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Twilight filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke is “devastated” she won’t be directing the smash hit film’s sequel New Moon – but insists it was her decision to pull out of the running.

The movie maker scored the biggest debut ever for a female director when the bloodsucking love story shot to number one in the U.S. box office chart with takings of $69.6 million (?49 million) in late November.

She was widely expected to take the helm for the follow-up movie before being replaced by American Pie director Chris Weitz, with reports suggesting she was sacked.

But Hardwicke has now revealed the truth behind the rumours – claiming it was her choice to drop out, as she was not willing to make the movie under a tight deadline and with budget constraints.

She says, “I was devastated. I really did feel a strong connection to the people around the world that liked the movie – and to Stephenie (Meyer, Twilight author) and the actors. But I just didn’t think I could make a good movie under those circumstances.”