Twilight Director Criticizes Gender Bias in Hollywood

Catherine Hardwicke, director of the first Twilight film, revealed she was replaced by male directors for the remainder of the franchise despite the movie's $408 million global box office success. Hardwicke described receiving only a mini cupcake as a gift from the studio, in stark contrast to the substantial rewards typically given to male directors after blockbuster hits. She cited this experience as emblematic of Hollywood's ongoing gender inequality, noting that women directors are seldom offered continuing opportunities or multi-picture deals. Hardwicke also pointed out that other major female-led franchises, including The Hunger Games and Divergent, were eventually handed to male directors. Recent statistics show women directed just 16% of the top 250 US box office releases. Her story illustrates the persistent challenges women face in achieving equality in the film industry.