If you thought we would never see that An iconic baseball scene, again accompanied by Muse’s bass, you were wrong. Netflix has confirmed that it is developing an animated adaptation of Midnight Sun, the fifth entry in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series.
You might not recognize the title of this book unless you’re a Twilight fan—after all, it’s not one of the four books that were originally covered in the films starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
Midnight Sun was released in 2020, eight years after the last film in the franchise, Breaking Dawn – Part 2. It’s not entirely new content, as it’s a reinterpretation of the first book, Twilight. However, rather than following the dark Bella Swan, we instead discover the story of her 104-year-old lover, Edward Cullen.
Want to know when the Cullens and crew will make their animated debut on Netflix, and what the story will 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 Midnight Sun anime adaptation, and it’s hard to predict one given that it’s still in the early stages of production. We certainly won’t see it hit the platform this year, and next year might even be unlikely given that no casting has been confirmed yet.
Therefore, 2026 seems to be the earliest date we could see Midnight Sun land on Netflix – but that’s just an estimate.
The Twilight television series was first confirmed by Lionsgate Television in April 2023 and was later announced as animated by Variety in May 2024.
Why is Netflix adapting Midnight Sun?
Netflix didn’t provide a quote on why this book was chosen, but it makes sense: it’s the only title in the series that doesn’t have a direct adaptation (even though many of the events overlap with Twilight). The five Twilight films have grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide, while the Midnight Sun book has sold over a million copies, so there’s an audience ready to conquer it.
After its glory days in the late 2000s and early 2010s, Twilight went through a period of denunciation from the cast and audience alike. Robert Pattinson said the original book should never have been published, and many fans were embarrassed to continue supporting the series (myself included).
However, Twilight has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, largely thanks to TikTok highlighting its meme-making ability, with its blatant blue filters, Bella’s awkward mannerisms, and emphasizing that it’s not Edward or Jacob we should be thirsting for, but Charlie Swan… I was ahead of the curve on that one.
The series also fits into the general pop culture nostalgia trends we’ve been seeing, with many millennials continuing to champion popular IPs like The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Friends and more.
On top of all that, the Twilight movies have been on Netflix’s most-watched list, so it’s no surprise to see the streaming platform take the reins on this project.
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
What is the plot of the Netflix animated series Twilight?
If you need a refresher, Twilight follows Bella Swan, who 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, who she becomes fascinated with.
She soon learns he’s a vampire (“tell me”), and the two struggle to balance their relationship in Cullen’s supernatural and often dangerous world.
Midnight Sun shares some similarities with the first Twilight book, but Edward’s perspective brings some key differences.
First of all, 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 point of view, but this time around, we’re going to learn what’s going on in people’s heads and how frustrating it must be for him not to be able to 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 almost creepy behavior, one of the biggest criticisms of the story. It’s by no means justified in Midnight Sun , but reviews from Time and The Guardian say the book tries to further detail his thought process and his constant personal struggle between his human origins and his vampiric nature.
Critics 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 have often been baffled by his infatuation with this frustrating, bland, and moody teenager — so maybe this series will show us something different.
We don’t yet know what style of art animation he’ll use – we’ll likely learn more in the coming months.
Who is involved in the Netflix series Twilight?
Netflix confirmed on its website that author Stephenie Meyer will executive produce with her Fickle Fish Films partner Meghan Hibbett. Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen for Temple Hill Entertainment, and Erik Feig and Samie Kim Falvey for Picturestart, will also executive produce.
The series’ writer (and fellow EP) 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 role in the recording booths.
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