Movie Showbiz News – Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke – who scored the biggest debut ever for a female director when the big screen version of Stephanie Meyer’s popular novel hit the big screen in late November – has denied reports claiming she was sacked from sequel its New Moon – insisting it was her choice to pull out of the project.

Hardwicke was widely expected to take the helm for the follow-up movie before being replaced by American Pie director Chris Weitz.

But the movie-maker decided to walk away from New Moon – citing a tight budget and an even tighter deadline as her reasons.

“[It was] more money than I or anyone in my family has ever seen,” 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 and the actors. But I just didn’t think I could make a good movie under those circumstances.

“I know the budget they [Summit Entertainment] were talking about with me – they’ve already gone way beyond that.

“I’m optimistic that it’s going to be great, and I’m sad that it didn’t work out for me to do it.”

New Moon – starring Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson – is due to hit theaters in November.