Summit Entertainment has announced a rather shocking bit of information: the director behind the mega success Twilight, Catherine Hardwicke, will not be returning for the sequel New Moon.

Why is this shocking? Because the film, which has already generated $138.6 million ($13.2 million this weekend alone), is just the first movie in a series of films to come that will match each novel in the series.

Summit says its wish to rush the movie into production is the reason for their premature split. Summit desires to release the picture by the end of 2009 or the start of 2010. Hardwicke wanted more time to prepare the sequel, titled New Moon.

Melissa Rosenberg, who wrote Twilight, reportedly handed in a draft of New Moon the weekend Twilight opened.

Summit says the main debate between Hardwicke and the production company was how to focus the adaptation of the second book, which deals more with werewolves than vampires. Another issue Summit faced was somehow bringing heartthrob Pattinson back for more, despite not being a main component in the book.

In her official statement, Hardwicke said, “I am sorry that due to timing I will not have the opportunity to direct New Moon. Directing Twilight has been one of the great experiences of my life, and I am grateful to the fans for their passionate support of the film. I wish everyone at Summit the best with the sequel — it is a great story.”