From Larry Richman:

“Long-awaited announcement” would be a tremendous understatement. I think it’s safe to assume that most of my readers don’t need extensive analysis on this one and just want to read the words from the horse’s mouth. So, without further ado, here is the complete text of the official press release from Summit Entertainment announcing the selection of Bill Condon as director of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn:

Los Angeles, CA April 28, 2010 – Summit Entertainment has confirmed that Academy Award® winner Bill Condon will direct THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, is currently being written by Melissa Rosenberg, and will star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, and Stephenie Meyer will produce the project.

“Bringing Stephenie Meyer’s BREAKING DAWN to the screen requires a graceful and intelligent hand and we believe Bill Condon is exactly the right steward, having shown equal and abundant talents of immense creativity and subtle sensitivity,” said Erik Feig, President of Production and Acquisitions, for Summit Entertainment.

Added author Stephenie Meyer, “I’m so thrilled that Bill wants to work with us. I think he’s going to be a great fit, and I’m excited to see what he does with the material.”

“I’m very excited to get the chance to bring the climax of this saga to life on-screen. As fans of the series know, this is a one-of-a-kind book – and we’re hoping to create an equally unique cinematic experience,” said Bill Condon.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this spellbinding romantic epic that has entranced millions.

Condon is well known for writing and directing DREAMGIRLS, KINSEY, and GODS AND MONSTERS, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1999. He was nominated for a second Oscar for his screenplay for the movie musical CHICAGO in 2003. Most recently the multi-hyphenate directed the pilot episode for the Showtime series “The Big C” and produced the 81st Annual Academy Awards telecast, hosted by Hugh Jackman.

Related posts:

1. Some Pros and Cons on Possible Breaking Dawn Director Bill Condon
2. Throw Another Hat Into the Breaking Dawn Director Ring
3. Breaking Dawn and Stephenie Meyer Nominated for Children’s Choice Book Awards
4. How Will 1 1/2 Year Wait for Breaking Dawn Affect the Twilight Fandom??
5. HitFix confirms “Breaking Dawn” Release Date

Usually when I hear that the author is becoming the producer and will help guide things, it gives me a sense of relief because they know it better than anyone but I have to be honest and admit when I read that SM would be producing one thought came to mind…..aw shit.

Especially when the LA TImes said Condon likes an underdog.

Joyce, I am worried! We all know she is head over heels for Jake! He gets away with murder and it was hard enough reading that but to see it on a big screen…….I’m worried. Yes I am usually the one saying let’s wait to see it before judging but damn it this woman has a track record of being so Team Jacob that I wonder how she even finished writing the books to make sure Edward and Bella were together! BD wasnt my favorite book and now adding her to the mix for the movie makes me worried. It also makes me think that Summit knows it is a movie that all fans might not fall in love with but since SM is producer they can point the finger back at her and say hey she ok’d every idea. Usually the fans blame the director and writer when the movies dont turn out how they want but this time I think we know who our eyes can wonder to. Hell she picked out the ring for Eclipse and fans didnt even like that lol.

I think SM is doing this according to what she likes frankly…not really considering the fans…you would think things will be okay hearing she is the producer…”Condon like an underdog” who cares what he likes? She wrote the books and he better do everything right because those twilighters will raise hell if he messes up..its the last book! I wonder why she is so team Jacob..kinda strange..i hope this isnt a disaster..not trying to be a pesimist..but with BD it has be done right or it will be an epic fail.

AW shit is right Rachelle! Potential diaster alert anyone?! Why is SM getting invloved now….on the lAST book?! My sister just said it’s b/c she wants to make sure they don’t porngraph her book! I laughed, but she may have a point.

I don;t know guys, “condon likes the underdog” is freaking me out! What could this mean, that they are going to screw up BD’s ending….will SM allow that b/c she is Team Jacob?! Will MR write that?! Oh, so many questions!!!!!

I hope we are reading too much into it but really it just seems too weird for me. We know she loves her some Jacob and if she is producing she might as well be directing. She is going to make it the way she wants and I say that because what SM wants and what the fans that made this such a huge success want is completely different. I guess we will just have to wait and see how this unfolds.

I think SM being a part of it will do wonders.Nobody knows the books better than she does so if anything shes going to make sure that all the keys points come out in the movie.Her and bill have a lot of work to do however being it is the last and probably most important part of the series.I agree either they are going to make it better than the first three or it going to be a failure.Im hoping for the best however i am one of the biggest fans.

Rachelle, have read the post from today about how Condon respects the adaptation aspect of making the movie and basically is saying that he wants to stay true the novel. So, maybe we’ll get a good movie afterall….which also leads me to believe that maybe we’ll get two movies and not one b/c there is NO way they’ll be able to fit all that is BD into one movie!!

I agree Tristan and it comes down to what you said. Either it will be great or a failure. It is one of those decisions where you either say after seeing the movie wow that was a great choice or you say that was dumb of them to change things up in the very last movie of all things. Hopefully she will add to the greatness and not hinder it. I say that because she is a writer, but she isnt used to the filming process in terms of being a true producer and contrary to popular belief not everyone can do it all. That is why there are different positions in the first place and SM writes novels, so it will be interesting to see how she adapts to having a lot more say. She had say before but she was in the background of it all. I guess we will just have to wait and see how it all turns out. Eclipse is my fave anyways and the one I am dying to see so I wont just be heartbroken if they screw up BD. If they mess up Eclipse tho, there will be hell to pay!

I am sooo with you on the last two lines-”Eclipse is my fave anyways and the one I am dying to see so I wont just be heartbroken if they screw up BD. If they mess up Eclipse tho, there will be hell to pay!” Sorry, just am. If you need to adjust Breaking Dawn, go for it, but keep your mits off Eclipse!

They’d better not mess up Eclispe! I hope that’s not what’s going on up there in the V.C.!! Any idea what the re-shoots are about anyway? Didn’t expect half the cast to show. Anywho…how much more of a mess could BD get?! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it can only get BETTER ladies.

Re shoots are not out of the norm for movies BUT the close timing is out of the norm. Re shoots are usually done because they edit the film or go back and look at parts of it the lighting seems different, lines dont flow right, etc. so they redo some of the scenes sometimes even adding parts in. What really worries me is that it is about to be May and they are just doing reshoots! That is a time crunch. Editing takes a long time even when you have most of the pieces together, it takes time to make it flow. We are two months away from the premiere of the movie and they are just starting this stuff. I know it will get done. Directors know deadlines like this cant be changed, but it also means DS and his crew will be rushing to get it to all fit together. I am hoping they have some plan in action to make the process run smoothly but I will say this…..I dont remember this kind of stuff happening this close to the other premieres!

That is what’s making me sweat a little Rachelle. I mean, what if some things have to changed, added or even flat out removed b/c of the re-shoots? And if so, will it affect the final product? I mean, what if b/c of the re-shoots and then all the editing that will have to be done after…the release date gets pushed back?! There, I said out loud. Hope it doesn’t come true now.

You are right though, no re-shoots for the other two movies…at least none that we heard about anyway…and SO close to the release date. I don’t think anyone is amused. Have you seen the pic of Rob ad Kristen coming and going? They didn’t look happy.