New Twilight book swaps characters’ genders

When asked if she would like to see the new version of her brainchild, she simply said: “I don’t really see that happening”.

So the Bella Swan character (played by Kristen Stewart in the film adaptation) is now a male named Beau, vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson in the film) is Edythe and werewolf Jacob Black (played by Taylor Lautner) is now Julie.

For the 10th anniversary of her “Twilight” series, Stephenie Meyer is offering a gender swap for those millions caught up in the saga of Bella and Edward. Of course, we can’t help but hope this marks a step away from clichéd female stereotypes and one towards gender equality.

The idea was to change the audience’s concern that Bella seemed to be a “damsel in distress” instead of being simply a “human in distress”, Meyer explained during an interview in Good Morning America.

She went on to explain that Life and Death tells the story of a moody teenage boy falling for a mysterious immortal woman.

For all those avid Twilight fans, though, apparently the story isn’t all that different.

“I wanted to do something fun for the 10th anniversary and the publisher wanted like a foreword and I thought, ‘Well, maybe something more interesting”.

Meyers’ 10th anniversary edition of Twilight, which contains Life and Death, is now available online and in bookstores.

According to the author, Bella simply behaved the way “anyone surrounded by superheroes” would.

The dual publication of “Twilight Tenth Anniversary/Life and Death” went on sale on Tuesday.