Twilight 2 release date and director confirmed

Summit Entertainment has set Friday, November 20, 2009 as the release date for New Moon, the next film in the Twilight teen vampire film series. That’s according to a story by The Hollywood Reporter. Twilight had a huge opening on the November 21st weekend slot this year, and distributors hope a return to that frame will mean similar success for future installments of the franchise.

Summit also confirmed that Chris Weitz, who directed The Golden Compass, will helm New Moon. The company recently parted ways on the film with Catherine Hardwicke, who directed Twilight.

Both adaptations are based on a series of books by Stephenie Meyer.

Three other films are tentatively set to open over the same popular pre-Thanksgiving weekend, including Warner Bros.’ Guy Ritchie-directed Sherlock Holmes, with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law; Sony’s animated film Planet 51, featuring a voice work by Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott and Jessica Beal; and MGM’s as-yet-untitled Three Stooges project, directed by the Farrelly brothers.