(Summit)

Summit Entertainment has just announced, “Breaking Dawn will be filmed in both Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Vancouver over the next year starting this fall.  The next chapter of THE TWILIGHT SAGA will be released as two separate films with the first of the two slated to be released in theatres on November 18, 2011.”

Bill Condon will direct both films, starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner.

Gossip Cop will update when more details emerge.

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(GettyImages.com)

Academy Award winner Bill Condon will direct The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Summit Entertainment announced today.

In a press release, Condon said, “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.”

Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight series, said she is “thrilled” Condon is directing and is “excited to see what he does with the material.”

Condon, who won an Oscar in 1999 for Gods and Monsters, was the front-runner for the project, despite a false claim that Gus Van Sant had already “signed” to do the movie and speculation that Michael Mann was a major candidate.

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(Little, Brown & Co.)

Earlier today a press release went out claiming, among other things, that The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn “will be split into two movies, and filmed in 3D.”

But that “press release is inauthentic,” a rep for Summit Entertainment confirms exclusively to Gossip Cop.

The rep, who further called the release “fabricated,” added that no official decision has been made about the division of Breaking Dawn, but that Summit is working with author Stephenie Meyer to bring her vision to the big screen with all the “creative elements” necessary.

Meanwhile, a well-placed source tells Gossip Cop that, while splitting Breaking Dawn is likely, filming it in 3D is a longshot.

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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).

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

(Little, Brown & Co.)

Another film was on every Twilight Saga fan’s lips today when rumors went wide that the first Eclipse trailer would be attached to this weekend’s opening of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

The buzz began on message boards and wound up on PerezHilton.com and other major sites. But, just like previous Eclipse teaser rumors from IMDB, today’s is wrong.

A source with Summit tells Gossip Cop the trailer will not be out with this weekend’s Percy Jackson launch.

Eclipse opens in theaters on June 30. We will have updates on teasers and trailers as soon as there is news.

Follow @GossipCop for accurate entertainment and celebrity news!

(GettyImages.com)

Summit Entertainment, the studio behind The Twilight Saga, announced today that it has purchased the North American rights to an untitled comedy (previously called I’m With Cancer) starring James McAvoy as a guy who discovers he has the disease.

Joining McAvoy and Seth Rogen in the cast will be Twilight vets Anna Kendrick and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Shooting will begin later this month in Vancouver. Jonathan Levine will direct.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for the best in accurate celebrity and entertainment news.

(GettyImages.com)

An item in Life & Style claiming that the romance between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart will finally be revealed publicly when the “Twilight” cast convenes to film Breaking Dawn next fall has triggered enormous speculation (again) about the paparazzi-dogged couple.

While it’s nothing new for outlets to buzz incessantly about Robsten, what caught Gossip Cop‘s attention this time was the implication that cast members plan to be open about a relationship that, until now, had to be kept “under wraps.”

“Everyone that’s part of the franchise is so happy for [Pattinson and Stewart],” an “insider” tells Life & Style. “They don’t feel the need to hide it anymore.”

Except no one was told to hide anything in the first place.

The notion that the Twilight cast’s “lips have been sealed” about Pattinson and Stewart is some revisionist history. There was never an edict from anyone. There was never a gag order. There was no Twilight state secret.

It’s simple: No one in the cast wished to comment on a third party’s private life. There was always enough respect among Pattinson, Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Anna Kendrick, and everyone else on set that private lives stayed private.

Should Pattinson and Stewart decide to talk with the press about their lives, the others will take their cues about what is and isn’t appropriate. But when Breaking Dawn is green lit, no switch is flipped on a heretofore “hush-hush relationship.”

One final note: If Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart decide, of their own accord, to tell the world they’re dating during the (eventual) filming of the Twilight Saga‘s next installment, Gossip Cop hopes it will have only one significant effect – to make their daily lives safer and happier than during the filming of Eclipse.

Everyone needs whatever level of privacy gives him or her comfort. And that was made impossible last summer by the paparazzi’s relentless pursuit of Pattinson and Stewart outside of restaurants, inside hotel lobbies, etc.

