Weitz digs 'Gardener': ‘New Moon’ director plants next pic at Summit (Variety)

By MICHAEL FLEMING

As "New Moon" soared toward a $258 million opening weekend worldwide, director Chris Weitz was in discussions with Summit Entertainment for his follow-up.

Weitz said he plans to go to work for Summit right away on "The Gardener," with deals in the works for Weitz and Eric Eason ("Manito"), who wrote the screenplay. The picture is about a hard-working immigrant who lives in Los Angeles and his efforts to protect his son.

Weitz said he will begin production in March or April.

"There are no werewolves or vampires, just a Mexican gardener in Los Angeles," Weitz said.

Weitz also dispelled reports that he would stop directing movies after "The Gardener," an assertion that came from an interview he gave to Moviemaker magazine. The retirement angle got picked up by the New York Post's Page Six late last week.

The report inferred that Weitz's exit was based on the rough treatment he got from New Line on "The Golden Compass."

Weitz did not deny that he had a terrible time on that movie, but said he was reinvigorated by "New Moon." He met his goal to broaden the visual scope of the film from the original while keeping it on budget and not overwhelming the appeal of the core love triangle.

Weitz said Summit and author Stephenie Meyer trusted him to honor the books while adding his own stylistic imprint, something that didn't happen on "The Golden Compass." He added that "Golden Compass" was taken away from him and that heavy-handed editing by New Line eliminated 30 minutes of footage and neutered any of the edge evident in the Philip Pullman books.

"It was an utter violation of my status as a director and the worst thing that has happened to me professionally," Weitz said. While he "bit through my tongue" when that film was released out of loyalty to cast and crew, he was very happy to see "New Moon" surpass grosses of "The Golden Compass."

"I was treated badly, it was almost like they never read the books. They seemed frightened of offending the right. This was a wonderful experience by comparison. I got to work with terrific young actors at the top of their game, and see Taylor Lautner perform so well."

His mind seemed squarely on his directing future and on Depth of Field, the company he runs with brother Paul, who's off directing "Little Fockers." Depth of Field's Tom Ford-directed "A Single Man" has Oscar hopes.

Weitz said he's learning to be careful about swearing off movies in interviews when he's drained from finishing one.

'New Moon' takes opening day record (Variety)

Summit Entertainment’s “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” tore up the box office record for best opening day, grabbing the title away from Warner Bros. “The Dark Knight,” and earning a spectacular $72.7 million yesterday at 4,024 theaters.

An exceptional feat for a film playing outside the summer frame.

There were an array of estimates being reported on the internet about how high the first day of "New Moon" actually was. This morning's figure is Summit's official Friday estimate.

“Dark Knight” had minted $67.2 million from 4,366 runs on July 18, 2008 before making a three-day opening weekend of $158.4 million.

Fueling the Friday B.O. for “New Moon” were midnight shows in 3,514 venues which drew a record-breaking $26.3 million for the time slot.

The opening day for “New Moon” posted more than a 100% gain over the first Friday of “Twilight” which made $36 million a year ago and a three-day weekend of $69.6 million.

For a franchise that has clearly targeted females, "New Moon’s" first day is so exceptional that it’s probable that the film played beyond its core crowd to males. However, Summit plans to release the pic’s moviegoing demos, as well as international results, in its three-day estimate report tomorrow. Ever since the first installment finished its play in theaters, the production of "New Moon" has garnered non-stop headlines on glossy covers and fansites with the media savoring details on the film as well as its cast members Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

Capitalizing on those older women who might have been shut out of "New Moon" as well as male football fans who might be sidestepping the vampire pic, Warner Bros. benefitted its counterprogramming of Sandra Bullock drama "The Blind Side." The football drama about rookie Baltimore Ravens player Michael Oher posted $10.9 million off 3,110 – the second best ever for a Bullock headliner following her record opening day of "The Proposal" this summer with $12.7 million.

Sony’s Roland Emmerich disaster pic "2012" fell 65% in its second Friday to third with $8.1 million off 3,408. Pic’s domestic cume stands at close to $90 million with a worldwide total north of $313 million. "2012" looks to zip past the $400 million global B.O. mark by tomorrow.

In its third Friday, Lionsgate’s "Precious: Based on the story ‘Push’ by Sapphire," at play in under 1,000 engagements, continued to draw heavy traffic. "Precious" took fourth with an estimated $3.5 million, repping an uptick of 85% thanks to its expansion from 174 to 629 sites. To date, the domestic B.O. for "Precious" stands at $13.9 million.

Catering to moppets on Thanksgiving break, Sony’s animated entry "Planet 51" landed in fifth with $3.2 million off 3,035. Featuring the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long and Gary Oldman, "Planet 51" touts a comical "E.T."-in-reverse story whereby a U.S. astronaut lands on an alien planet and urgently needs to get home. Pic is an acquisition from Spanish producers Ilion Animation.

"Disney’s A Christmas Carol" stayed afloat, declining 47% at the onset of its third sesh with $3 million off 3,578 and running B.O. of $70.6 million in sixth place.

Arthouse theater averages continued to be bountiful yesterday with Sony Pictures Classics’ Pedro Almodovar romance drama "Broken Embraces" starring Penelope Cruz earning $16,816 or $34,000 off two Gotham engagements.

Fox Searchlight’s "Fantastic Mr. Fox" also minted a hearty per site of $13,103 in its second Friday for $52,000 off four Gotham and Los Angeles playdates. Through eight days, "Mr. Fox" counts a total domestic take of $410,536. Searchlight is scheduled to up the film’s theater count on Wednesday.

First Look’s "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" grossed $74,000 from 27 for a theater average of $2,740. The crime-drama, starring Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes and directed by Werner Herzog, is a sequel to the Abel Ferrara graphic cult 1992 pic which made $2 million stateside.