Talk about every 13-year-old girl’s fantasy film team: High School Musical could be joining forces with Twilight. Sorta. As we reported earlier, rumors are swirling that Disney tween dream Vanessa Hudgens has auditioned for the role of disgruntled werewolf Leah Clearwater in the upcoming Twilight sequel New Moon. And as much as I want to hate the idea, I don’t. Sure, she’s much cuter than I ever imagined Leah to be, but her mix of Filipino, Spanish, Chinese, Irish, and Native American ethnicities, make her a physically good match for the Quileute shapeshifter. Plus, she’s already got big hair.
That being said, the 20-year-old has to show us something she hasn’t before: angst. Known for perky parts, most notably High School brainiac Gabriella, Hudgens will have to bring it as a girl dumped by her love who becomes the only female werewolf of her tribe. If she can embody this mix of contempt and snark with a dash of vulnerability thrown in, I think she could not only nail the role but make a nice foil to Taylor Lautner’s Jacob.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Should Hudgens join the pack for New Moon or stick to crooning show tunes? Also, what role can we give Zac Efron? (Don’t pretend you don’t want to see him and Rob Pattinson in an epic battle of Tiger Beat proportions.)
More Twilight:
Stephenie Meyer confirms Taylor Lautner will be in ‘Twilight’ sequel
Casting ‘The Volturi’ in ‘New Moon,’ the ‘Twilight’ sequel
‘Twilight’: Who would you recast?
Comments (1-30) of 894 Add your comment
Looks-wise, I think she’s an okay choice, but I agree on the “angst” issue. She’s gotta show better acting chops than what we’ve seen in HSM.
She annoys me..
She’s too fake-sweet to play Leah. She could probably pull off the role of Sam’s girlfriend. Give her some facial disfigurement and I’ll giggle for an hour minimum!
I’ll pass… and before anyone throws Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato at me, negatory on both of those. I’m a big fan of the fact that the original cast really didn’t have a big name in it and I hope it stays that way to be honest.
i think she will be AMAZING. and i’m not even a big fan of her or HSM.. but looks-wise, she fits the part! and this gives her the opportunity to prove if she’s got staying power in the biz
Please God no!!!!!!
She’s horrible! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! PLease no!
no no no – please no.
I agree with Elizabeth: no names stars are better for this franchise.
i would love ta c her in the twilight series
NO NO NO!
Heath Ledger. But maybe she is really a horrible actor
Visually Im OK with it and if she could pull it off, why not? If Hardwicke was still directing she would be a shoo-in b/c Vanessa was also in Thirteen.
YESSS!!! i think she could do an awesome job. she was in Thirteen- great movie. and she has potential. GIVE HER A BREAK HATERS
I’m with Heather: V is pretty enough to be Emily, but in no way edgy enough, growly enough, or a good enough actress to be the conflicted, bristly Leah. I’m all for Q. Kilcher, who also looks to have physical stength.
NO NO NO!!! Horrible idea!!!
She has never impressed me as an actress much less as one that could portray the angst as Leah has. Also, I can’t see her giving a “voice” to a werewolf. Give an unknown Native American actress a chance and leave out the HSM crowd please.
No Zac too…
I think it’s a bad idea. For one, I don’t think she has the right look; I think Leah has more of a regal austereness than a pixie-like pretty. And that doesn’t even get into the fact that she’s supposed to be tall and have really short hair. I would prefer someone who is obviously Native American, like Q’orianka Kilcher.
I would hate to see this happen, and can give you all my reasons, I already agrued against it- but thinking about it, I do not think she has a chance. Hudgens seems to want the spotlight(assumption, not fact, don’t kill me) so if she wanted this role she’ll have to deal with a very small role in the next 2 movies until Breaking Dawn. Then fine, let her have it, but if Twilight expands her role for the sake of reeling in 10 year olds, then I’m done. Stickin’ with the books. Sorry Rob!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO disney idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO disney idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!
Disney had nothing to do with this! Vanessa Hudgens happened to be in a lot of Disney stuff, so what? Hilary Duff did too, look at her now. Vanessa is her own person, if she wants to be in this movie, let her. I think she has a good chance of being in this movie. Maybe a few touch-ups but it will work.
Vanessa never really impressed me, I don’t think she could pull off the role of Leah Clearwater
I don’t think she has what it takes to play the part…plus it would totally ruin the movie if she played leah…honestly you see her in all of these preppy movies and now she wants to try out for this role…definitely not for her
Oh yes, by all means, lets go ahead and mix a pop artist and kid movie Vanessa Hudgens with a werewolf with attiude. What a wonderful idea. I certainly hope that Stephenie Meyer has a say in this and she says no. It is ridicolous..she is a Disney star, she can’t pull it off. Taylor is not a Disney star, he is a hottie with the aptitude to play just about any role. He is a big boy that just started out as a kid, Vanessa is a kid and should remin one.
Come on…that is like making Ashley Tisdale the Underworld commercial promoter.
Think of it this way: Vanessa is playing Leah. She has to get on Jacob’s nerves and get in his face. With that baby face she is more likely to kiss him then yell at him. That is what people expect, don’t go changing your role around. She is and will ALWAYS be a Disney star that made naked pics, not a Twilight star.
Right now, I have to say it, Vanessa is Leah, then I refuse to go see New Moon and I know a lot of other people that will do the same.
And I thought Taylor Lautner not being Jacob was the biggest problem….if Chris and Stephenie know what is good marketing they will keep Vanessa and any other Disney stars OUT of their Twilight films. End of Discussion.
Refusing to see New Moon because of 1 actress that shows up for a few moments? So stupid.
so stupid. She doesnt look remotely indian. She is annoying. And the actor for Jake is way to small to play a 7 foot indian werewolf
Like I said on the other blog, I have no specific problems with Vanessa. I just know that if she gets the part, the comparisons will start. I am sick of everyone comparing this franchise to Harry Potter and High School Musical. This is completely different subject matter. If anyone read the books, Vanessa seems to sweet to play Leah. I am with the Q’orianka Kilcher idea. She looks more the part.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! NO!! NO!
A HUNDRED TIMES NO!
ITS JUST NOT A GOOD FIT.
NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
Okay, I love HSM and all, but Vanessa Hudgens is totally wrong for the part. Her talents consist of acting cute and singing in the most sickly sweet voice imaginable. I agree with two other comments that she could be Emily though. She could pull that off…just cooking and serving the werewolves.
We don’t want any Disney kids in Twilight. That’s the worse possible idea ever. We don’t want that corny teen attitude associated with Twilight (any more than it already is I know) do we?
Okay, I love HSM and all, but Vanessa Hudgens is totally wrong for the part. Her talents consist of acting cute and singing in the most sickly sweet voice imaginable. I agree with two other comments that she could be Emily though. She could pull that off…just cooking and serving the werewolves.
PLEASE NOOOOOOOOOO….