Hard Candy director David Slade has signed up to make the third film in the Twilight series of Vampire movies, due out next summer.

Stephenie Meyer, the author of the books that the film franchise are based on, praised Slade in a statement as a “visionary filmmaker”.

American Pie director Chris Weitz recently began filming New Moon – the sequel to Twilight – in Vancouver.

The first film was a huge success with both UK and US audiences last year.

Twilight, which was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, topped the US box office in November after taking $69.6m (£46.2m) on its first weekend – record opening takings for a film by a female director.

Teenage actor Taylor Lautner will return in his role as mysterious Jacob Black in New Moon – due for release in November – and War of the Worlds star Dakota Fanning will also join the cast.

The books and movies follow the love affair between a teenage girl and an immortal vampire.

source:  bbc.co.uk