Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in “Twilight”

Photo: Summit Entertainment

It’s been talked about, it has a screenwriter, and now it’s official: Stephenie Meyer’s “New Moon” will be coming to a theater near you. Summit Entertainment made the official announcement on Saturday (November 22), during a brief respite from counting the massive box-office receipts that Meyer’s first film, “Twilight,” is taking in this weekend.

“I don’t think any other author has had a more positive experience with the makers of her movie adaptation than I have had with Summit Entertainment,” the best-selling author said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to have the chance to work with them again on ‘New Moon.’ “

The news comes on the heels of the vampire flick selling out theaters nationwide, despite its mixed reviews. The madness began with some impressive advance ticket sales, then the film added to its $7 million midnight-screening take with a staggering $35.7 million on Friday, taking in money at a rate reported to be more than three times that of last week’s box-office winner, “Quantum of Solace.” To put it in perspective, “Twilight” is now second only to “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” in terms of biggest opening-day gross for a non-summer release.

“Twilight” is currently on track to become the highest-grossing film ever made by a female director, the highest-grossing vampire film of all time, and is also threatening several other records heading into Saturday. The film is currently projected to make more than $60 million this weekend, which would put it on track for the $150 million box-office haul that director Catherine Hardwicke has said would automatically green-light sequels.

Hence, the announcement of Robert Pattinson’s favorite book being turned into a movie - news that will surely send Taylor Lautner to the gym immediately. Keep your eyes on MTV, Twilighters, as we’ll have more news about the box-office take and “New Moon” in the next few days.

MTV

LONDON (Reuters) - Another Bond film, another debate about the role of women in the long-running franchise.

In “Quantum of Solace,” released in the United States on Friday, Olga Kurylenko’s character Camille has been held up as a model female foil for today’s 007 — tough, independent, modern.

She shares the movie poster with James Bond, is on a dangerous mission of her own and, unlike most other leading ladies, does not end up in bed with the fictional secret agent.

Not everyone is impressed, however, with several critics calling for more sex, not less, and fan sites arguing that the majority of Bond women, Camille included, are of little consequence to the plot or popularity of the movies.

Rolling Stone magazine, in its review, called Camille “perhaps the dullest Bond girl ever.”

The portrayal of Bond women has been argued over since the 22-film franchise kicked off with “Dr. No” 46 years ago, and descriptions of the characters have ranged from under-dressed fodder for a misogynist master spy to feminist icons.

When Bond producer Barbara Broccoli recently described as “progressive” some of the early female leads, who had careers and were sexual predators in their own right, Fay Weldon, a writer associated with feminism, was quoted as saying:

“These films were attempts by men to keep women in their place and to ensure they still ironed their shirts.”

Samantha Weinberg, author of stories about the life of Bond character Miss Moneypenny, jumped to Broccoli’s defense.

“Seduction is a two-way street, and as frequently as not, the Bond women were the hunters and 007 their prey,” she wrote in the Daily Mail. “Good on them.”

WOMEN OF THEIR TIME?

Ukraine-born Kurylenko believes Camille differs from most earlier Bond women.

“Now the Bond girl has become very different, and mine is very different,” said the actress, who turns 29 this week.

“This one had a lot more things involved, much more than the others did,” Kurylenko told Reuters in a recent interview. “She’s very strong, almost an equal to Bond, very feisty, has her own mission, independent. She’s just a strong woman.”

Bond aficionados argue that while there has been no steady progression from submissive “eye candy” to assertive, independent characters, Bond women tend to reflect the times in which they appear.

“As times change, so does the approach to how Bond’s foils are developed,” said Tom Buxton of Bond fan site www.mi6.co.uk.

“Political sensitivities have to be considered whilst pushing boundaries at the same time.

“It wasn’t until 1973 that Bond was seen in his first inter-racial relationship. During the 1980s … when the AIDs epidemic was high on the global agenda, there was a conscious design to tone down Bond’s rate of conquests. It took 35 years before the lead Bond girl was Asian.”

But for Graham Rye, editor of 007 Magazine and author of “The James Bond Girls,” Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green in Craig’s first outing as Bond two years ago, eclipsed Camille’s “paper thin” character.

“I think the story of Casino Royale, where Bond falls in love with her (Lynd) and she with him, will appeal to women more than a film where he just has sex three or four times.”

He added that for all the talk of Camille’s strength and independence, the other leading lady in Quantum of Solace, agent Fields, ends up in bed with Bond with almost unseemly haste.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

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“First Avenger: Captain America,” a World War II-set movie, is scheduled for release in 2011 through Marvel Studios. No writers are on board, but the studio expects to hire shortly.

Created in 1941 by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon for Timely Comics, Captain America is the heroic alter ego of Steve Rogers, who is rejected by the Army for being too sickly and undergoes an experiment that takes him to the pinnacle of human form. Paired with an indestructible shield, he became a symbol of the war effort, in and out of comics.

The character disappeared in the 1950s but was revived during the early era of Marvel Comics. He was reintroduced as part of the all-star Avengers lineup, the absence explained by having him being in a state of suspended animation during a war mission until found by the superteam.

The character’s last live-action appearance was in 1990’s “Captain America,” a cheap indie production that ended up going to straight to video. The movie starred Matt Salinger as the hero, dethawed in modern times to fight his archnemesis, the Red Skull.

Johnston first met with Marvel two years ago. When the two parties clicked, general talks turned into Captain America-specific meetings, with much of the project’s current direction resulting from those early conversations.

Kicking off with “Iron Man,” Marvel Studios’ slate of movies — including “Thor” and the “Iron Man” sequel — is building toward an “Avengers” movie set for release in 2011, in which the characters from the films team for one big adventure.

Johnston is in post-production on Universal’s retelling of “The Wolfman,” starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

It is said to be a remake of the 2005 French thriller “Anthony Zimmer.”

In the film, Theron will play a female Interpol agent who uses an American tourist in an attempt to flush out an elusive criminal with whom she once had an affair, reports Variety.

Christopher McQuarrie has penned the script, while Spyglass principals Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum and Jonathan Glickman will produce with Canal Plus.

Meanwhile, the Oscar-winner, who was sued by Swiss watchmakers for a breach of contract, has settled the 20 million dollar suit.

According to the official documents filed in the Manhattan Federal Court, the suit is set to be dropped once it reaches its final stages within 30 days.

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