14 DAY TRIAL // Reports of Summit Entertainment, the movie studio behind the “Twilight” frenzy, considering of dividing Stephenie Meyer’s fourth and final book, “Breaking Down,” into two films have been around for months. It’s only now, though, that Summit has started to think more seriously about the implications of such an action, Variety says. The good news is that studio high-ups seem inclined to take the financial risk making two films of the fourth book would entail.
There is no longer a doubt about the fact that Summit has a winner on its hands with the vampire / werewolf / human saga, especially now that “New Moon” is on its way to crossing the $300 million threshold domestically alone. However, should the studio decide to make five films instead of four, that would imply taking some risks – with the biggest one being that the frenzy dies down until then, the Variety report says. Either way, word in the industry has it that’s a risk it is more than willing to take.
“The two-week $481 million worldwide gross of ‘New Moon’ has vaulted Summit Entertainment into the big leagues, but it also has created a high-class challenge for toppers Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. They will likely have to cut a few big checks if they decided, as rumored, to split Stephenie Meyer’s final ‘Twilight’ novel, ‘Breaking Dawn,’ into two pictures. Sources said Summit has set Melissa Rosenberg – who wrote the first three films – to finish the series, but Summit has to clear several hurdles before Rosenberg learns how many more scripts she’ll write,” Variety says.
In the eventuality that the idea of making five instead of four films is greenlit, there are other things to consider as well, aside from the probability that the fanbase will grow up and out of the “Twilight” phenomenon, analysts believe. For starters, Summit will have to pay the three main stars (Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner) more, while also needing clearance from the author herself, Meyer, beforehand. However, the commonly held belief is that all these represent investments the studio will recoup upon release of the fourth and fifth film respectively.
“Summit execs would not comment, but multiple sources said the company wants to go the two-film route, which means reopening negotiations and securing approval from the author. It also means making new deals with a principal cast that is only locked up for four films. If ‘Breaking Dawn’ becomes two pictures, all of the key cast members will get fat raises, and the three principals – Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner – could land paydays in the eight-figure range,” Variety further predicts.
The bottom line is that making five films and not four (as books are) means much higher costs for the studio, costs that would have seemed impossible a little over a year ago, when the first film came out. Summit, on the bright side, is willing to take all these risks because, in the long run, the idea will turn out to be very profitable, reports claim. Nevertheless, fans should bear in mind that a confirmation from the studio has not yet come, so this is just speculation at this point in time.