stephenie meyer's paranormal romance novel "twilight" was originally optioned by paramount pictures' mtv films in april 2004, but the screenplay that was subsequently developed was substantially different from its source material. when summit entertainment reinvented itself as a full-service studio in april 2007, it began development of a film adaptation anew, having picked up the rights from paramount (who coincidentally had made an unrelated film with the same title in 1998) in a turnaround. the company perceived the film as an opportunity to launch a franchise based on the success of meyer's book and its sequels. catherine hardwicke was hired to direct the film and melissa rosenberg was hired to write the script in mid-2007.