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SALT LAKE CITY — Battling it out with the highly anticipated "The Hunger Games" film is the "Twilight" film franchise, which has seen massive success thanks in large part to the large swaths of female fans devoted to the popular book series by BYU graduate Stephenie Meyer.
In the face of the premiere Thursday night of "The Hunger Games," a teaser trailer for "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" was released earlier this week to give fans a taste of what to expect when the movie premieres in November.
The 15-second teaser features a shot of Kristen Stewart as Bella, Meyer's protagonist, running with the series' well- known vampiric speed. Clips of Taylor Lautner as Jacob and Robert Pattinson as Edward complete the surprisingly short teaser that left many wanting for more.
"Ten seconds wasn't really enough to capture anything," Twilight Lexicon's Laura Byrne-Cristiano told MTV. "We did see Bella running through the trees, but we couldn't see her face in that brief snippet. So, we got only a little of the Bella with vampire powers that I was hoping for."
"It was nice to see a reaction of Jacob and Edward to Bella, but I really would have been more satisfied if Bella herself (in particular her facial expressions) was more in the shot," she added. "I'm hoping we actually get to see her and not just her point of view in the full teaser."
Ten seconds wasn't really enough to capture anything.
–Laura Byrne-Cristiano
The teaser comes as the "Twilight" saga battles with "The Hunger Games" for the top spot in the hearts of fans of each series. "The Hunger Games" has already earned $8 million at the box office ahead of its premiere, and is expected to top the "Twilight" films opening weekend.
"Twilight" is further threatened by "The Hunger Games" more widespread appeal: according to The New York Times, 30 percent of the usage of the phrase "Hunger Games" in the U.S. is by adults between the ages of 18 and 34. For younger teens, the number dropped by half. The theme of the books is such that they draw fans of both genders.
"Twilight," by contrast, has long appealed to younger teens and, especially, females, which may limit the ultimate earning potential of the series.
It's a long wait to November, but the creators of "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" are hoping that the short — and somewhat dissatisfying — tease will keep the film relevant in the face of the films that threaten to overtake it in popularity.
