Breaking Dawn - 3D or not 3D?

Breaking Dawn - 3D or not 3D?


Are you ready to see Edward’s cheekbones and Jacob’s abs in full, glistening three dimensions?

It’s well known that Summit Entertainment has considered extending its “Twilight” juggernaut by splitting Stephenie Meyer’s fourth book, “Breaking Dawn,” into two films. The studio continues to deny — and did so again today — that that decision has yet been made. I’m skeptical, but OK.



There is, however, an even more intriguing piece of the “Dawn” puzzle: its dimensionality. And I’m not talking about the depth of the characters (or whether they’ll even be played by the same actors). The halls of Summit are also alive with the parallel potential of filming the last film — or films — in 3D.

The pluses are obvious. That third dimension has been proven to put more butts in the seats and enhance the experience for all involved. Everyone from Warner Bros. (”Clash of the Titans”) to Screen Gems (”Priest”) to MGM (”Cabin in the Woods”) has been belatedly sending their films to the 3D factory for conversion. Heck, WB’s solid B-movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth” roped in $231 million worldwide two years ago because it had an “in 3D” stamp on the poster. The prospect of Edward, Bella and Jacob swooning on a z-axis may just put the film(s)’ boxoffice in “Avatar” territory.

The downside? The fans. Some are already begging Summit not to do it. But it’s highly unlikely that any will pass up the chance to watch the last few final strains of this teenage vampire-human-wolfman soap opera. Even if they decided to film it with puppets.

Summit apparently has to make a decision on both fronts soon — by the end of the month — to meet production deadlines. Our bet is they decide to go whole hog, or wolf, as it were: two films, in 3D, with much to gain and little to lose.

But what could stop either new approach from happening is the same thing that could derail any other “Twilight” development: Stephenie Meyer. Her contract is chock full of approvals, over casting, director, screenwriter, etc. Presumably, any changes that include splitting the book’s narrative into two scripts or filming one or both in a new format have to be approved by her. (And beyond that, even if she approves a fifth film and 3D, the cast is only signed through four films, which should make for a very intense round of renegotiating.)

We’re not sure what motivation Meyer would have to decline these developments, but the fact that she could must certainly factor into the paw-wringing going on now at Summit.