Things are heating up in the wake of the announcement that the actress Bryce Dallas Howard will replace Rachelle Lefevre (pictured) as the villainous vampire Victoria in the third Twilight film Eclipse. Now that Lefrevre and Summit Entertainment have each told their side of the story, whose side are you on?
After the jump, we’ll recap the situation.
After the news about the recast broke on Tuesday, Lefevre released a statement yesterday saying a schedule conflict was at the heart of the situation. According to her “stunned” account, her conflicting commitment to the independent film Barney’s Version is only 10 days. “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.”
Summit fired back last night with a statement of its own, saying that it had advised Lefevre in April of Eclipse’s August start date but was not informed of her commitment to Barney’s Version until July 20, even though she’d accepted the role 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,” says the statement. “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…. 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.”
More than 4,000 readers responded to a PopWatch poll Wednesday asking which actors in the Twilight franchise are replaceable. Forty percent said no one; 13 percent said anyone.
So what do you think of this series of events, Twihards? Take the poll above and then sound off in the comments.
Read more:
POLL: Eclipse recasts Victoria. Who else is replaceable?
Rachelle Lefevre ’stunned’ by Summit’s recast of Victoria for Eclipse
Summit Entertainment fights back against Rachelle Lefevre
Comic-Con: New Moon cast loves its fans
EW’s Twilight HQ
Photo credit: Mark Blinch/Reuters/Landov
Comments (1-15) of 241 Add your comment
Team Rachelle!
i second that
I third! Shame on you Summit!!! We should all send them tons of hate mail for how they’ve mangled our beloved series by changing actresses where Victoria has the most presence in the series!
I’ve never even seen these movies and I’m still on Team Rachelle. This is just disgraceful.
No, that comment is just sad. You’re fighting for something you haven’t even seen?! Welcome to the flock, sheep.
Team Rachelle all the way!!!! She was the biggest Twilight fan ever and I hate that sheisty Summit did this. Epic Fail!!
i agree Team Rachelle. the poor woman didnt even know that she was being recast. and i know if my character got recast in a movie i was committed to that i would be hurt deeply too. u go Rachelle and booooo to Summit!!
This is wrong. I mean Summit Entertainment say they are making these films for the fans and how they love this project and its not about money or favors. Well yes it is. Ever since Twilight became a hit they changed the director, ALMOST recast Taylor Lautner, and now they get rid of Rachelle! In the end it’s always about business and money. how greedy of you summit! well thanks for disappointing the fans again.
THANK YOU!!! I totally agree.
Actors can, in most cases, guide their salary requirements around the costs associated with the work. I really loved Lefevre in “Swingtown”, and loved that she was part of the “Twilight” universe, but the whole thing comes down to money. Howard costs more, but brings more money in. Lefevre (and this is not a knock) is an actor trying to get herself some exposure at the moment, and she needs to work as much as possible, to get noticed. A large ensemble cast can’t reschedule for Lefevre, there are too many people to please in that regard. I think it’s probably likely that the production made a tactile decision in replacing her with Howard, but either way, she never should have scheduled something conflicting if she wanted to continue with the series.
How will Howard bring in more money? Its not like she is an A-lister, or even B lister. I think she is an alright actress, but adding her to the cast will not amp up the revenue.
TRUTH! I have no idea who thought this would bring in more revenue…if anything, recasting an original and integral member of the cast will cause them to lose revenue. Just my opinion
I agree. Bryce Dallas Howard has no added draw for this demographic…if it were a High School Musical kid or like Hannah Montana then maybe, but Howard has no sway with this market. I’m not even convinced of her wide market commercial viability…I can only think of three movies she was in (The Village, The Lady and the Water, and Terminator Salvation,) all projected to garner huge box office numbers which seriously underperformed. And Lady in the Water, for which she was the “star” is by far and away the worse of the 3. Just truly awful. What Summit did to Rachelle was absolutely terrible and every excuse they’ve given so far has been total bullsh*t.
I haven’t read the novels beyond Twilight, but I am beginning to understand that Victoria has a much more pronounced part in the sequels, perhaps even a lead villainess role… if that’s true, to give you a comparable analogy, it’d be like Tom Felton doing something similar during the Goblet of Fire period, when Malfoy doesn’t have as much to do, and the Harry Potter producers seeing an opportunity to put someone with a slightly more sinister look in the role, or in Malfoy’s case, sickly… Thomas Sangster, for instance, comes to mind. The difference is, Felton’s producers didn’t get a reason to look at another kid. Sadly, not the case for Lefevre. I would much rather see her in the indie then in this role… she did it justice; now it’s on Howard to do it one better.
