Twilight Eclipse Release Date

June 2010 Release Date for Stephenie Meyers’ Twilight: Eclipse

Summit Entertainment has officially announced the release date for “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.” The third installment in the popular vampire movie series will hit theaters on June 30, 2010. Director David Slade is on board for “Twilight: Eclipse” taking over helming duties from Chris Weitz, who directed the previous chapter, “New Moon.”

Production got underway in August, shooting on location, with Vancouver, Canada standing in for Seattle. Most of the cast is expected to reprise their roles, including, of course Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as the lovestruck Bella and her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen. Also returning for “Eclipse” is Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black.

Twilight Eclipse Release Date Poster

Twilight Eclipse Release Date Poster

The June 30, 2010 release date for “Eclipse” is a departure for the studio, taking the movie out of the moody, broody Fall and placing it smack in the middle of Summer sunshine. The producers hope that by opening the movie at the end of June, they can attract a large audience of younger viewers who will be out for summer vacation. This will give the movie a potentially longer time frame to be in theaters.

“Twilight: Eclipse” continues the story of Bella and Edward, with Bella now being put into a position where she must make a choice. Will she choose her true love Edward, or take sides with her friend Jacob Black? Will she choose to remain human or become immortal? With her graduation fast approaching, Bella must start looking ahead. She has to deal with her feelings for Jacob, and of course, his feelings for her knowing that her decision could have dire implications in the centuries old battle between vampires and werewolves. And what of Victoria, the vampire intent on revenge for the killing of James?

“Twilight: Eclipse” is based on the third book in the amazingly popular “Twilight” series of books written by Stephenie Meyers. The worldwide appeal of this vampire saga is often compared to the popularity of the Harry Potter series. Both feature teenage protagonists in a supernatural setting. But “Twilight” has more in common with the classic romance novels. Bella and Edward could be Romeo and Juliet, or Lancelot and Guinevere. Bella, the leading lady of the vampire romance novels, is someone that many readers can see themselves in, she draws the young adult into a dark fantasy world.

Indeed, many bookstores stock the “Twilight” novels in both the Young Adult section and the Science Fiction & Fantasy section. And despite all of the dark gothic fantasy elements, the stories retain all the romance of a world where love is passionate, yet safe.

The movie versions of “Eclipse” is written by Melissa Rosenberg, who also wrote the first two movies. Rosenberg has been a writer in Hollywood for many years, as well as a producer. Her credits include the popular and critically acclaimed Showtime TV series “Dexter.” New director David Slade is a former music video director, who’s previous work includes videos for such artists as Aphex Twin, Muse and System of a Down. He also brings to “Eclipse” a darker vision of vampires, having directed the horror/thriller “30 Days of Night.”

While most of the principal cast will be returning, there is at least one major change. When the new movie opens next summer, it will be Bryce Dallas Howard in the role of Victoria. Bryce replaces Rachelle Lefevre, who originated the role of Victoria in “Twilight” and “New Moon.” The studio claims that a scheduling conflict prevented Lefevre from continuing in the role she created. Bryce Dallas Howard is the daughter of director Ron Howard, and was recently seen in “Terminator: Salvation.”

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