The First Image from THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN

 

I’ll admit I’ve never read the Twilight books.  However, I do know how to read the comments on a twitpic, so I’ve learned the first image director Bill Condon has released from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn is a great one for fans of the book.  While the above photo (click for a bigger version) is just a girl’s hand holding feathers, according to the comments I’ve read, the feathers give away the fact that it’s from Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edwards (Robert Pattinson) honeymoon on Isle Esme.  

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New Twilight Eclipse Banner + Posters

Just when you thought you hadn’t seen enough Twilight: Eclipse posters, we give you even more...

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Dakota Fanning Cast in New Moon

It’s been the worst-kept secret in Hollywood (well, apart from the one about [CENSORED] being massively [CENSORED]) for months, but finally it’s been officially confirmed that Dakota Fanning has joined the cast of Twilight sequel, New Moon. You now have permission to squeal with excitement, Twilight fans.

The extraordinarily precocious Fanning – no relation to Irish music journo Dave Fanning, we presume – will play ancient and morally ambiguous bloodsucker Jane in the Chris Weitz-directed movie, which had better start filming soon, given that it’s got a November release date.

Jane, of course, is a member of the Volturi, a clan of Italian vampires that I knew all about and didn’t have to look up on Wikipedia, honest. Immortal peacekeepers that protect the secret of vampirism, they factor into the plot when Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen [Spoiler Alert] takes his massive hair to Italy, moping over the apparent loss of his soulmate, Bella (Kristen Stewart), and yearning for death. Or a new stylist.

The child-like Jane is one of the more prominent members of the clan, and has the ability to create illusions of pain. It seems that Fanning – who has admitted to being a big fan of the Stephenie Meyer novels on which the film series is based – may well be perfect casting for the role.

Other members of the Volturi, including their leader Aro, who can read thoughts once he’s touched the person involved, Marcus, who senses relationships (what a spectacularly useless power), and Alec, who can block senses, have yet to be cast. But expect firm announcements on those fronts very soon.

Four Christmases Shoots Up The Punisher

New Line/Warner Bros.' Four Christmases remained in the top spot with an estimated $18.2 million, a drop in sales of just 41.5% from last weekend. The holiday comedy, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, has earned an impressive $70.8 million in two weeks and cost about $80 million to make.

The second spot belonged to Summit Entertainment's Twilight, which added $13.2 million in its third weekend, bringing its total to $138.6 million. Based on the Stephenie Meyer novel, the Catherine Hardwicke-directed film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It cost only $37 million to make.

In third place, Walt Disney Pictures' animated comedy adventure Bolt collected $9.7 million to push its three-week total to $79.3 million.

Baz Luhrmann's Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, made $7 million in the fourth spot. 20th Century Fox's $130 million epic has earned $30.9 million in two weeks.

Sony/MGM's Quantum of Solace rounded out the top five with $6.6 million, taking the 22nd James Bond film to $151.5 million domestically in four weeks. Directed by Marc Forster and starring Daniel Craig, the 007 film cost $200 million to make.

DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa added $5.1 million in its fifth weekend in sixth place. Made for $150 million, the animated hit has reached $165.7 million so far.

In seventh, Lionsgate Transporter 3, starring Jason Statham, made $4.5 million in its second weekend and has earned $25.4 million.

Newcomer Punisher: War Zone, directed by Lexi Alexander and starring Ray Stevenson, bombed out of the gate with just $4 million from 2,508 theaters, a low average of $1,595 and good for only eighth place. It is less than a third of what the studio's first "Punisher" film opened to in 2004.

TriStar Pictures' new drama Cadillac Records, featuring Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright and Beyoncé Knowles, fared better in the ninth spot, as it opened in only 686 theaters yet managed to earn $3.5 million, an average of $5,102 per site.

There was no interest in indie release Nobel Son, which opened in 893 theaters, but only made $371,000. On the other hand, director Ron Howard's Frost/Nixon, starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, took in an impressive $180,000 from just three theaters - an average of $60,000 per theater, the second biggest of the year.

Click here for the full box office results

Twilight sequel has greenlit

Fresh from a massive opening day for "Twilight," Summit Entertainment has officially greenlit a "New Moon" sequel.

Summit made the widely expected announcement Saturday morning. "Twilight" generated first-day grosses of $35.7 million from 3,419 playdates on Friday -- including $7 million from Thursday midnight shows.

The vampire thriller's a ready-made franchise for Summit with four books in Stephenie Meyer’s series, which have sold more than 17 million copies worldwide.

"New Moon" is the second title in the series and is centered on Edward Cullen leaving Bella Swan in order to keep her safe from other vampires. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart play the leads in the film.

"I don't think any other author has had a more positive experience with the makers of her movie adaptation than I have had with Summit Entertainment," Meyer said in a statement.