Oh no. Twilight has started swapping its actors around again, and you know how furious that makes its fans.
So who’s out now? Has Taylor Lautner been elbowed? Has the recession forced producers to replace two of the New Moon Wolf Pack with some rudimentary kebab-meat statues of Adam Rickett? Has Robert Pattinson quit Twilight because he’s tired wiping teeny urine off his front door every morning?
No. It’s the character of Victoria – Rachelle Lefevre is out and Bryce Dallas Howard is in. We suppose we should draft up that ‘Robert Pattinson gets Bryce Dallas Howard pregnant’ article, then.
In many ways, the Twilight saga is like moving into your first home. Partly because it’s something that you think will be short and easy but inevitably ends up lasting forever, costing several times more than you expected and leaving you with deep, vast emotional scars that will never fully heal. And partly because of the furniture.
Like your first home, Twilight started off full of whatever cheap old crap the producers could get their hands on. It starred Kristen Stewart, the Ikea Emily Browning. It starred Kellen Lutz, the Tesco Value Tom Welling. And it starred Robert Pattinson, the second-hand-and-borrowed-from-your-mum-even-though-you-don’t-really-like-it Henry Cavill. And, as the Twilight films have gone on, some of these pieces have begun to slowly get replaced.
For New Moon, they tried to replace Taylor Lautner – at least until fans started squealing in protest – and they brought in esteemed names like Dakota Fanning and Michael Sheen. And now for Eclipse they’re replacing Rachelle Lefevre, who played Victoria Cullen, with critically-acclaimed actress Bryce Dallas Howard. Does this mean that in Breaking Dawn Bella and Edward will be played by Dame Judi Dench and the reanimated corpse of Sir John Gielgud?
Yes. Yes it clearly does mean that. But for now let’s concentrate on Bryce Dallas Howard starring in Eclipse, shall we? The LA Times reports:
“We are incredibly happy that Bryce has agreed to come into the franchise,? said Erik Feig, Summit's president of worldwide production and acquisitions. ?Rachelle brought ?Victoria? to great screen life and Bryce will bring a new dimension to the character.?The franchise is lucky to have such a talented actress as Bryce coming in to fill the role.?
What’s interesting here is the stealth in which Bryce Dallas Howard has quietly replaced Rachelle Lefevre. It’s almost like the Eclipse producers were terrified that the Twilight fanatics would kick up a stink on the internet like they did when Taylor Lautner was almost replaced. But now the news is out, so we expect the protests to begin any second now.
Now.
Now?
Hello? Anybody? What’s that? Nobody minds that Rachelle Lefevre has been replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard because she’s not a non-threateningly attractive teenage boy who Twilight fans buy posters of just so they can stay at home at night licking them? Oh. OK. Good point.
Still, we’d like to personally welcome Bryce Dallas Howard into the world of Twilight, and assure her that she’s going to be great in Eclipse. After all, Bryce has appeared in Spider-Man 3, Terminator Salvation, the sequel to Dogville and two late-period M. Night Shyamalan movies – so if there’s one thing she’s good at, it’s jumping in on a film franchise at exactly the moment that everyone stops liking it. This role could have been created for her.
lilywhite says
Before the teen brigade shows up and tears you a new one, fix “Victoria Cullen.” She’s not a Cullen.
Mippy says
Helloooooo!! She wasn’t REPLACED! She QUIT!
Yeah sure, they got a substitute, but it wasnt like she was booted out of it.
And since when is it Victoria Cullen???
SummitSucks says
Check out the comments on fan sites like Eclipsemovie.org before you write an article like this, fans are up in arms and an email firestorm has started to the higher-ups at Summit. She did not quit, read the news, she was replaced. As far as scheduling, the movie that allegely conflicts has been on her imdb for over a month, you’re telling me I can find out what projects she’s doing and Summit can’t? On top of that, while Rachelle is out promoting the Twilight Saga at Comic-Con, they were making deals for a replacement in 8 days. There are contract to sign, deals to make and agreements … and they did it in 8 days? Please.
Summit worked with Cam quite a bit during the filming of Twilight — while he was working on another film.
Summit didn’t try hard enough to work with Rachelle. They were looking for a bigger name, maybe looking to have ties with Ron Howard for future endeavors at Summit, who knows. Their response was immature and unprofessional.
EPIC FAIL for Summit Entertaiment.
SummitSucks says
http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-7-18-the-twilight-saga-new-moon-finds-rachelle-lefevre-soaring
She was excited to start filming Eclipse, it was her swan song … what two years have built up to. Shame on Summit.
Nicole says
Wrong, it’s not Victoria Cullen at all. She’s the villain. Not apart of the happy family.
Summit is stupid for thinking the fans (the ones who made Twilight popular in the first place, the true fans) wouldn’t care. They only want money, and are trying to get the films out before the “fans” lose interest. Disappointing. If it was Rob, who is adored by the “fans”, they would’ve waited a year. Ten days is nothing.
joanne says
uh wtf she didnt quit? there was a 10 day scheduling conflict! she did NOT quit. she wouldnt. and fyi, shes not even a cullen?! oh and YES, i do care if rachelle gets replaced. idek who bryce dallas howard is! i want rachelle to be victoria. she IS victoria. i mean shes the one with the wicked curve ball! what does bryce dallas howard have? nothing :) k im done.
Wrongness says
I hope you’re kidding; fans are up in arms! Check out the Celebsession blog (www.celebsession.com) for news and updates about this. And Rachelle Lefevre is suing. Where do you get your facts, dude?
Twilit Fan says
BITCH NEEDS TO GO!
Boonie says
I love Bryce Dallas Howard! Victoria plays a larger role in Eclipse than in the other movies, and Bryce Dallas Howard would be an excellent choice!
Selena says
This is soooooo stupid. I agree, Rachelle is victoria, they cant jsut replace her!!! STUPID SUMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Replacementphobia says
Wow.. You must work for (fill in the blank). Let’s see, Summit? Ron Howard? PR for either? Uhmmm maybe your are somebody’s daughter, cousin, son, etc.? Sad state of affairs that Rachelle developed the role, stuck with it for the sequel, toured for it, and in Eclipse was about to become the new breakout star (think Taylor anybody)… but, now we have Bryce Dallas Howard. Anyone who was about to be promoted only to find out the teacher’s kid, producer’s daughter in law, boss’ son, whatever, got it instead of you, knowing that there would be no promotion without what you have already done, well been there and done that. Excellent choice? Really? Wrong. I hear and hope the original actress is sueing. If she needs someone to testify on just how wrong this really is I volunteer. Sad to say though, the only outcome that would make Summit reconsider, ever, would be the failure of this film at the box office and we all know that ain’t happen.