Controversy: The Fifth Twilight Novel - Midnight Sun - Will it be finished or made into a movie?
Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
by Ben Jones
Too-Write!
If you haven't heard of the Twilight Series including all the incredible hype they are receiving in the media right now then you either don't own a television or you spend a lot of time under a rock, possibly both. Speaking of rock, that's exactly what most of the young teenagers are saying about the latest Twilight movie "New Moon" which is officially released in cinemas on 20th Novemeber 2009.
Twilight was the first installment in a series of vampire-romance novels by Stephenie Meyer which have spawned two movies to date ("Twilight" and "New Moon"). However according to official channels there are at least 3 more installements to come including "Midnight Sun", which has created a deal of controversy.
The novels and movies are a thrillingly suspenseful and modern take on the age-old vampire genre. The characters leap off the page and screen and the story is one into which you can really sink your teeth.
All the attention is currently focused on the latest Twilight movie release "New Moon" but already in production are the third and fourth installments, "Eclispse" and "Breaking Dawn" which promise to bring the ever increasing legions of fans back for more. Shaping up to emulate the success of another well known mega success story, Harry Potter, the Twilight dynasty already has plans for a 5 th installment in the works.
And that's where the controversy begins: Stephenie Meyer has historically been tight-lipped about upcoming storylines, sequeals and plot twists which may have added to the fervor associated with these incredibly popular stories. However rumours abound about the fifth Twilight novel and movie, "Midnight Sun", after the first 12 chapters were illegally leaked onto the internet, forcing Meyer's hand to speak up about book 5 of the Twilight series and the controversy the leak caused.
According to her offical website, Meyer stated:
All the attention is currently focused on the latest Twilight movie release "New Moon" but already in production are the third and fourth installments, "Eclispse" and "Breaking Dawn" which promise to bring the ever increasing legions of fans back for more. Shaping up to emulate the success of another well known mega success story, Harry Potter, the Twilight dynasty already has plans for a 5 th installment in the works.
And that's where the controversy begins: Stephenie Meyer has historically been tight-lipped about upcoming storylines, sequeals and plot twists which may have added to the fervor associated with these incredibly popular stories. However rumours abound about the fifth Twilight novel and movie, "Midnight Sun", after the first 12 chapters were illegally leaked onto the internet, forcing Meyer's hand to speak up about book 5 of the Twilight series and the controversy the leak caused.
According to her offical website, Meyer stated:
"If I tried to write Midnight Sun now, in my current frame of mind, James would probably win and all the Cullens would die, which wouldn't dovetail too well with the original story. In any case, I feel too sad about what has happened to continue working on Midnight Sun, and so it is on hold indefinitely."
Cynics might suggest this is a clever marketing ploy to increase fan fevor and media attention for the latest release and to ensure future publicity for the saga including the fifth book, "Midnight Sun" when it is finally released.
Whatever the truth, it is clear that the Twilight series is currently a run-away train of success full of adulating and hysterical teenage fans. Perhaps that very same train started at platform thirteen and a half all those short years ago and Twilight was the logical progression for a generation growing up with mega-novels and mega-movies to cut their teeth upon.
As to predictions, if the success of the first two Twilight movies is anything to go by I think we'll be seeing the 5th novel before to long, amidst a flurry of media attention, cleverly manipulated to ensure the best possible exposure. Then if it's still raking in the fans and money we'll see a 6th novel and corresponding movie hot on the heels of its success. Of course I've always been a cynic when it comes to people standing to make a huge profit.
Whatever the truth, it is clear that the Twilight series is currently a run-away train of success full of adulating and hysterical teenage fans. Perhaps that very same train started at platform thirteen and a half all those short years ago and Twilight was the logical progression for a generation growing up with mega-novels and mega-movies to cut their teeth upon.
As to predictions, if the success of the first two Twilight movies is anything to go by I think we'll be seeing the 5th novel before to long, amidst a flurry of media attention, cleverly manipulated to ensure the best possible exposure. Then if it's still raking in the fans and money we'll see a 6th novel and corresponding movie hot on the heels of its success. Of course I've always been a cynic when it comes to people standing to make a huge profit.
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)I enjoyed your article. However, I would have liked to get a little more from you about your feelings as to the critical and authorial treatment the future novel in this series is getting.
I enjoyed your article. Although I am not a fan of the movie (haven't read the books), I do find this resurgence of interest in vampires fascinating.
Great article. Well done.I'm not a fan of the Twilight series. They are not at all my type of book.
Hi Ben. Great article. I fall into the second category "...spent a lot of time under a rock." LOL. My niece who is one of the adulating and hysterical teenage fans gives me the story and the latest happening. Thanks for sharing. ~Nenita~
Good article, Ben! I have not read the books, but my adult daughters love them. If this is a marketing ploy, it may backfire. The books are already extremely popular and a delay runs the risk of fans deciding they don't want to wait and going with the next big thing. But, delaying the release of the last Harry Potter film didn't hurt its popularity. Who knows?
Saw the book at Wal-Mart and you're right, we don't have a TV - GRIN we read and hike and enjoy this mountain meadow... thanks for getting me up to speed. Marijo
Are you kidding, I am 30 years old and I just got discharged from the Harry Potter addiction and "Lord Of The Rings" and Star Wars! Transformers.I can't take another super movie series of the paranormal kind. Initially I was turned off by the teenagers fawning at the lead actors, I ask again WHY is SCI-Fi suddenly cool?! Being a Geek is cool? Why?I haven't read the books but you have intrigued me, Ben, I will get them when I have time. Great article BTW!;)
Great article, however to me the whole trendy vampire craze that has swept the nation's youth is rediculous. I see high school kids dressing like vampires, fake fangs and all, and its just like how kids started wearing trenchcoats after the Matrix came out. LAME! Still great writing though!
Honestly, I really like the book but I don't like it being made into movies. I prefer reading the book than watching the movies.
I hope sStephanie will finish Midnight Sun I am literaly about to die. I am only 9 but I love her books. I have nearly finished Breaking Dawn and need another to read we all have to encourage steph to finish it. everybody go to Stephaniemeyer.com and you can beg her to finish i bet if we all ask she will PLEASE HELP ME I WANT TO READ IT SO BAD I BET YOU GUYS DO TOO! read the partial draft @ stephaniemeyer.com
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