(HollywoodLife.com)

“TWI-HARD TRAVESTY! Are They Going To Turn ‘Breaking Dawn’ Into A Musical?” asks HollywoodLife, which itself is becoming a travesty.

The site then questions, “Would you be shocked! dismayed! sick to your stomach! if the Twilight crew broke out in song for their final films?”

Uh, oh…

So, how did HollywoodLife come up with this ridiculous notion?

Simply, it took yesterday’s news that the top pick to direct Breaking Dawn is Bill Condon, and the fact that he directed “Dreamgirls,” and came up with this off-key premise.

Of course, HollywoodLife’s proposition is like saying New Moon could have easily turned into a comedy with Robert Pattinson playing multiple parts, because that film was directed by Chris Weitz, who wrote Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.

Not leaving bad enough alone, the site then took a cheap shot by saying “Condon worked beautifully with singer-actor Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson, but working with characters like Edward Cullen and Bella Swan is, we’d say, entirely different.”

Of course, nothing like this should surprise us anymore when it comes to “Twilight” and HollywoodLife. Remember, this is the same site that criticized Kristen Stewart for going to a Haiti benefit – twice.

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(GettyImages.com)

For months on end there has been speculation about “Breaking Dawn,” and who would direct the final chapter of the saga.

Gossip Cop has received official confirmation from Chris Weitz‘s rep that he will not be directing the film(s).

Fans had hoped for some time Weitz, who directed “New Moon” (and “The Golden Compass” and “About A Boy” before that), would helm “Breaking Dawn,” but it’s a no go.

Weitz is next slated to direct a personal project about an undocumented Mexican laborer that he himself is partially funding. That film begins next month.

So loved was Weitz there was even a rumor – albeit false –  that stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner had written a joint endorsement, urging Summit Entertainment to lock down the director for the final installment. 

Ultimately, it was Weitz’s decision.

As Gossip Cop reported last month, though officially no decision has been made about whether to split “Breaking Dawn” into two films, a well-place source said dividing the final book into two movies is “the direction that it’s going in.”

We’re also told Summit is currently looking at top-tier directors to helm the final “Twilight” film(s).

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(Little, Brown & Co.)

When the tabs don’t have actual news to report, contrived controversy will do in a pinch — especially when it comes to “Twilight.” Life & Style declares in just such a piece, “Battle for Breaking Dawn,” that “cast and producers are at odds over the making of the fourth movie in the smash series.”

What has the magazine learned? Well, not much. It mostly recycles nuggets about Stephenie Meyer‘s fourth installment’s “serious departure” in tone from the first three books; the ongoing discussion about whether it should be split into more than one movie; stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner‘s rapidly filling schedules; etc.

Catching Gossip Cop‘s eye, though, was the section labeled, “Director demands.” While Summit Entertainment is “still searching for a director to helm Breaking Dawn,” the leads “are adamant about wanting New Moon‘s Chris Weitz.” So adamant, in fact, that according to the mag’s so-called “insider,” “Rob, Taylor and Kristen sat down and wrote a letter to have Chris come back.”

Gossip Cop thought the story of the “Twilight” Trio writing a joint endorsement of Weitz sounded a bit off, especially coming in the midst of a piece that just seemed to repeat every “Breaking Dawn” angle, however played out and speculative, to fill the space.

We were right to be skeptical. A source close to the production said that the three major stars of “New Moon,” while very pleased with Weitz, never wrote a letter demanding he take over “Breaking Dawn.”

Anyone who wants to write Life & Style a letter “applauding” (ahem) their “Twilight” coverage is encouraged to do so.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter, and check GossipCop.com for the latest updates in ACCURATE celebrity news!

(Summit)

As you probably know, the charges against 22-year-old Samanth Tumpach have been dropped for illegally videotaping “New Moon” at the Muvico Theater in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont.

She was charged with a felony, and could have faced up to three years behind bars.

Tumpach admitted that two snippets of film were caught on her camera, but said she wasn’t intentionally recording “New Moon.” Instead, she was filming her sister’s birthday.

Even director Chris Weitz was in her corner. He told the Chicago Sun-Times, “There is, needless to say, a difference between trying to protect copyright of a film and making an unfair example of someone who clearly seems not to have any intentions towards video piracy.”

