With NEW MOON opening this week, many eyes will be pointed at director Chris Weitz to see how he handled taking over the reins from previous director Catherine Hardwicke. But Weitz may have his sights set on something entirely different after what was likely a daunting task in adapting the second novel in the popular series, as well as trying to live up to the mega-hype set by Twihard fans.

“You know, it sounds ridiculous, but I’d really like to be a better surfer. I’d like to learn to speak Spanish fluently; I’d like to travel around, live in Italy; I’d like to learn kung fu… It’s nice to make movies, but it’s also really hard,” Weitz said in a conversation with MovieMaker.

The director also said, in relation to the tiring nature of making films, “I still feel that I’m learning, and yet I also feel that the number of aspects that go into making a film of the sort that I’m making now have become so multifold that it’s really exhausting. Every time I make a movie I’m pretty much convinced it’s the last time I’m going to be able to do it and that really it’s a rather silly occupation to undertake. But I think I have maybe one more film in me.”

When asked if he was in fact serious about only making one more film, Weitz replied, “Yes, I think so. I know this is for MovieMaker, but I don’t think that people have to do the same thing for all their lives. Giuseppe di Lampedusa wrote one great novel, The Leopard, and he didn’t have to write anymore.”

I wouldn’t put Weitz down for the count just yet. In all likelihood, he may just burnt out at this point. Can you blame the guy after the production hell he went through on THE GOLDEN COMPASS? Let us just hope that the man who gave us ABOUT A BOY and AMERICAN PIE has not said all he has to say to the world through film. And if so be it, at least we have another Weitz in brother Paul (IN GOOD COMPANY).