If you thought we’d never see it That iconic baseball scene recreated on Muse’s thumping bass, you thought wrong. Netflix has confirmed that it is developing an animated adaptation of Midnight Sun, the fifth title in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.
You might not recognize the title of the book unless you’re a Twihard. After all, it’s not one of the four books originally featured in the films starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
Midnight Sun was published in 2020, eight years after the last film in the franchise, Breaking Dawn – Part 2. It is not entirely new material, as it is a retelling of the first book, Twilight. But instead of following the brooding Bella Swan, we instead see the story of her 104-year-old lover, Edward Cullen.
Want to know when the Cullens and co. will make their animated debut on Netflix, and what will the story be? Here’s what you need to know.
Is there a release date for the Netflix Twilight series?
Netflix hasn’t confirmed a release date for the animated adaptation of Midnight Sun, and it’s hard to predict one since we’re in such early stages. We almost certainly won’t see it hit the platform this year, and next year may even be unlikely as no cast has been confirmed yet.
Therefore, 2026 seems like the earliest we’ll see Midnight Sun hit Netflix – but this is just an estimate.
The Twilight TV series was first confirmed by Lionsgate Television in April 2023 and was then set to be animated by Variety in May 2024.
Why is Netflix adapting Midnight Sun?
Netflix didn’t provide a quote as to why this book was chosen, but it makes sense – it’s the only title in the series that doesn’t have a direct adaptation (although many events overlap with Twilight). The five Twilight films grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide, while the Midnight Sun book sold over 1 million copies, so there’s an audience for the taking.
After its glory days in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Twilight went through a period where both the cast and audiences denounced it. Robert Pattinson once said that it felt like the original book should never have been published, and many fans were ashamed to continue. to support the series (including me).
However, Twilight has somehow seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, largely thanks to TikTok highlighting its meme possibilities, with its blatant blue filters, awkward mannerisms from Bella and pointing out that it’s not Edward or Jacob we should thirst for, but rather Charlie Swan… In that respect I was ahead of the curve.
The series also falls within the general nostalgic pop culture trends we’ve been seeing, with many millennials continuing to champion popular IPs like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Friends, and more.
Additionally, the Twilight movies were on the most-watched list on Netflix, so it’s not surprising to see the streaming platform take charge of this project.
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
What is the plot of the Netflix Twilight animated series?
If you need a refresher, the plot of Twilight follows Bella Swan, who has recently moved to the rainy, dreary town of Forks, Washington to attend a new high school. There she meets a mysterious man named Edward Cullen, whom she becomes entranced by.
She soon discovers that he is a (‘say it’) vampire, and the two struggle to balance their relationship in Cullen’s supernatural and often dangerous world.
Midnight Sun does have some similarities to the first Twilight book, but Edward’s POV makes for some important differences.
First, Edward’s ability to read people’s minds adds a whole new dimension to the story. We often only see his reaction from Bella’s perspective, but this time we’ll learn what’s going through people’s minds, and how frustrating it must be for him when he can’t use his power on Bella.
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
It may also give us more insight into his possessive and borderline creepy behavior, one of the biggest criticisms of the story. This is by no means justified in Midnight Sun, but reviews from Time and The Guardian say the book attempts to provide more detail about his thought process and his ongoing personal struggle between his human origins and his vampiric nature.
Reviewers also say that the book adds some much-needed dimension and color to Bella’s personality, as we see her through Edward’s eyes. Many viewers were often baffled by his crush on this frustrating, boring and moody teenager – so maybe this series will show us something different.
We don’t know yet what style of art animation it will use – we’ll likely learn more in the coming months.
Who is involved in the Netflix Twilight series?
Netflix confirmed on its website that author Stephenie Meyer will serve as executive producer with her Fickle Fish Films partner Meghan Hibbett. Also added as EPs are Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen for Temple Hill Entertainment, and Erik Feig and Samie Kim Falvey for Picturestart.
The writer (and another EP) of the series is Sinead Daly, who has previously worked on Tell Me Lies, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Raised by Wolves and The Get Down.
To be clear, no cast members have been announced yet, so we don’t know if anyone from the live-action films will reprise their roles in the recording booths.
