Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson arrive at the premiere of the movie 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2' in Berlin. TNS

Gulf Today Report

Fans of Bella and Edward have something to look forward to in these gloomy coronavirus times.

You can soon have some more of the much-loved pop culture characters in the form of a new addition to the “Twilight” book series. For here comes the “Midnight Sun.”

Stephenie Meyer, the mastermind who spun these vampire and werewolf tales, announced on Monday that a new book in the franchise, “Midnight Sun,” will debut on Aug. 4.

The story, told from teen vampire heartthrob Edward Cullen’s perspective, will arrive almost exactly 12 years after the publication of the last “Twilight” instalment, 2008’s “Breaking Dawn.”

“I hope this announcement doesn’t seem ill-timed,” Meyer wrote on her website, alluding to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

“I really considered delaying the release until the world was back to normal. However, 1) who knows when that will be? And 2) you guys have waited long enough. Much longer than long enough, actually.”

'Breaking Dawn,' published in 2008, was the last book in the 'Twilight' series.

The writer and producer also expressed concern for the well-being of her readers and their families during this time and added that she hopes the news of her expanding saga will offer “some pleasure and something fun to look forward to.”

“Working on a book for more than 13 years is a strange experience,” she continued. “I’m not the same person I was then. My children have all grown up. My back got weird. The world is a different place.

“I can only imagine all the things that have changed for you. But completing Midnight Sun has brought back to me those early days of Twilight when I first met many of you. We had a lot of fun, didn’t we?”

Not a sequel — but not precisely a prequel, either — “Midnight Sun” began as a writing exercise for Meyer to explore the early days of Bella Swan and Edward’s star-crossed romance through the latter’s eyes.

Writer Stephenie Meyer speaks onstage during the Women In Film 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards. TNS.

In 2008, the book was postponed indefinitely after a partial manuscript was leaked online. A dozen years later, Meyer is ready to release Edward’s tale on her own terms.

After the series’ flagship fantasy about an ordinary teenage girl who falls in love with a mysterious, misunderstood vampire launched in 2005, “Twilight” became an international sensation, spurring three sequels and five hit movies starring soon-to-be household names Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

The 2012 movie “Breaking Dawn Part II” was the latest “Twilight” project from Meyer, who served as a producer on the film franchise’s final blockbuster.

“We found kindred spirits that are still in our lives now,” Meyer said on Monday of her long journey with her devoted “Twilight” fans. “I hope going back to the beginning of Bella’s and Edward’s story reminds you of all that fun too.”