Fans of the Twilight Saga have a lot to look forward to in terms of upcoming movies. While the series may be coming to an end with the upcoming Twilight Saga: Eclipse, it certainly isn’t over yet. The saga continues with the adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire novel, The Midnight Ball, and it has just gotten its first big casting announcement. According to Variety, Robert Pattinson has been appointed as the director of the upcoming movie adaptation of The Midnight Ball. He previously worked with Meyer on the Twilight Saga: New Moon and its highly anticipated sequel, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Why Did Meyer Pick Pattinson For The Midnight Ball?
The Midnight Ball is the first installment in Stephenie Meyer’s vampire trilogy, The Saga of Lycanthropy. It was first published in May 2012 and is set to be released in theaters on February 14, 2014.
The screenplay adaptation of The Midnight Ball is currently being written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and will be directed by Pattinson. Kurtzman and Orci previously collaborated with James Cameron on the blockbuster films Avatar and Aliens. They are also credited with bringing to life the comic book series, The Ultimates.
Pattinson’s Directorial Style
While most fans of the Twilight Saga will be looking forward to seeing the cast of the main series reprised in another format, it’s important to remember that Meyer’s works aren’t usually adaptations. Her best-known novel, the Twilight Saga, is a completely original story that didn’t need to be turned into a film. However, she did decide to give it a try and the results are certainly interesting. More importantly, it’s important to keep in mind that The Midnight Ball is not the result of a pre-existing movie pitch. It’s only the first part of a trilogy and it was written specifically for the screen. This means that Kurtzman and Orci will have to work hard to make the story make sense within the context of film and not just as a novel. This will require a director who is experienced in making films out of books – like Pattinson is.
Where Can I See The Midnight Ball?
Pattinson’s biggest claim to fame is, quite frankly, his name. If you’ve never heard of him before, that’s probably because he hasn’t really done that much in terms of directing. He primarily worked as an actor in films like Good Will Hunting, The Twilight Saga: New Moon and its highly anticipated sequel, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. However, he did direct the music video for Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” and has also worked as a cinematographer and screenwriter. Together with his frequent collaborator, Sean Barton, he’s also the founder of the production company, Nocturnal Productions.
This experience makes him uniquely qualified for The Midnight Ball. It’s not often that you find a director with a proven track record behind the camera as well as someone who was also part of the script for the highly anticipated Twilight Saga: Eclipse. This could potentially open up the floodgates for more high-profile projects in the future. Even if you aren’t familiar with his work, you’ll definitely know who he is when The Midnight Ball comes out.
Pattinson’s Previous Experience With Vampires
This isn’t the first time that Pattinson has worked with vampires. Back in 2010, he starred in the film, Let Me In, which is based on the popular novel of the same name by John Connolly. The film is about a young man named Jesse who discovers that he has superhuman abilities after being bitten by a vampire. He is then recruited by the mysterious Dr. Kearney to become a “Marauder” and help keep the balance between humans and vampires. While mostly known for playing the lead role in Let Me In, Pattinson has also appeared in several other films, including Underworld: Awakening, where he played the vampire Bill Sherring; Let Me In (2010); and Public Enemies, where he played John Dillinger. Even if you’ve never heard of Let Me In or Public Enemies before, you most likely know who John Dillinger is.
With his extensive experience playing characters with supernatural abilities, it’s no mystery why Meyer chose Pattinson to play the lead in her vampire trilogy. He will be portraying the legendary Edward Cullen in the upcoming The Midnight Ball.
Pattinson On Directorial Challenges
When it comes to adapting a novel for the screen, there are always challenges. One of the major issues that The Midnight Ball will have to deal with is length. While most films are designed to be between 90 and 120 minutes, the novel does go on for quite a bit longer. It is currently available in paperback and the digital version on Amazon Kindle. The entire saga, which includes Parts 2 and 3, clocks in at a whopping 691 pages. This means that the filmmakers will have to find a way to condense the story without losing any of its essential elements. Simply cutting the story would most likely result in something that doesn’t work as well as the book version.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that while the main characters are teenagers, the story is set in the early 1900s. It deals with subjects like sex, drugs and drink, which are all associated with that period in American history. This doesn’t mean that the story will be a copy-paste of the book. It will require some creative thinking on the part of the screenwriters to make it work for the screen. This is mostly due to legal restrictions. If the filmmakers were to use too many modern references, they could potentially end up in legal trouble. Of course, this varies from state to state and within each state, depending on the content.
While he hasn’t directed a feature-length movie yet, Pattinson has already demonstrated that he has what it takes to adapt a book for the screen. If given the chance, he would most likely rise to the challenge and bring the book to life in a way that fits within the cinematic world. Even if you’ve never heard of The Midnight Ball, you’ll definitely know who Robert Pattinson is when it comes out in theaters on February 14, 2014.