Twilight Saga: Eclipse casting drama

by Liam on July 30, 2009 · 13 comments

Rachelle Lefevre Victoria I didn’t see Twilight and i’m not interested in the whole vampire love story thing, although I am aware that Summit Entertainment hit the jackpot with the franchise and it was good to see a smaller studio finding success. While I’m not that interested in the films, I did read about some of the developments. For whatever reason they decided to ditch Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke and hired Chris Weitz for New Moon. However, they then announced that David Slade would be directing the third film, Eclipse, and it became apparent that Summit are so eager to see money rolling in that they were not willing to wait for anyone, not even the directors.

So with Summit in that frame of mind it wasn’t that much of a surprise to read that Bryce Dallas Howard (Spider-Man 3, Terminator Salvation) would be replacing actress Rachelle Lefevre in the role of Victoria due to ‘scheduling conflicts’ with a film called Barney’s Version starring Dustin Hoffman. Well as with most mid-franchise re-castings, the fans aren’t happy, and neither is Rachelle Lefevre who engaged in a ‘were having a disagreement in public via press releases so lets keep it civil’ with Summit:

From Variety:

“I was stunned by Summit’s decision to recast the role of Victoria for Eclipse. I was fully committed to the Twilight saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria. I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules.

“My commitment to Barney’s Version is only 10 days. Summit picked up my option for Eclipse. Although the production schedule for Eclipse is over three months long, Summit said they had a conflict during those 10 days and would not accommodate me. Given the length of filming for Eclipse, never did I fathom I would lose the role over a 10-day overlap. I was happy with my contract with Summit and was fully prepared to continue to honor it. Summit chose simply to recast the part.

“I am greatly saddened that I will not get to complete my portrayal of Victoria for the Twilight audience. This is a story, a theatrical journey and a character that I truly love and about which I am very passionate. I will be forever grateful to the fan support and loyalty I’ve received since being cast for this role, and I am hurt deeply by Summit’s surprising decision to move on without me. I wish the cast and crew of Eclipse only the very best.”

Summit responded with:

“We at Summit Entertainment are disappointed by Rachelle Lefevre’s recent comments which attempt to make her career choices the fault of the Studio. Her decision to discuss her version of the scheduling challenges publicly has forced the Studio to set the record straight and correct the facts.

“Ms. Lefevre’s representatives were advised as early as April that THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE was expected to start shooting in early August.

“If Ms. Lefevre was, as she describes “passionate,” about being part of THE TWILIGHT SAGA, we feel that she and her representatives would have included us in her decision to work on another film that would conflict with the shooting schedule of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE.

“It was not until July 20th that Summit was first informed of Ms. Lefevre’s commitment to BARNEY’S VERSION, a commitment we have since been advised she accepted in early June. Summit had acted in good faith that she would be available to fulfill her obligations both in terms of rehearsals and shooting availability for THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE. We feel that her choice to withhold her scheduling conflict information from us can be viewed as a lack of cooperative spirit which affected the entire production.

“Furthermore Ms. Lefevre took a role in the other film that places her in Europe during the required rehearsal time, and at least ten days of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE’s principal photography. This period is essential for both rehearsal time with the cast, and for filming at key locations that are only available during the initial part of production.

“Contrary to Ms. Lefevre’s statement, it is simply untrue that the Studio dismissed her over a ten day overlap. It is not about a ten day overlap, but instead about the fact that THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE is an ensemble production that has to accommodate the schedules of numerous actors while respecting the established creative vision of the filmmaker and most importantly the story.

“The fact remains that Ms. Lefevre’s commitment to the other project – which she chose to withhold from Summit until the last possible moment – makes her unfortunately unavailable to perform the role of Victoria in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE.”

Oh dear. As the Twilight franchise has a large (mostly young female) fanbase Summit have been forced to respond in public to prevent a mass boycott. Any Twilight fans have an opinion on this? Any non-Twilight fans have an opinion on the politics involved?

  • vcurtz

    Not a Twilight fan, but I love Bryce Dallas Howard, so I'm pumped she got the part. :3 Sucks for that other girl. We didn't see her much anyway, so it won't be a huge cast change. I'm sure it's drama drama drama for all the rabbid Twilight fans but.. xD Oh well. I'll still go see New Moon, just because I must know what all this hype is about. The first Twilight blew chunks (I think anyway), but apparently the second book isn't SO mushy and romantic. <_< So, I might venture it.
    But I digress. People won't boycott New Moon. It has Robert and Taylor shirtless like, a bunch of times in the new movie, apparently. For that reason, and that reason alone, there will be no boycott. T-T;; It's the same with people talking about boycotting Harry Potter because they pushed the date back (those bastards). Didn't happen. It's all talk.

