Rob Friedman: It’s A Go For ‘Twilight 6,’ Just Need Fifth Book

TORONTO – Will there be a Twilight 6?

That depends on getting a fifth book out of Twilight writer Stephenie Meyer, Lionsgate motion picture group co-chair Rob Friedman said Friday, giving hope to Twi-hards everywhere.

“If she (Meyer) wishes to do it, we’ll be there to support her” with a sixth film, said Friedman, who now runs the Lionsgate movie division with Patrick Wachsberger after the duo sold Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the Twilight franchise, to Lionsgate in January as part of a $412.5 million leveraged buy-out.

Friedman was participating in his first Lionsgate analyst call after the indie studio missed on its third quarter earnings Thursday, but insisted it was bullish about the future now that it has swallowed privately-held Summit and its Twilight franchise.

Lionsgate in recent weeks has also talked about a sixth Twilight movie after projecting the upcoming Breaking Dawn Part 2 release will bring in $700 million-plus in worldwide box office, which should invite a follow-up film.

Lionsgate executives on Friday did much to talk up the synergies between the two studios now that the brain trust behind the Twilight franchise is at work on the launch of the next possible vampire flicks franchise once The Hunger Games debuts next month.

For example, the Breaking Dawn Part 2 trailer will debut on every Hunger Games print on its theatrical opening on March 23 – Lionsgate’s largest ever theatrical release.

Changes, however, are afoot as Lionsgate integrates Summit. Summit releases its own films on DVD through Universal Studios, while Lionsgate DVD titles go out through 20th Century Fox.

Lionsgate president Steve Beeks told analysts he will look to consolidate the home entertainment distribution over time.

But Friedman and Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer stressed in answers to analysts Friday that both studios shared similarities and that consistency would be maintained going forward.

“We don’t see a lot of dramatic changes. We just see a great combination,” Friedman said.