The Twilight TV Series: THE CULLENS
November 14, 2008 · Print This Article
A TWILIGHT TV series? When? Who is in it?
Hold your horses, people! Don’t get too excited because unfortunately, as far as I know, there are no plans for a Twilight TV series (yet). However, the success of the books and the very likely success of the movie got me thinking about whether a Twilight TV series would be possible.
After reading Eric’s article on the possibility of a Twilight TV show, I personally couldn’t see a TV series that started off from where Breaking Dawn (the last book of the series) left us, and at the same time I don’t think doing a TV series based on the actual Twilight books would work. Since, we already have the Twilight movies for that, it doesn’t leave much space to grow.
But then something occurred to me. Why is Twilight such a success? What do people (and by people I mean women) love about it? The answer is of course Edward Cullen and his family. That’s it!
What if the TV series was in fact a prequel to the Twilight series recounting the story of the Cullens before they moved to Forks?
The Cullens would start with the story of Carlisle and how he became a vampire. This would be the pilot. Then you fast forward to the point where he finds Edward and that would be episode 2 or 3. And then continue the season by showing us how the family came to be. This could either take a whole TV season or half a TV season. But once you have the family together there is still so many stories to tell. For example, their time with Tanya’s family and other places they lived in before coming to Forks. Also I, for one, would love to find out more about the Cullens’ first meeting with Alice and Jasper. They could even make episodes focusing on each of them and how they became vampires before meeting each other and joining the Cullens.
There is so much potential for a Twilight TV series if done well, especially with a built-in audience like the fans of Twilight. However, in order for a Twilight TV show to be a success, I think it would work best on a premium cable channel like HBO or Showtime or just regular cable. I do fear that by being on a Network channel, The Cullens might not only get cancelled too soon, but there would be too much focus on pleasing the mainstream audience instead of focusing on the heart of the story.
One last thing that I do need to mention is of course the actors’ choice. It is clear to me that the actors for a Twilight series would have to be different than the ones in the movie (unless the actors actually want to be in the show, which I doubt most of them would). That said, casting is very crucial and the choice of actors will make or break the show as will the writing. I personally think that it is crucial to pick an up and comer actor for the role of Edward, who would give the show a fresh look and would prevent associating the actor to previous roles he played.
So that’s why I ask you, what actors would you like to see in The Cullens series and for what roles?
So what do you guys say, would you watch The Cullens if it was a TV show?
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i love the idea of a twilight tv series, obviously it would need a good teleplay written along with some serious casting selections! it doesnt matter that theres a movie & a book, the story has several strong characters that each have their own story lines - so much that its impossible to capture in a 2 hour movie and whats worse than movie sequels-no doubt a tv series is a great idea
that would be sooo amazing!!! i would watch it for sure
but i do think that the after the breaking dawn would be a good idea [SPOILER if you haven't read the books] and focus on renesmee and her growing up in a normal human life but being half vampire and everyones reactions to it. how school works, telling renee, friends, etc [END SPOILER]
love it!
i think its a great idea to make a tv show… and it would explain alot and just show us how they lived before going 2 forks…meeting bella……
i would defenetly watch it.. it doesnt matter if it doesnt corepond to the books because in a way it is different and has nothing to do with the movies but it is still connected to the past of the characters. cast wouldnt realy be a problem….since it is just the show and giving us the idea of what it was like before we DONT HAVE 2 stick with the movie cast but if they want to it wouldnt realy make a difference
overall i think it is an amazing idea and it would get a huge audience in return
hope the show is made!! xx
It could be cool after all four movies are out!
no, the movies are enough. i love the cullens as they are now and if we leave it to hollywood writers, we twilighters wouldn’t be able to satisfy ourselves with the stories. i mean, they definitely will tweak things here and there and everything will be different. plus, i wouldn’t want anyone else playing my jasper…
I think a weekly dose of edward would be very healthy!. But dont get so wrapped up in Edward and forget the KEY that fits the proverbial LOCK ” Bella”. Without her women cannot place themself in the scenario, and that is the true magic of Twilight. Stephanie writes in such a format that you are engulfed in the book. it surounds you.” Taste, smell, sight, touch, emotions” it’s all there, through “Bella”. To learn the things before Bella, would be helpful but not engulfing. Edwards story starts and will end with Bella. I think a tv series may be better to pick up after Breaking Dawn… [SPOILER]What happens to Renesme and Jacob. How does Bella and Edward handle that budding relationship. Does the Voltori come back after their perfect package ” Edward-present, Alice-Future and Bella- protection” there could be ultimatly a very vast change in the royal vampire family down the road.. [END SPOILER]Yes I think that would draw a much wider audience. but thats just my opinion..
