Hardwicke Follows "Twilight" With "Stay"

Catherine Hardwicke has signed on to direct Summit Entertainment's "If I Stay" based on Gayle Forman's novel of the same name, which will be published Spring of 2009.

"When we were thinking of the perfect director to capture the emotion, grace, and passion of this beautiful book, one filmmaker became the clear and only choice: Catherine Hardwicke," Erik Feig, Summit's President of Production, stated. "Summit and Catherine have had enormous success working together on 'Twilight' and we cannot wait to bring 'If I Stay' to vivid life together as well."

"Stay" is the story of the gifted classical musician Mia and her boyfriend, Adam, an up and coming indie-rock star.

Hardwicke most recently directed Summit Entertainment's "Twilight," which has grossed nearly $380 million worldwide. Feig as well as Michael Schaefer, Summit's Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, who brought the project to the studio, will oversee the project for the studio along with Summit's Director of Development, Gillian Bohrer.