New ‘Twilight’ Book, ‘Midnight Sun,’ Released But Movie Version Is Unlikely

The fifth book in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, Midnight Sun, was released on Tuesday into the hands of excited and expectant fans. The last full book in the series, Breaking Dawn, was released in 2008.

Fans have known about Midnight Sun for quite some time as the draft of the manuscript was leaked in 2008. Meyer responded to this incident saying she felt “violated.”

In May, Meyer announced the fifth book in the series would finally be published. She told the New York Times the novel would be released simply “because I finished it.” She continued saying, “When I did see the light at the end of the tunnel … I started the publication process right away, because I knew there were people who had been waiting really kindly and patiently, but also anxiously, for quite a while.”

The newly released 671-page novel re-tells the fantasy romance story from the perspective of vampire Edward Cullen, rather than Bella Swan; fans and critics alike are giving Meyer a thumbs up for her latest work.

All four of the other books in the Twilight series: Twilight, Neon Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn have all become movies. However, director of these films, Catherine Hardwicke told Entertainment Tonight that while an on-screen reunion would be “a lot of fun,” it would be “difficult” to make this fifth book a movie. “We did stay a lot more in Bella’s head.”

Hardwicke also added it could be difficult to have the same stars, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, in a potential fifth movie. “Rob is Batman now … and Kristen is in a million beautiful projects. Who knows what would happen.”

So for now, fans will focus on the book, and they seem happy to do so. Publisher James Gurbutt noted it “was always going to be a big deal.” He continued saying, “At a time when bookshops have only fairly recently reopened, we hope this will be a really significant publication for retailers.”