Wow, it’s been a crazy week for Twilighters, hasn’t it? Now, only six days after director Catherine Hardwicke parted ways with the fall’s biggest franchise, it is official: Chris Weitz has been handed the keys to the kingdom.

“I am honored to have been entrusted with shepherding ‘New Moon’ from the page to the screen,” Weitz said in a statement released today, discussing his involvement with Stephenie Meyer’s second novel. “The extraordinary world that Stephenie has created has millions of fans, and it will be my duty to protect on their behalf the characters, themes and story they love. This is not a task to be taken lightly, and I will put every effort into realizing a beautiful film to stand alongside a beautiful book.”