Well now Summit has weighed in, too, and released the following statement:

“In regards to the situation with Samantha Tumpach, we applaud Muvico for upholding the zero tolerance policy on piracy when the incident occurred at their theater in Rosemont, IL. The pirating of films is a very serious issue and we all need to remain vigilant to protect the art of film and the myriad of businesses that the film industry supports. We believe that the attention that this incident has drawn, has served as a reminder to us all that any form of film piracy, or perceived piracy, will be treated with the utmost seriousness. Summit is pleased that all charges against Ms. Tumpach have been dropped and appreciate the efforts of the police and the prosecutors in this outcome.”

(Summit)

“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” opens tonight (have you heard?), and in light of Robert Pattinson being “confronted” (in good fun) on “The Today Show” this morning with a series of crazy rumors, Gossip Cop decided to compile a little trip down memory lane with our Top 20 Wrong “Twilight” Rumors from the last few speculation-saturated months.

There were, of course, the endless (endless, endless) Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart romance rumors, the problems with obnoxious paparazzi, issues with fake photos, crazy casting rumors involving “Harry Potter,” then ridiculous romance rumors involving “Harry Potter,” fake “Twilight”-bashing Tweets from Lauren Bacall (no, really), and more.

But here are the 20 that together helped to define the “Twilight” Tabloid Experience between the summer and tonight’s theatrical release. They’re fun, they’re wild, they’re crazy… and they’re wrong.

20. Robert Pattinson + Megan Fox = ???

Teen Choice Awards co-presenters make mistake of co-presenting in same time zone. All hell breaks loose.

19. Kristen Stewart “Tweets” Up a Storm

Unfortunately, it seems only one magazine has access.

18. Taylor Swift “Teaches” Taylor Lautner in Hotel Room

They supposedly jam until the wee hours while guests cover ears and mag’s fact checkers cover eyes.

17. “Looking Like Hell,” Cast of “Eclipse” Placed on “Lockdown”

Star magazine insists out-of-control stars get curfew. We think the editors need more sleep.

16. “Breaking Dawn” Production Rumors Just… Won’t… Stop

Every few days “news” of a fourth movie taking shape trickles from the Northwest. And one day it’ll be true. But not yet.

15. Kristen Stewart Scream 2009 Rumors… She Didn’t Go

Everyone kept insisting she’d attend the awards. We trusted our “no” sources. Disappointing news can be accurate news.

14. Robert Pattinson is a Teleporter

Outlet doesn’t get memo to wait until actor is in New York to generate fake New York rumors.

13. “Snobby,” “Miserable” Kristen Stewart is “Eclipse” “Outcast”

Actually, the entire smear piece could be placed inside quotation marks and then dumped in the water outside Vancouver.

12. New York Daily News Fakes Jennie Garth Quotes

Transcript shows paper exaggerated Peter Facinelli’s wife’s comments “outing” Robsten, but not as ridiculously as…

11. Site Fakes and Creates Chris Weitz Quotes

Blog manufactures director’s statement “outing” Robsten, fails Comedy 101.

10. Robsten’s Fantasy Island

Not satisfied with mainland rumors, tabs conjure an exaggerated couple’s getaway, albeit one more plausible than…

9. Taylor Lautner “Proposes” to Taylor Swift

We’d like to propose that certain outlets just take a “Twilight” timeout.

8. Phony Interview with Robert Pattinson Goes Everywhere

Gossip Cop actually called the perpetrators on this one – and got results.

7. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart “Keeping a Safe Distance”

Perez Hilton manages to pick up wrong story and make it 10,000 times wronger.

6. OK! Magazine Loves Robsten Rollercoaster a Little Too Much

We just got motion sickness reliving the tab’s topsy-turvy approach to reality.

5. Robert Pattinson’s Alleged Steroids Use

Mangled, out-of-context Kristen Stewart quotes generate ‘juiced’ rumors.

4. Robert Pattinson on Verge of Rehab

“His shirt was once buttoned all weird.” We’re not making this up.

3. Robert Pattinson “Injured” on “New Moon” Set

A blog alarms everyone by showing the actor bloodied… and fails to mention that it was makeup for a scene.

2. Robert Pattinson “In Mix” to Play Levi Johnston

No comment.

