Chris Weitz has been picked to direct the next film in the Twilight franchise, New Moon.�

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There will be a new director atop theTwilight�franchise: and he’ll be a man. Sources tell EW.com that Summit Entertainment is about to hire Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass) as the shepherd for�New Moon, the second installment of Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling�Twilight�series. Weitz is best-known for his work with his brother Paul. The two directed and produced�American Pie�and then were nominated for an Academy Award for best screenplay forAbout a Boy, which they also co-directed. Chris’ first solo directing gig,The Golden Compass, didn’t do well stateside but was a hit internationally.

Twilight,�directed by Catherine Hardwicke, has grossed more than $141 million so far, but Hardwicke had clashed with the studio during production. It was announced early this week that�she would not be making�New Moon. Weitz has a solid relationship with Summit’s top brass; he’s considered easy to work with and has experience with special effects. “He’s the quality-of-life-choice,” says one source. While Summit insists “we have not yet signed Chris Weitz to do�New Moon,” and Weitz’s agency says no deal has been signed, other sources say the deal is imminent, and that Summit has stopped negotiations with other potential�Moon�directors.

They had to pick somebody quick, the film shoots in March and comes out in November.�

Source: Entertainment Weekly

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