With such adoration from the public and tremendous box office success, it comes as no surprise that teen vampire romance “Twilight” will have a sequel, for teenage girls across the world to swoon over and feed their tender fantasies with.

“Twilight,” Summit Entertainment’s big screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s young adult novel of the same name, was released last week in North America and marked its place in box office history, earning $70.6 million during its opening weekend. It exceeded studio execs’ expectations, as box office analysts had argued a possible low interest among male moviegoers would give the film no more than $60 million at its debut.

“Twilight” now holds the year’s second biggest opening weekend, following the $158 million July release of “The Dark Knight,” starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger. It has also become the greatest opening for a female director, as Catherine Hardwicke outdid the previous record, worth $41.1 million, established by Mimi Leder in 1998 with “Deep Impact.”

Hardwicke’s previous projects include similarly unconventional films: independent drama “Thirteen,” which dealt with teenage drug and alcohol use, sexual activity and self-harm, and the Biblically themed “The Nativity Story,” whose unmarried 16-year-old star announced she was pregnant before the film’s release.

Summit Entertainment had previously said stars Robert Pattinson, who portrays the seductive vampire Edward and Kristen Stewart, who plays sweet adolescent Bella Swan, would reunite for a sequel. Meyer’s vampire love story has been constructed as a trilogy, with “New Moon” following in line for a big-screen adaptation.

The sequel is expected to be released in 2010. Variety previously reported Pattinson had already signed for the sequel, while screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg has signed on to pen “New Moon” and possible third installment “Eclipse.” Hardwicke’s participation has not been confirmed yet.