Can the author’s vampire novels do for moviegoers ?what they’ve done for readers?
The first book in the series comes to ?theaters in December.
Thats great news for the locals, but it sucks if youre a vampire.
Credit: PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFF RIEDEL
Hence, todays problem.
We were building a bedroom in 24 hours, Hardwicke says later.
We were just sweating it.
Fans have been sweating it too.
Not since Harry Potter has a book-to-film journey inspired so much enthusiasm or so much anxiety.
Edward also falls for Bella, but his desire for her barely controls his instinct to devour her.
The girls who have gone crazy for the book have beenvivisecting the films development online.
Two girls from theMake-A-Wish Foundationeven requested roles as extras.
You cant make this up, Hardwicke says.
With a fan base like that, all of Hollywood should have been jousting for the film rights.
In fact, the movie almost didnt happen.
(It featured night-vision goggles and transformed Bella into a hip track star.)
Fortunately for devout fans of the book, Paramount put the project into turnaround.
The author had been burned before and resisted.
That did the trick.
Twilight, which will hit theaters on Dec. 12, is no garlic-and-fangs monster tale.
When I read the book, I could almost feel Bella breathing, Hardwicke says.
The wrong choice would throw Twilighters into a tizzy.
NEXT PAGE: Robert Pattinsons audition consisted of a love scene with Kristen Stewart on Hardwickes bed.
