Twilight author Stephenie Meyer tells fans that “torches and pitchforks” won’t be necessary in dealing with Chris Weitz, the new director who will helm the sequel to the wildly popular vampire franchise.

“I’m excited to work with Chris and I think he brings a lot to the table,” Meyer writes in a post on her Web site aimed at calming the fears of fans upset that Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke won’t be back for the next movie.

Weitz, who has directed About a Boy and The Golden Compass, was tapped last week to replace Hardwicke in directing the sequel, New Moon.

“I’ve had the chance to talk to Chris, and I can tell you that he is excited by the story and eager to keep the movie as close to the book as possible,” says Meyer, who is responding to the “worry and speculation” she’s read on fan message boards.

“He is also very aware of you, the fans, and wants to keep you all extremely happy,” she assures Twilighters.

Weitz himself says in a letter posted on the Web site that he plans to live up to the expectations devoted fans have for the next movie, which will star all the same actors in the primary roles, including Robert Pattinson as Edward, Kristen Stewart as Bella and Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black.

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