‘Twilight’ Animated Series a Go at Netflix

Twilight is getting a second (after)life in the form of an animated series at Netflix.

The streamer has given a straight-to-series order and begun development on a show based on Midnight Sun, author Stephenie Meyer’s companion novel to her mega-selling Twilight series. The book is a retelling of the events of Twilight from vampire Edward Cullen’s point of view; the main series is told from the perspective of Bella Swan, the human object of Edward’s fascination.

Lionsgate Television, which began early development on a Twilight TV project last year, will produce the series. Lionsgate’s film division released the four Twilight movies.

Sinead Daly (Hulu’s Tell Me Lies, Max’s Raised by Wolves), who has been attached to the project from the outset, will adapt the novel and executive produce along with the Meyer and Meghan Hibbett of Fickle Fish Films, Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill Entertainment and Erik Feig and Samie Kim Falvey of Picturestart. Emily Wissink is overseeing development for Picturestart.

The Midnight Sun series is the latest project in Lionsgate’s ongoing efforts to expand and extend the life of some of its biggest properties and IP. The studio last year released a Hunger Games prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and is planning another feature based on author Suzanne Collins’ next novel set in that world, Sunrise on the Reaping. A John Wick sequel TV series, following on the four-film Lionsgate franchise, is also in the works.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart starred in the Twilight films as Edward and Bella. The principal cast also included Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed and Jackson Rathbone, among others.