Drew Barrymore Is NOT Directing ‘Twilight: Eclipse’

There has been much speculation over the past few months as to who will direct the second and third installments in the Twilight movie franchise. For the second film, New Moon (which just started shooting the other day), The Golden Compass helmer Chris Weitz was hired to direct, but it hasn’t been quite as clear cut with the third film.

Actress-turned-director/producer Drew Barrymore was reportedly amongst a small group of names being considered to helm Eclipse. There were no confirmations of any of them, including the much speculated Juan Antonio Bayona, but there were many Twilight fans both for and against Barrymore taking the directing reigns for the third movie.

Well, those who were on the “against” side of the fence can sleep a little easier, as Barrymore confirmed herself that she will not be directing Eclipse.

Courtesy of MTV, Barrymore recently denied her directorial involvement in the threequel, having the following to say on the matter:

“Oh, I wish that I was [directing it]! I adore that project and I adore the team that’s making it… And I am very honored to now be a director and going up for other movies and being offered other movies as a director. I’m now an actor/producer/director! How lucky am I! No, we’re not going to do it together.”

As I said in my previous post about this matter, I don’t think it was a good idea, anyway. I mean, nothing against Barrymore (either personally or as an actress), but it’s just her pure inexperience as a director (at this point in time) that deemed her the wrong person to whom the studio should hand the reigns of a sure-to-be-successful movie franchise.

Barrymore has her first feature film coming out later this year – an indie comedy called Whip It!, in which she stars with Juno’s Ellen Page. Maybe that’s what caused Summit Entertainment to not go with her for Eclipse – perhaps they had her on a short list because she “adores” the series and was a well known name beforehand, which would undoubtedly get it more attention (as if it needs it, though). But perhaps ultimately her inexperience lost her the chance.

Now there’s no way of knowing if Barrymore would have done a good job with a Twilight movie (unless they, for some reason, consider her for any future films in the series), but with her inexperience I really don’t think she would have.

Eclipse currently lies without a confirmed director, however The Orphanage director Juan Antonio Bayona is a strong possibility.

So, are you Twilight fans out there glad or sad that Barrymore isn’t directing Eclipse? Who should direct the film instead?

Eclipse is currently scheduled to be released on June 30th, 2010.

Source: MTV Movies Blog