  • radiowarsx

    It seems clear that wrongdoing was done on both sides, but I tend to always side with artistic merrit over corporate capitalism, thus I think Summit should take their stubborn heads out of the money cloud and do what's best for the film artistically, and that usually never involves recasting.

  • sydney_A

    I think Rachelle Lefevre is mostly angry because her biggest role is played out in the third book. The first two books and their story lines come to a head in the third so she must feel as though she was cheated out of her grand finale (the character also dies at the end of the third book). However, I do agree with Summit if she withheld information about the other project for longer than she should have. No one is disputing that actors should be allowed other projects but seriously Rachelle……Barney's Version versus Eclipse. I think you could have sacrificed that role!

  • Karah

    If this were the first time Summit made a rash decision to replace someone, I might side with them. However, considering how willing they have been throughout production to replace talent and crew over the slightest disagreements it makes it hard to see their side as being all that logical.

    While I think Howard is a wonderful actress I am highly disappointed in Summit's decision to so quickly dismiss Lefevre. I just hope Summit doesn't continue to make rash decisions in their eagerness to flood the market with the Twilight Saga as fast as they can. As many pointed out with the dismissal of Hardwick after Twilight, it appears Summit could learn a few things from the Potter franchise: fans will wait the extra few months to be ensured a product they truly want. Constantly replacing talent for the sake of expediency, is not the way to do that.

  • misty87

    But Harry Potter is also of the mind to change directors every movie (except for the first two), so I don't think the problems will be in the constant changing of the name on the director's chair.
    As for the recasting, it seems like they both screwed up. Maybe Miss Lefevre could have worked out a conflicting schedule during the filming of Twilight or New Moon, since she has approximately 5 scenes (combined), but for Eclipse? When her character finally comes into her own? She was kinda stupid to think taking another movie (of a much smaller scale) and Summit would be okay with it. And no, there will be no boycot (its not like they recast Edward or something lol), but Summit does look like the mean, superpowered company for recasting her over just 10 days of conflict.

  • zachrW

    people actually care about this peice of shit franchize?

  • misty87

    Um, yes zachrW. We obviously do, that's why we're discussing it. So unless you have something intelligent to add to the conversation…

  • zachrW

    i just say this. vampire lore has been around for a long time, and many storys are romantic. but i feel we need to take a step back and look at the overall way we look at our toothy friends. im not saying the twilight books are a shit franchize, they are some of the better books out, iam saying the movie is an obomination. it was boring and not at all a good love story and the villans were thrown in just to go hey your boyfriend might say its ok! now this is just my opinion and i am not trying to piss any one off. i want to say, we need vampire movies like NOSFERATU or john carpenters VAMPIRES or even FRIGHT NIGHT….VAMPIRES THAT ARE EVIL. and dont get me started on the greatest evil of all,,,,THE LYCANTHROPE

  • vcurtz

    I completely agree. I miss vampires actually being evil. >:D And not sparkly and “vegetarian”. I miss my bad ass vamps. </3

    I mean, it's a good franchise for a romantic, teen, boy-crazy sensation, but it's taking over all over views of how a vampire based fiction should go. O.= If that makes any sense.. what so ever.. It's just so damn popular, that it's changing OTHER vampire based fiction. x_x And that's what really kills me. Apologies if this doesn't make any sense, I can't explain it right at all. <_<

  • gordn

    Yeah i agree with you
    Darran shan's Cirque Du Freak is actually being filmed so you'll probably get what you want soon

  • riplikish

    They won't likely boycott New Moon because Rachelle Levre is still in it. It's the third installment, Eclipse, that she was recast for. Filming hasn't started yet and out of a 3 month shoot they can't be without an actress for 10 days… Yeah Summit Entertainment is just after the money grab, because as you say, the film “chunks” but those of us who liked it are shelling the cash out now… But not for eclipse.

  • riplikish

    They won't likely boycott New Moon because Rachelle Levre is still in it. It's the third installment, Eclipse, that she was recast for. Filming hasn't started yet and out of a 3 month shoot they can't be without an actress for 10 days… Yeah Summit Entertainment is just after the money grab, because as you say, the film “chunks” but those of us who liked it are shelling the cash out now… But not for eclipse.

  • 1studiossuck2

    Decisions like this, and the fight to pay Ashley and Kellan a fair wage on films that have already made over a billion dollars, is part of the reason I have no problem with people buying bootleg/black market films. How do the studios justify $10 plus theater tickets and then re-cast favored actors who simply want to be compensated for their part in the success of the films? Obviously the money we spend is not going to the actors/actresses who bring the parts alive for us. It goes to the piggish studio execs who want maximum profit no matter what. Which makes sense for them. Like buying bootleg copies makes sense for people not willing to indulge those same greedy execs.