Netflix's 'Midnight Sun' Animated Series: What We Know

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in 'Twilight.'

(Image credit: Summit Entertainment)

published 5 September 2024

Some pop culture franchises have withstood the test of time and kept their cultural dominance for decades, from Harry Potter to The Bachelor to Game of Thrones. For fantasy and romance fans who came of age in the 2010s, the Twilight saga is the juggernaut that's still going strong, 19 years after Stephenie Meyer's first novel hit the shelves and 16 years after it was brought to life in the 2008 film. Now, to the joy of all Twihards, Bella and Edward's love story will continue (or technically re-start) via Netflix.

On September 4, 2024, the streaming giant announced that Midnight Sun, Meyer's 2020 retelling of the events of Twilight from Edward's perspective, will be adapted into a new TV show. Currently in development, the animated series(!) is set to be executive-produced by Meyer, Wyck Godfrey (who worked on all the Twilight saga films), and others, with Sinead Daly (Tell Me Lies) writing.

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in 'Twilight' — Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward's (Robert Pattinson) iconic "spider-monkey" moment seen in 2008's *Twilight*.

News of the new series quickly delighted Twilight Nation, from current Team Edward/Team Jacob diehards to former stans who immediately flashed back to their teenage selves reading the first 12 chapters of Midnight Sun on Meyer's website back in 2008. (Guilty.) When it was eventually completed 12 years later, the Edward-narrated novel sold more than one million copies in its first week, despite controversy around the book's "outdated" romance.

While it's still early days for news on the Netflix show, read on for everything we know so far about Midnight Sun, including the chances that any of the original Twilight cast could reprise their roles.

When will 'Midnight Sun' be released on Netflix?

It's yet to be announced when Midnight Sun will be released on Netflix. The September 4, 2024 announcement is the first anyone's heard of the new series, and it will likely take a while for it to even leave the development stage. What we do know is that (barring a catastrophe) Midnight Sun is happening, as Netflix gave the show a straight-to-series order.

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen in 'Twilight' — The new series will show what was behind Edward's scowl when he first met Bella, seen above in 2008's *Twilight*.

Will the original 'Twilight' cast appear in 'Midnight Sun?'

Since the original Twilight film series completed its run in 2012, many of the show's stars have gone on to successful Hollywood careers, most notably Oscar nominee Kristen Stewart and The Batman star Robert Pattinson. KStew and RPattz have been asked about their Twilight years throughout their careers, and with news of Midnight Sun, they'll likely soon be fielding questions on whether they'll make a special appearance in the animated series.

Based on what they've said so far, it seems pretty unlikely that either Stewart or Pattinson want to return to the world of Twilight. Even back in 2018, the pair answered questions of whether they would be up for a reboot with deadpan sarcasm. Still, now that over a decade has passed and they're established as Hollywood heavyweights, there could be a chance that there's enough goodwill left (or a Netflix check big enough) for a cameo.

Watch this space for updates.

'Midnight Sun' by Stephenie Meyer

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Quinci is a Culture Writer who covers all aspects of pop culture, including TV, movies, music, books, and theater. She contributes interviews with talent, as well as SEO content, features, and trend stories. She fell in love with storytelling at a young age, and eventually discovered her love for cultural criticism and amplifying awareness for underrepresented storytellers across the arts. She previously served as a weekend editor for Harper’s Bazaar, where she covered breaking news and live events for the brand’s website, and helped run the brand’s social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Her freelance writing has also appeared in outlets including HuffPost, The A.V. Club, Elle, Vulture, Salon, Teen Vogue, and others. Quinci earned her degree in English and Psychology from The University of New Mexico. She was a 2021 Eugene O’Neill Critics Institute fellow, and she is a member of the Television Critics Association. She is currently based in her hometown of Los Angeles. When she isn't writing or checking Twitter way too often, you can find her studying Korean while watching the latest K-drama, recommending her favorite shows and films to family and friends, or giving a concert performance while sitting in L.A. traffic.