The Twilight universe is making a comeback, but this time, audiences will experience the story through the eyes of its brooding vampire, Edward Cullen.

Netflix and Lionsgate Television are developing “Twilight: Midnight Sun”, an adult animated series based on Stephenie Meyer’s 2020 companion novel, which retells the events of the original “Twilight” story from Edward’s perspective, according to Comic Book Resources (CBR).

First announced in September 2024, the project has secured a two-season commitment from Netflix, Lionsgate Television Chairman Kevin Beggs confirmed during the company’s earnings call on 5 November.

Although a release date has yet to be announced, the project has generated excitement among fans of the franchise. Its five-film saga grossed more than $3.3 billion worldwide, while the books have sold over 160 million copies.

What we know about Netflix’s ‘Twilight’ reboot
Unlike the original live-action films starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, the upcoming adaptation will be an episodic animated series.

Sinead Daly, known for her work on “Tell Me Lies” and “The Get Down”, is attached as the writer and an executive producer. Meyer will also serve as an executive producer, alongside Meghan Hibbett, Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Erik Feig and Samie Kim Falvey.

Netflix has yet to officially announce the voice cast. However, reports earlier this year suggested that Sadie Stanley and Julian Grey could voice Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, respectively.

Stanley is known for Disney’s live-action “Kim Possible” and “Karate Kid: Legends”, while Grey has appeared in “Fear the Walking Dead” and “The Matrix Resurrections”.

The two-season commitment is notable as it allows the production to move forward without waiting for a renewal decision after its first season. However, animation is a time-consuming process, and Netflix has not confirmed a premiere date or revealed details about the series’ visual style.

Edward Cullen’s side of the story finally comes to life
What sets “Midnight Sun” apart is its shift in perspective. While the original “Twilight” follows Bella’s experience of falling in love with a vampire, the companion novel explores Edward’s thoughts, instincts and internal struggles throughout their relationship.

The story revisits their first meeting in Forks, Washington, including their infamous biology class, where Edward struggles to control his overwhelming thirst for Bella’s blood.

Meyer initially began writing the novel in 2008 but shelved the project after an unfinished manuscript was leaked online without her permission. She eventually returned to the story, completing and publishing it in 2020.

The animated format could offer a new way to explore Edward’s supernatural abilities and psychological conflicts, particularly his ability to hear the thoughts of everyone around him except Bella.

It could also bring his constant struggle between his affection for Bella and his instinctive desire to feed on human blood to the screen, alongside the tensions within the Cullen family.

The franchise that defined a generation
The return of “Twilight” also recalls the cultural phenomenon the franchise became after Meyer’s first novel was published in 2005.

The original four-book series became an international bestseller, with its final instalment, “Breaking Dawn”, selling 1.3 million copies in the United States within its first 24 hours.

The film adaptations further cemented its popularity. Released in 2008, the first “Twilight” film grossed approximately $412 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $37 million.

The five films collectively earned around $3.35 billion at the global box office, turning Pattinson and Stewart into household names and building a dedicated fanbase that has continued to follow the franchise.

Meyer revisited the original story in 2015 with “Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined”, before publishing “Midnight Sun” five years later. The latter sold more than a million copies in its first week.

With Meyer closely involved in the upcoming adaptation, Netflix is betting that the franchise still has plenty of stories to tell. Whether the animated format can recreate the cultural impact of the original films remains to be seen, but Edward Cullen’s long-awaited perspective could be the fresh take that brings a generation of fans back to Forks.