I think a Twilight TV series would suck, plain and simple. because quite frankly just like every other movie that has had tv series made after them, all ended up horrible. Because they always add NEW random characters THEY made up. and every episode will have to have a dramatic CLIMAX. like a bad guy in every friggen episode. cuz you know the critics will bring the ratings down.
i vote JUST movies.
period.
plus they would probably change the actors for the TV show anyway. Cuz you know the actor for Bella (Kristen somethin) has other movies to do. And since she is still a minor they wouldnt be able to do a series. since shes only allowed to act a certain amount of hours a day.
screw tv series.
Hi Shelby,
I understand your point of view, but I would just like to clarify a few points.
1) Bella wouldn’t be in the TV show, since it would be about The Cullens before Edward actually met Bella. It’s like a pre-Twilight series.
2) Of course the writers of the show would need to come up with new characters because the stories couldn’t be based on the books, since Stephenie Meyer hasn’t written about the pre-Twilight years. But I think that could be exciting.
3) If the show was on a premium channel HBO, I think it might not be as bad as you think. They might be able to come with something really good.
3) Yes, the actors would most likely need to be changed, but I think that if they find really good ones, I could learn to live with it.
That said, I do understand why some people might not want their ideas of the Cullens ruined by a series.
I love it! The Cullens are definitely my favorite part of the series, but I don’t know that another set of actors could do the characters justice. I’m just hoping the movie is really good and that it does really well at the box office, so there will be sequels. I want to see the Volturi brought to life on the big screen in a bad way. And, if they do a movie version of “New Moon” that shows what the Cullens were doing while they were away, I’ll be satisfied enough.
Sandie.
i see your point of view on this.
but if its the “Pre-Twilight” years.
wouldnt you need the AUTHORS approval first. since these are HER characters AND ideas.
i’d still say this idea of a TV series is disasterous.
Hi Shelby,
Of course I’m sure they need to get clearance for the use of the characters, but that’s something that the legal department of the studio or the writer (or whoever decides to do the show, if they even decide to do a show) would have to deal with.
Of course, not everybody is going to like the idea or the series if it is ever made. But I personally would be interested in seeing it come to life.
I love the idea of a Twilight tv series!!! especially one that is centered around Edward and his family… ESPECIALLY EDWARD!!! then all of the episodes would lead up to where the movie picks up. then if needed the series could add things along the way to keep the series going. this idea would have a lot of teenage girls supporting it including me… the thing is that you’d have to get the actors from the movie to agree to do the series. but that might not be a problem. i hope this becomes a reality because it would be very popular and i can’t get enough of Edward!!
I absolutely LOVE the Twilight series and the movie was no disapointment either. I’m a die hard fan and I don’t want ANYTHING to ruin the concept of the story. For some reason, I think a Twilight TV show would just kill all the excitement about these books. I like having to wait for the movie because it’s actually something worth looking forward to. At first, there will be a lot of hype about the show, but after a season or two, people may start getting tired of it and lose respect for the story. I like where Breaking Dawn left off, and I’m looking forward to Midnight Sun. When people focus too much on a certain topic, they usually destroy the whole point of it.
a mi en lo personal me gustaria mucho ver la serie en tv ya q como tu dices contarias bien como se inicio la familia cullen ya que en la pelicula no se puede hacer eso ya q seria muy larga. si saben si ya inicio me podrian decir el canal en donde la esten pasando como por ejemplo abc o hbo etc… para poderla ver… me gustan tanto los libros q ya viendolo en la tv seria fantastico
bye porfavor mantenanme al tanto ya q les dejo mi correo p_elizabeth83@hotmail.com
Hi!
