A ‘Twilight’ TV Show Is a Great Idea, Actually

For Twilight fans, it might be difficult to picture anyone but Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner playing the mystical and moody starring trio, but earlier this year, news broke that the Twilight saga is being made into a TV series. Lionsgate Television is currently in the very early stages of the process that will turn the bestselling fantasy books by Stephenie Meyer into a show. At the moment, it seems that nostalgic remakes are all the rage since it was also announced that the Harry Potter franchise will be made into a series, which has sparked controversy — and it is safe to say that there are mixed feelings about whether Twilight should be remade as well. Already having made the remarkable transition from an oft-derided, teen-oriented fantasy franchise to an indisputable cult hit, the Twilight franchise is set to see another transformation, and not only is it definitely a good thing — it’s actually exactly what the franchise needs. Here’s why.
We first saw the Twilight book series and film series in their heady heyday during the 2000s and early 2010s when “Are you team Edward or team Jacob?” was a crucial question. The films successfully adapted the compelling events from the books to create an addictive world of forbidden love featuring a central love triangle between an underestimated girl, a hunky werewolf, and a smoldering vampire. There is clearly an array of entertaining content to draw upon, but more notable are some surprisingly worthwhile messages which reflect that the franchise is more thoughtful than it may appear, providing quality source material for the series.

It is undeniable that the Romeo-and-Juliet-levels of illicit love between Bella (Stewart) and Edward (Pattinson) are engrossing, and the tantalizing question of whom Bella will ultimately choose between Edward and Jacob (Lautner) keeps much of the plot moving, but these shallower romantic themes distract from deeper readings. Against the odds, Bella follows her heart and makes the bold decision to be with the one she loves. By courageously enduring the trials of love, defying the norms of her peer group, and confronting tangible vampiric threats, she is rewarded, eventually becoming a physically strong and talented vampire herself. It highlights that remaining authentic to yourself is key and that the hard work it takes to maximize your true potential pays off. These are inspiring yet substantial themes which a series could further explore, creating a meaningful adaptation.
There’s no question that there were some problematic ideas within the Twilight books and the movie franchise. Arguably the most egregious of these was the appropriation of the Quileute tribe, a real tribe who are fictionalized as shape-shifting werewolves in the Twilight saga. Unfortunately, the saga uses stereotypes to inform their portrayal of these characters, and moreover, the films didn’t even always use actors of Indigenous American descent in their casting. In a new series, this could be rectified, with harmful depictions and misrepresentations avoided, thus changing an integral part of the Twilight story for the better, and showing the Quileute Nation the crucial (and overdue) respect they deserve. Perhaps a real tribe should not be depicted at all in the new series, and if anything resembling an Indigenous American nation is devised, then thorough research must be undertaken, and stereotypes avoided at all costs. In this way, a TV show could be a mindful way forward for the saga.