1. Robert Pattinson Impregnates Kristen Stewart

Due any day now…

****     ****     ****     ****     ****     ****     ****

Glaring omissions? Personal favorites? Let us know in the comments section!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for the latest in accurate celebrity reporting, and check GossipCop.com for updates.

(Summit Entertainment)

Los Angeles might be getting the official “New Moon” premiere, but Gossip Cop can confirm New York will host a special screening of the second “Twilight Saga” film before it hits theaters.

Will any people of interest be there? You might say so.

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, and Kellan Lutz are all scheduled to join director Chris Weitz on Thursday, November 19 in Manhattan for a previously unannounced screening.

Gossip Cop is working on additional details.

For the very latest, follow @GossipCop on Twitter, and remember to check GossipCop.com for updates!

(Vanity Fair)

Love & lies, rumors & romance, satire & Scream … it was another busy week for “Twilight” fans hoping to stay on top of what was real – and what wasn’t. Gossip Cop recaps it all …

***         ***        ***         ***         ***

Werewolf Taylor Lautner will be on hand at the Scream 2009 Awards (taping tonight for broadcast next week), and the ceremony will show new “New Moon” footage, but neither Robert Pattinson nor Kristen Stewart is expected to attend.

All three stars WILL be on the cover of an upcoming Entertainment Weekly, as Gossip Cop was first to confirm.

One magazine NOT impressing Gossip Cop with its “Twilight” cover this week was OK! – whose deceptive Rob and Kristen “Inside Our Home” exclusive just plain bites.

We also busted a supposed “satire” on Reel Loop that invented Chris Weitz quotes to make it look as though he had outed Pattinson and Stewart as a real-life couple. (Um, we’re still not sure the site understands what “satire” is. Or journalism.)

There were also rumors of romance between Lautner and superstar singer Taylor Swift, and between “New Moon” newbie Jamie Campbell Bower and Bonnie Wright of “Harry Potter” fame. Gossip Cop thinks one is more likely than the other.

We’ll end the week where we began: with caution about buying (yet) any detailed reports of “Breaking Dawn” being officially greenlit as a two-movie Portland production. Last Sunday a rep for Summit told Gossip Cop no decisions about location or start date had been made, and our sources confirmed to us again today that subsequent reports professing to break “Breaking Dawn” news are premature.

As always, we’ll work to give you accurate “Twilight” updates as soon as they’re available. Follow us on Twitter – @GossipCop.

(Summit)

Gossip Cop’s inbox was hit by a flood of questions today concerning an interview “New Moon” director Chris Weitz gave to Empire magazine. A purported “version” of the interview posted on a site called Reel Loop included an alleged “quotation,” attributed to Weitz, that appeared to confirm that co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are a real-life couple.

Here’s what we now know:

-  The Empire interview is real. What’s actually in the pages of the magazine and on Empire’s web site come from comments Mr. Weitz gave during Comic-Con.

-  The final passage Reel Loop “quotes” is complete fabrication. And we’re told Weitz himself is troubled by that, but more about that in a bit.

Here’s the controversial passage:

–

“Oh, one last thing, I was so joking, New Moon is straight up for the ladies. Jacob is naked during the entire production. Yeah, it was awkward for a bit but we all got used to it. What we didn’t get used to was Javier, the food cart guy. Homie was pant-less…and underwear-less when he served us scrambled eggs. If Kristen Stewart wasn’t dating Robbie, she told me that she would ‘fix his ferris wheel like a drugged-out fairy’…I don’t know what that means either.”

–

Gossip Cop can confirm what many “Twilight” fans concluded – Chris Weitz never gave those comments.

They’re in a “voice” that is nothing like Weitz’s, they’re without context, and they were designed to deceive readers. Erik Buckman, the author of the Reel Loop piece, fabricated them. Tonight he Tweeted, “It’s way too easy to frighten/trick Twilighters.”

But since almost no one follows Mr. Buckman on Twitter, we wanted to expose his trickery here.

Gossip Cop has been on the phone with sources close to Weitz and the “Twilight” production all afternoon and evening. The director himself was understandably troubled by the Reel Loop’s fabrication. His spokesperson tells Gossip Cop the alleged “quotation” beginning with “Oh, one last thing …” is “completely untrue.”

Gossip Cop is happy to be able to set the record straight.

Follow us on Twitter – @GossipCop – for breaking news, and be sure to check out GossipCop.com daily!