OMG, I love that idea! I would SO Watch it!
Here’s my cast:
Bella Swan-Alexis Bledel
Edward Cullen- Gaspard Ulliel
Alice: Rachel Leigh Cook
Emmett: Ashton Kutcher
Rosalie: Alyson Michalka
Esme: Rose McGowan
Carlisle: Trent Ford
Jasper: Jeremy Dufour
Some Plot Points:
It could have their dealing with other vampires, and the volturi
It could have Edward’s battle over human blood
It could start out with Edward and Carlisle, and then go on to gather the rest of the vampires.
I think a Twilight series would be amazing, it would be so interesting & i think it would be really successful. I think Edward should be played by Hayden Christensen or Chace Crawford. I think they are both really good looking and seem like their personality would fit Edward completely.
Rachel Leigh Cook as Alice or Alexis Bledel- they would fit the part perfectly.
Im not sure why but I always pictured Catherine Zeta- Zones, alyssa milano or Ginnifer Goodwin as Esme.
AnnaLynne McCord as Rosalie, she is sooo pretty.
Jude Law for Carlisle.
Tom Welling for Emmett…
Im not sure who should play Bella…
I agree with Shika Bodani she seems like she knows what shes talking about.
Bella- Lyndsy Fonseca
=)
I think this show would be an instant success. There is so much story that has been left up to the imagination, each family member coming with such a different color for their story from human life to vampire. I would love to see Rosalie in action after she switched and Emmet’s encounter with the bear. But I think Ashton Kutcher is a horrible choice for Emmet. sorry. I would also like to see a bit of Charlie and Renee’s relationship before Bella as well as the initial contact wolves and cullens.
I love this idea!!
I think a tv series would be amazing, so many people like myself have been drawn into the life of bella, and the cullens and the town of forks.. i think that it should be about how the cullens did get there start and build the history but not to forget that bella is now involved with the family i think that continuing on with there lives now a whole family would be awesome to cause in my mind i constantly think about what there doing now after finishing breaking dawn
i would like to add, that i do agree that it should be different then the books, and if and only if Stephenie is done writing them, if midnight sun ever does come out and if she continues on with their lives, if she decides that break dawns end is her end of the books and won’t continue with their future then i would love to see a tv series made out of it and it should be after all 4 movies are made, hoping all four will be.. its a great thought though cause im dying for the movie to come out on dvd and as i wait i keep reading the books over and over but cant help but wonder whats in the future for them id love them to have a future, id rather have the future in books but i would love to follow them in anyway, and id love to know more about the cullens begings there is so much to toy with.
i would like to add, that i do agree that it should be different then the books, and if and only if Stephenie is done writing them, if midnight sun ever does come out and if she continues on with their lives, if she decides that break dawns end is her end of the books and won’t continue with their future then i would love to see a tv series made out of it and it should be after all 4 movies are made, hoping all four will be.. its a great thought though cause im dying for the movie to come out on dvd and as i wait i keep reading the books over and over but cant help but wonder whats in the future for them id love them to have a future, id rather have the future in books but i would love to follow them in anyway, and
id love to know more about the cullens begings there is so much to toy with.
=]
sorry for the double post
i wouldnt be very interested unless it was the cast from the movie. having new characters just wouldn’t look right.
i believe that the twilight tv series wouldnt be the same if the actual characters from the movie didnt play in it…it would be borin…because the movie was awesome…and to put different actors in the show will get the show canceled real quick..because no one would watch it….the movie i believe was a success…
YES, i would definately watch that tv series. it sounds like it would be really interesting, if they did something like that (:
Of Course I would WATCH!!!! The books and movie have been such a hit! The Cullens should be aired on HBO or Showtime… I agree that it should start with Carlisle being changed and go from there. I would like to see all the books turned into a movie, however, I would not want to wait that long for a TV series to begin. I definetly think there is plenty to draw from in order for the show to be a hit for a long time. Personally, if any of the actors from the movie want to be in the TV series that would be great but it would be a hit if they weren’t the same, too. Get started, people are craving more from Edward, Bella, Renesmee and Jacob!!!!!!!