Given Twilight‘s spectacular opening weekend, Summit Entertainment’s plans for a sequel came as no surprise. (Even if the news was announced after Day One.) Unfortunately, the studio’s desire to quickly turnaround the followup has forced Catherine Hardwicke to drop out of the project. But should a change of director give fans a reason to be concerned?

At this point, Summit is hoping to get New Moon completed in time for a late 2009 or early 2010 release. (Entertainment Weekly reported that a November 20 date has tentatively been set aside.) If the goal is to make it on the fall calendar, production on the adaptation would have to begin by March. (Keep in mind - writer Melissa Rosenberg had only completed a draft of the sequel by the time Twilight premiered.)

The shortened prep time is being cited as the reason why Hardwicke opted out of Moon. In an earlier interview with MTV, Catherine said it was her desire to put more effort into the sequel. “I want to do [New Moon] better than we did Twilight, and do it really cool. I definitely don’t want to do it as something just tossed off, like a Saw II or something like that.” As it was, Hardwicke said the first movie took about a year and three months to get ready between writing the script and casting. Now the studio execs - who had supposedly bumped heads with the female director during the first shoot- are left to find someone else who will play ball with them. Fortunately, they may have already found their man: The Golden Compass’ Chris Weitz.

In other staffing news, EW reports that actor Taylor Lautner (Jacob) could see himself being replaced as well. According to the magazine, “the studio doesn’t want to rehire baby-faced” Taylor though his agent has apparently “reached out to the imaging company behind The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in an attempt to demonstrate to Summit how a digitally bulked-up Lautner could work.”

Bummed by all the developments? Well, maybe this will make you feel better. The Tonner Doll Company is currently producing 15-inch versions of Bella and Edward. (I have to admit, the Edward figure is pretty impressive.) Pre-orders for the collectibles can be made here.