Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood, who leaked the news that Hardwicke was canned, may have another scoop–the director of New Moon.

Chris Weitz, who directed the box-office flop Golden Compass, may be directing the Twilight franchise’s second installment:

Yes, he’s had tremendous success working with tweens and teens (About A Boy as director and writer, American Pie as producer and uncredited director). But Chris Weitz also did The Golden Compass (as writer and director), and my source says Summit Entertainment liked the look of that even if it didn’t heat up the domestic box office (but did better overseas).

Golden Compass won the 2007 Academy Award in the Visual Effects category, against heavy-hitters Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End and Transformers. This Oscar certainly gives credence to the rumor–the special effects in New Moon will undoubtedly need to be a lot better to deal with things like the werewolves in the New Moon movie.

The Rotten Tomatoes consensus of The Golden Compass, scoring a meager 42%:

Without the bite or the controversy of the source material, The Golden Compass is reduced to impressive visuals overcompensating for lax storytelling.

Weitz is currently producing three movies, but has no current directorial duties.

SOURCE: ‘Twilight’ Sequel Offer From Summit Out To Director Chris Weitz?

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