Summit Entertainment has announced that the anticipated big screen adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s teen vamp novel Twilight will be coming out a month earlier. The film has been moved from December 12th to November 21st, the now vacant release date for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. This is a huge score for Twilight, as the two films shared a similar demographic. In the media, Twilight has even been compared to the Potter series, ever since “Eclipse” knocked “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” off the best-seller list last year.

The Catherine Hardwicke film was originally scheduled to go head to head with The Day The Earth Stood Still, facing stronger competition in the weeks ahead from the Jim Carrey comedy Yes Man, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Tale of Despereaux, and Bedtime Stories. The new November 21st date leaves the film with weeks of breathing room. The only real competition to be had is from Disney’s computer animated film Bolt, which will open the same day.

IMAX has still not announced a replacement tol fill the spot that was originally occupied by the Half-Blood Prince. IMAX reps has said that they have already “initiated some conversations about a replacement film” and that they are “confident” they will will find a “good project.” Could Twilight be coming to IMAX? Probably not. I’m guessing that IMAX will either go with Disney’s Bolt or extend the two-week release of Madagascar 2 and instead find another film later in the holiday season. Possibly 20th Century Fox’s The Day The Earth Stood Still?