We can now confirm rumors that we followed in our earlier report, Chris Weitz, who most recently wrote and directed Summit’s other young-adult fiction film, the one that flopped, The Golden Compass, has been hired on to continue the massively popular (and massively overrated?) Twilight series with the next installment, New Moon.

Both Weitz and Stephanie Meyer, the book’s author, have taken to the internets to calm down the rabid fan base about the firing of first-installment director, Catherine Hardwicke. Both statements, below the cut…

From Stephanie Meyer, on her website:

“Like you, I’m sad that Catherine is not continuing on with us for New Moon. I’m going to miss her, not just as a brilliant director, but also as a friend. She has such a distinct, authentic voice that did amazing things for Twilight. I’m looking forward to every movie she does in the future. And she didn’t leave us empty handed. We still get the benefits of her amazing casting and the beautiful visual world she created. This foundation puts us in a good place for New Moon.”

“Summit Films is moving forward with a new director for New Moon. They’ve asked Chris Weitz, director of American Pie, About a Boy, and The Golden Compass, to join us, and I am very pleased to announce that he’s agreed to be a part of our Twilight world. I’ve had the chance to talk to Chris, and I can tell you that he is excited by the story and eager to keep the movie as close to the book as possible. He is also very aware of you, the fans, and wants to keep you all extremely happy. (Torches and pitchforks are not going to be necessary.) I’m excited to work with Chris and I think he brings a lot to the table, not the least of which for me is that he wrote the screenplay for and directed one of my favorite movies of all time, About a Boy. I’m really looking forward to seeing his vision for New Moon.”

And from Weitz:

[via /Film]