“Proof” of “love” (as Life & Style puts it) is less vital than the press “proving” itself decent and respectful.

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(Little, Brown & Co.)

People have flooded Gossip Cop with questions about whether the release date for “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” has been pushed back.

Concern seems to come from the lack of a trailer, as well as some inaccurate previews of the upcoming year in movies. CNN‘s, for instance, lists “Eclipse” as arriving in theaters in July.

But no one needs to worry about a postponement.

Sources at Summit Entertainment confirm to Gossip Cop that “Eclipse” is still on track to be released on June 30, 2010.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates!

(EOnline.com)

Our usual reliable pals over at E! Online caused a bit of a stir yesterday with an “Awful Truth” post detailing the “fun drama” between “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer and the vampire series’ film studio, Summit Entertainment, over the adaptation of her final book, “Breaking Dawn.”

Returning to the debate over whether to make the series capper one film or two, E! cites an “insider” as claiming Meyer and Summit “have very different agendas.” According to the piece, Meyer is reluctant to greenlight the two-film option, and the studio is “doing its best to ‘politely inspire’” her. “It’s all about trying to convince Meyer to do it,” the post continues, later asking, “Jeez, is it actually harder for a devout Mormon [like Meyer] to whore out her creative baby than, say, a reported Protestant like J.K. Rowling, who certainly had no difficulties milking the Harry Potter flicks for all they were worth?”

Gossip Cop truly likes the team over at E!… but they’ve got this one wrong. There’s no such rift between Meyer and Summit over Breaking Dawn‘s fate.

So misplaced were the claims, in fact, Meyer herself responded on her official site.

“There is no drama over whether the book should be one movie or two,” Meyer writes. And while the author states again her belief that it would be difficult to tell all of Breaking Dawn in a single film, “If a great way of doing that surfaces, I’m all for it.”

“I know people are anxious for news, and so sometimes gossip gets fabricated to stir things up,” Meyer makes sure to add. “But there’s no basis to this particular story.”

And a Summit source further confirms to Gossip Cop there aren’t any competing agendas.

No worries, “Twilight” fans. There’s no sign of a “Breaking Dawn” breakdown.

Be sure to follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates!

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(Summit)

North American cumulative is now up to $274.6 million

In its fifth week in theaters, “New Moon” was in fifth place at the box office.

North America: 3 day estimate = $4.4 million playing at 3,035 theaters for a per theater average of $1,440.  

• Friday = $1.4 million
• Saturday = $1.6 million

Gossip Cop will keep you updated as we receive more figures…

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter, and check GossipCop.com for the accurate celebrity news!

(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)

North American cumulative is now up to $267.4 million

In its fourth week in theaters, “New Moon” was in fourth place at the box office.

North America: 3 day estimate = $8.0 million playing at 3,635 theaters for a per theater average of $2,201.

• Friday = $2.4 million
• Saturday = $3.4 million

Gossip Cop will keep you updated as we receive more figures…

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter and check GossipCop.com for updates!

(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)

Worldwide Estimated Gross to Date: $570.1 million!

Breakdown

International cumulative is now up to $314.5 million!

North American cumulative is now up to $ $255.6 million!

In its third week in theaters, “New Moon” came in second place in box office receipts.

Domestically, “New Moon” earned $5.2 million on Friday (12/4) and $6.5 million on Saturday (12/5).

The international estimated weekend gross is $40.7 million.

Gossip Cop will keep you updated as we receive more figures.

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

(Summit)

UPDATE: 1:09 11/29:

Estimated international cumulative is now up to $243 million!

North American cumulative is now up to $230.7 million!

Monday 11/23 – $10.5 million

Tuesday 1124 – $11.5 million

Wednesday 11/25 – $14.3 million.

Thursday 11/26 – $9.2 million

Friday 11/27 – $17.7 million

Saturday 11/28 -$16.5 million

The five days from 11/25-11/29 is estimated to be $66 million!

International breakdown will be available later. We will update you when we receive the numbers.

