Apparently it's official:
The guy that directed Dream Girls is going to direct Breaking Dawn.
This is going to be a comedy of epic proportions. I'm not going to throw popcorn at the screen, I'm going to throw glitter.
It’s the worst-kept secret in Hollywood, but at least now we finally know it’s true. Dreamgirls director Bill Condon has signed on to direct Breaking Dawn, the final chapter in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Summit Entertainment made the announcement today, though they declined to reveal whether or not the final book will be broken into one or two films. Said the press release, “Bringing Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn to the screen requires a graceful and intelligent hand and we believe Bill Condon is exactly the right steward, having shown equal and abundant talents of immense creativity and subtle sensitivity,” said Erik Feig, President of Production and Acquisitions, for Summit Entertainment.
Sources tell EW.com that it will most likely be two movies, though none of the lead actors’ deals are complete, and the extra cash they want for the fifth movie may still be an issue. Also up in the air: will Breaking Dawn be in 3-D? It’s clear the studio wants this massive moneymaker in theaters as quickly as possible. While the 3-D would add to the cost of the productions, more crucially it would add to the time needed to finish the films. It’s also likely that Breaking Dawn will begin shooting this fall in Vancouver, and, assuming the actors’ deals can be made for a fifth film, both movies will be shot at the same time.
Condon, who has spent the most recent part of his career writing and directing prestige pictures such as the musical Dreamgirls, Kinsey, and Gods and Monsters, first toiled in the world of thrillers and horror flicks. His directorial debut was the Southern Gothic mystery Sister, Sister, followed by the Candyman sequel, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh. But with Gods and Monsters, Condon abandoned the lower-rent genre, receiving an Academy Award for the film’s best adapted screenplay. He was nominated for the prize again for his adaptation of Chicago. Most recently Condon produced the 2009 Academy Awards telecast along with Laurence Mark.
Said Condon in the release, “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.”