`Twilight` sequel halted over lawsuit against writer

London, April 21: The production of `New Moon`, the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster vampire romance `Twilight` has reportedly been halted after news that author Stephanie Meyer is facing a plagiarism lawsuit. The franchise which stars teen heartthrob Robert Pattinson as love lorn Vampire Edward Cullen, is based on the popular book series, written by Meyer.

The film, which is being shot in Canada, has been thrown into jeopardy over the plagiarism lawsuit against the author.`New Moon` is scheduled for release at the end of the year, Contactmusic reported. Meyer`s former college roommate has reportedly accused the writer of stealing her ideas and incorporating it in her bestseller story. According to I`mnotobsessed.com, Heidi Stanton, who studied alongside Meyer at Brigham Young University, Utah, claims the vampire books are similar to a short story she wrote when she was a student there. S tanton filed her lawsuit against Meyer in Utah last Tuesday, alleging idea infringement. "Quite frankly, I was shocked when I began watching the movie with my husband last week. I immediately told him that she got that idea from me! I wrote a fictional short story with the same ideas when we were in college together," Stanton`s lawsuit said. Meyer has often said that the idea for the popular series came to her in a dream in 2003 and she completed the first novel three months later. But the legal battle has cast doubt on the highly-anticipated film, with production being "put on hold" until the case is resolved the website said. Bureau Report