Twilight alum Gil Birmingham shares his surprised reaction to the franchise's upcoming animated adaptation, reflecting on the adaptation's enduring appeal. Recognized for a variety of roles, including his run as Chief Thomas Rainwater in Yellowstone, the veteran actor played the father of Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), Billy Black, and appeared throughout the film series that produced well over $3 billion worldwide. Although the franchise has been dormant since the Twilight Saga concluded, there is now a Twilight show in development. It'll be animated, and it's set for Netflix.
In an interview with Screen Rant's Grant Hermanns for the recent Yellowstone finale, Birmingham shared his surprise about learning that an animated Twilight series is in the works. Still, in the quote below, the actor gets candid about the impact that the franchise has had and says that he is still recognized for his role as Billy Black:
I'm just finding that, I didn't know they were doing that. You know, Twilight seems to live on. I'm so surprised, even in the fanbase, when I'm out about town, and I'll just assume it's Yellowstone fans. I'll get approached, and it's a bunch of Twilight fans. I actually did a festival up in Forks, Washington just a couple of months ago, and it'd been about 10 years since I did any kind of Twilight convention. You know, 1000 people showed up from Brazil and New Zealand and Argentina, and they were just avid fans, and spent all this money just to travel, to come to this thing, and I had such an appreciation of their passion for it. Something spoke to them, and I think it's always about connection and community. They found somebody that they share a passion with, and they make lifelong friends. I think it's a beautiful thing to be a part of, but it's the first time I'm hearing about the the animation.
Midnight Sun Is Making The Jump To TV
The upcoming Netflix show will adapt Midnight Sun, written by Twilight author Stephanie Meyer. Released in 2020, and described as a companion novel to the original Twilight, it retells the events from the perspective of the vampire Edward Cullen. Lionsgate TV is behind the series, as the studio's film division acquired the popular franchise and others when it bought Summit Entertainment.
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The animated series will be written by Sinead Daly (Tell Me Lies), with Meyer among the team of executive producers. Although a release date is not yet known, nor are any voice cast details, Birmingham's remarks underline the fact that there's an audience waiting for an iteration of Twilight that is somewhat fresh and separate from the approach that the movies took.
Our Take On The Twilight Animated Series
It's A Bold Move
The adaptation of Twilight could have conceivably been as big as HBO's upcoming Harry Potter show if they decided to go the live-action route and retell the original novels. An animated take on Midnight Sun for Netflix is a more low-stakes endeavor. But depending on how the project unfolds, it may end up being more creatively fulfilling.
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Twilight
Twilight is a TV show reboot of the popular vampire film series that was based onStephenie Meyer's young-adult novels.
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The Twilight Saga
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The Twilight Saga is a paranormal romance series that ignited a cultural phenomenon. Centering on the forbidden love between ordinary human Bella Swan and the centuries-old vampire Edward Cullen, the saga explores themes of love, loss, and the supernatural. As their relationship deepens, they navigate a world filled with vampires, werewolves, and ancient rivalries, all while grappling with the complexities of their immortal and mortal existences. The series captivated audiences with its blend of teenage angst, forbidden romance, and supernatural intrigue, launching a global franchise that includes films, merchandise, and a dedicated fanbase.