International figures from 11/25:

These are updated details on what was an estimated $132 million opening weekend in 24 international markets. Sources at Summit give the following breakdown:

Argentina – $1.36M market cume

Australia – $14.78M market cume

Brazil – $7.86M market cume

Belgium – $2.66M market cume

Croatia – $221K market cume

Denmark – $1.6M market cume

France – $18.9M market cume

Finland – $967K market cume

Greece – $2.3M market cume

Holland – $1.2M market cume

Hungary – $710K market cume

Indonesia – $47K market cume

Italy – $15.3M market cume

Mexico – $7.7M market cume

New Zealand – $1.9M market cume

Norway – $2.1M market cume

Poland – $1.5M market cume

Philippines – $2.4M market cume

Russia – $9M market cume

Spain – $15M market cume

Sweden – $2M market cume

Switzerland – $713K (French) + $95K (Italian) market cume

Thailand – $1.4M market cume

Turkey – $1.9M market cume

UK – $19.5M market cume

We’ll keep you updated as we receive more figures.

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

(Summit)

Vampires and werewolves are Hollywood’s new kings.

Sources tell Gossip Cop “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” has set a (non-summer) weekend box office record, taking in an astounding $140.7 million since it opened nationwide at midnight on Thursday.

The film’s record-smashing first night paved the way for a three-day haul that “eclipses” all previous weekend windfalls (except summer’s “The Dark Knight” and “Spider-Man 3″).

The estimated international box office take for the three days is $258.8 million.

OTHER MILESTONES & NOTES:

- $140.7 million playing at 4,024 theaters for a per theater average of $34,965.

- Best single opening day ever surpassing THE DARK KNIGHT ($67.2 million)

- Biggest 2 day total to reach $100 + million ($115.9 million to surpass THE DARK KNIGHT’s $114.8 million)

- Biggest November opening in history surpassing HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE ($102.7 million)

- 3^rd biggest opening weekend ever surpassing PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: DEAD MANS CHEST ($135.6 million)

- Best gross for midnight shows ever at $26.3 million surpassing HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE ($22.2 million)

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter and check GossipCop.com for updates!

(GettyImages.com)

“Twilight Star Robert Pattinson Signs TV Deal,” screams the headline of an article today from the Daily Star, which goes on to say, “Robert Pattinson will sink his fangs into one of the biggest contracts in Hollywood history with a $500 million Twilight television deal.”

Really?!

According to the article, the film “franchise is branching out into TV production – and bosses want heart-throb Rob to reprise his big-screen role as Edward Cullen.” The story claims he “could land as much as $1.5 million an episode in the deal which could kick in as early as next year.”

Seriously?!

Oh wait, there’s more…

“Kristen Stewart, Rob’s on-screen human love Bella Swan, is also wanted by chiefs at Summit Entertainment,” reports the Daily Star, adding “both would be free to work on the TV version almost immediately as they have already completed the third film in the series, The ­Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

But how about the other films they’re slated to do?

More importantly, how about the accuracy of this story?

A rep for Summit told Gossip Cop exclusively that there is “no truth” to Pattinson signing a TV deal with Summit.

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

(Summit)

As we reported earlier, a record-setting night turned into a record-setting day for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

Estimates place the film’s November 20 take at a staggering $72.7 million, beating the incredible first days by “The Dark Knight” and “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.”

Gossip Cop will follow the box office as more records (may) fall this weekend.

If you were among the millions who streamed into theaters for “New Moon” since midnight Thursday, we’d like to know what you thought.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for the latest.

(Summit)

Sources tell Gossip Cop Summit Entertainment is set to announce that “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” broke the record for biggest midnight opening last night, beating “The Dark Knight” and the top “Harry Potter” franchise performer.

WE’VE JUST RECEIVED THIS FROM SUMMIT…

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON has set a new record for opening midnight shows with an estimated gross of $26.270 million playing at 3,514 theaters for a per theater average of $7,476. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON passes HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE ($22.2 million) to take the number one spot.*  Following POTTER is DARK KNIGHT ($18.5 million).

