Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke with her young stars, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, at the film’s French premiere. Hardwicke was instrumental in casting the stars, but now she’s out. Photo credit: WENN.

If you have a girl aged 12-16 in your household then you know all too much about the book series and movie “Twilight.” For those of you who are blissfully unaware of the phenomenon, it’s a series of books, and now a hit movie about a vampire in love with a teenage girl. Sort of like “Dawson’s Creek” meets “Underworld.” The first movie in the soon-to-be franchise may not have won raves from the critics, but fans sure do love it - the film has performed well at the box office, including a blockbuster $70 Million opening weekend. But that didn’t stop producers from ousting the movie’s director, Catherine Hardwicke (who also directed the teen drama “13″ starring Evan Rachel Wood), for being “difficult to work with.” Pundits in the film industry are saying that Hardwicke’s firing reeks of sexism- that male directors are notoriously difficult when it comes to script quality, etc. but get more leeway because of their gender.

The press release was sent out yesterday afternoon. Catherine Hardwicke, will not be directing the sequel to Twilight which Summit wants to have in the theatres by the end of next year or at the latest in early 2010. The release said that Hardwicke passed on the project due to “timing issues” because she wanted more prep time to work on the script which scribe Melissa Rosenberg turned in on opening weekend. Summit wants to film sooner rather than later.

Nikki Finke is reporting that Hardwicke was actually fired because she was “difficult” and “irrational.” Geez, they just should have called her a bitch and been done with it.

Who knows what the real story is, probably somewhere in the middle, but this rubs me the wrong way. First, the film is opening all over the world and Hardwicke is currently in Europe promoting the film. Awkward.

Second, I can’t help but think that a guy director who has brought in over $140 million on a budget of under $40 million would be treated differently. Hardwicke did everything she was supposed to do, that every director dreams of doing, directing a big box office success. (The film will probably turn out to be in the top 10 domestic grossers of the year.)

Everyone keeps saying the power job is the director and that having more women directors show box office prowess will open up the directing ranks. Guess not. Just goes to show that the gender issues are just much deeper than anyone is willing to discuss.

[From Huffington Post]

I can’t think of single male director who was fired after bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars in profits for a film - even some of the more notoriously difficult ones like Brett Ratner, Michael Bay or Bryan Singer. They can act like complete tyrants and throw tantrums on set and somehow it’s tolerated- even laughed about. When it’s a man, they’re called “passionate” or “committed to his art,” but when it’s a woman, she’s just a bitch. No word yet on who will replace Hardwicke - but I’d be willing to bet it’s someone with a penis.

Catherine Hardwicke is shown at both the French and UK premieres of “Twilight.” Photo credits: WENN.