermaid. It's almost as bad as the suggestion that Roman Polanski should do it. In Chaske Spencer's defense, it is clear that he is either joking or only half-serious.

Nevertheless, as time wears on, the suggestions get stranger and stranger. Is it a purposeful ploy to make fans take a unified sigh of relief if and when Chris Weitz signs on? Who knows. Until then, the speculation game continues as the quest for a director rolls on.  In the meantime, I'd like to add the day that we actually get a director for the project (even if it is the same day as the green light announcement) to the "Top ten 'Twilight' moments to look forward to in 2010."

As a final note, to the rest of the cast, if you're thinking of throwing around the idea of Wes Craven, John Carpenter, Jim Gillespie, etc., please . . . just don't.

See also:

'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' success turns eyes toward 'Eclipse' and 'Breaking Dawn'
'Twilight' stars reflect on 'Breaking Dawn'
'Twilight' studio issues official stance on 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn'
First 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' soundtrack contender?
If 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' is announced, will it be one film or two?
Robert Pattinson wants Gus Van Sant to direct 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn'
'Twilight' star Jamie Campbell Bower wants Tim Burton to direct 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn'

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