In addition to THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON, last night Summit re-issued TWILIGHT in theaters.  The film grossed $1.3 million playing at 2,057 theaters for a per theater average of $631.  The re-issue of Twilight came in just outside the top 15 for the week this is notable especially considering that all came from just 9 PM Thursday night shows.

* Records based on data from industry leader Paul Dergarabedian of BoxOffice.com

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(Little, Brown & Co.)

There are renewed rumors today that a film adaptation of “Breaking Dawn” is set to begin production soon in Vancouver.

While fans have clamored for months for confirmation of a fourth “Twilight Saga” movie from Summit Entertainment, a new wave of speculation followed a press conference for “New Moon” on Friday, when star Robert Pattinson seemed to break some news when he reportedly said, “I think the tentative time for Breaking Dawn is fall of next year.”

We’ve seen the ebb and flow of rumors about the location, timetable, and official status of a “Breaking Dawn” film for months, so Gossip Cop contacted our highly placed Summit source.

Has a production office been set up?

“Nope.”

Has there been any movement?

“Nothing yet.”

We also talked with a staffer at the British Columbia Film Commission who said they hadn’t heard anything new about “Breaking Dawn.”

So that’s what we know. We are NOT suggesting that “Breaking Dawn” is any more or any less likely than it was a few days ago. But as of now, rumors of production starting up remain only rumors.

For the latest in accurate celebrity reporting, check out GossipCop.com and follow us on Twitter – @GossipCop.

(Vanity Fair)

Math isn’t our strong suit, but we estimate we’ve received seventeen quadrillion tips today about the December issue of Vanity Fair, rumored to quote Robert Pattinson denying outright any romance with Kristen Stewart.

Well, Gossip Cop got the inside scoop from a source at the magazine. Here’s what went down.

In interviews conducted during July and August, Pattinson and Stewart apparently denied being an item.

“It doesn’t make any difference what you say [to the tabloids],” Pattinson told writer Evgenia Peretz. “I’ve literally been across the country [from Kristen], and it’s like, ‘Oh, they were on a secret date!’ It’s like, ‘Where? I can’t get out of my hotel room!’”

At the time, Peretz also reports that Stewart said, “It’s so retarded. We’re characters in this comic book.”

Catherine Hardwicke, who directed the pair in “Twilight,” however, is quoted as saying, “What Rob and Kristen had is a multitude of feelings for each other. Complex feelings for each other. It was what we needed. Complex, intense fascination.”

That was this past summer.

BUT…

Since those interviews were conducted, it has been reported that Pattinson and Stewart were seen at several concerts together, sharing meals, and otherwise appearing close.

According to a rep for Vanity Fair, shortly before the interview was turned in, Peretz contacted reps for both actors and Summit Entertainment to again confirm or deny a possible relationship, and suddenly this time they would not offer a comment.

So while the article’s text says Pattinson tells Peretz rumors of a love affair were false and supplies the aforementioned quotes, it’s important to note that those statements are months old and may not reflect current circumstances.

We’ll keep following this story to get you the truth… or you can just read some of those tabloids for kicks!

For the latest in accurate celebrity reporting, keep checking GossipCop.com and remember to follow us on Twitter – @GossipCop.

(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.

(Little, Brown & Co.)

As promotion for “New Moon” heats up and shooting on “Eclipse” continues, the big “Twilight” rumors of the past week concern whether or not the fourth book in Stephenie Meyer‘s series, “Breaking Dawn,” has been officially given the green light for film production.

Today comes new chatter about Summit Entertainment planning to release “Breaking Dawn” in two parts, with production moving back to Portland from Vancouver. The rumors come complete with speculation about the censoring of certain explicit scenes, and a date on which shooting is supposedly due to begin.

Gossip Cop spoke again to very highly placed sources, who told us that “Breaking Dawn” is NOT YET GREEN-LIT.

Given the massive success of the first movie and anticipation for the second and third installments, it seems likely that confirmation on “Breaking Dawn” is forthcoming. But none of the buzz swirling right now is based on actual, finalized production plans.

Keep it tuned to @GossipCop for the latest news.