Rob and Taylor are true draws for this movie. Bryce has not had one hit movie. I do not understand the appeal other than that her father is famous. She has yet to prove herself as a serious actress, so how is her casting making the movie more money?
I’m not in agreement with Howard as the replacement, but she has been in a couple of blockbusters – Spiderman 3 and Terminator: Salvation. She is a good actress and will be good in the role. It’s unfortunate that Rachelle is being replaced. But her big role in the series is in the third book – so we haven’t seen Victoria enough thus far to really affect the recasting.
Whether or not BDH is a good actor, she is not very likable IMHO and always a hard sell because of it. Nepotism all the way.
I’ll be honest, I had to look up Bryce Dallas Howard because I had no idea who she was, so I can’t say she’s that much of a name, I’m sure there are lots of people like me. I recognize her now, but disagree with the casting. This is a terrible shame, as Rachelle has such a strong presence and her screen time is so visceral, she’s amazing. And to have the third sequel follow 7 months later with a different actress is strange, ruins continuity and makes the studio look noncommittal towards the entire franchise. I think that one of the joys of the Harry Potter series of films is that they stayed with the same actors. Summit should review its ethics… Rachelle, hold your head high, you are in the right!
Umm, Dumbledore was replaced in the Potter series and did not diminish the quality or effect of the films.
That’s because the first actor who played Dumbledore DIED. He was not replaced purposefully. Look up your facts before you speak them as truth.
It’s name and recognition. Howard isn’t an unknown, she’s a working actress who’s been in a lot of high-profile films. Lefevre has some great credits, but not as widely known, some there will be some bump in having a more recognizable actress play the villain, particularly one who has courted Oscar early in her career.
LMAO! I’m sorry but Howard is not really a recognizable high profile actress, so she’s not going to cause any kind of bump at the box office.
Sorry Bryce Dallas Howard but I don’t see anyone in the part of Victoria but Rachelle – she really nailed it.
I agree 100%! It’s usually always a mistake to recast an actor, fans are very unaccepting of a new actor. I would bet that when the time comes for Eclipse to release, I’m sure it will be a blockbuster, but I would bet that the fans would go in to the movie with a little resentment. I know I will.
I agree 100% Rachelle is the only clear choice for this part. She has the look of the part she is playing, and the move that summit did was totaly WRONG!
Why would you do that. i mean we all loved Rachelle as Victoria i agree with Jenn first the director, then almost getting rid of taylor and now her. I cant believe it i wouldnt be surprised if Eclipse sucks i mean i loved twilight, so far i love new moon but i dont know about Eclipse i mean the new victoria isnt even how i pictured victoria. i am very very angry at Summit right now!! i dont see why you would need to recast her its only 10 days!! 10 days and Eclipse is filming for 3 months and Victoria isnt in it as much as Bella and Edward and Jacob. i think you should give her the role back.
Has everyone just turned a blind eye to the fact that BDH is Ron Howard’s daughter, as in director Ron Howard of Imagine Entertainment?! It all happened so sudden and very fast. THANKS Summit for being a great disappointment to the Twi-fans! Summit SUX!!!!!
TEAM RACHELLE.
summit doesn’t care about the fans, you can’t replace someone who the fans all love. replacing the director is one thing, but replacing the villian is just madness. we need to get rachelle back!!
Summit is so full of crap!!! Rachelle was treated horribly by them. I am starting to believe Ron Howard pulled some strings for his daughter in this. The whole thing stinks.
Honestly I completely agree with their choice. They may have gone about doing it in a shady way, but I didn’t think she was as great as everyone is (only now) saying in the film at all. She kind of annoyed me. Yes she has curly red hair, but so can a lot of people. And hers was dyed and showed at the roots for god’s sake. Whatever, I don’t see what the big deal is. Victoria is such an annoying character anyway. I think Bryce will make her less grating. But advice to wardrobe department- please stop dressing Victoria as if she is a hippy on crack living in the 90’s. Like, get your sh** together. Thank you.
You’re an idiot, Dani. How can she be an annoying character if we’ve only seen one film so far, and she was barely in it? And who are you to talk about wardrobe? I thought they did a nice job on the costumes, with showing that those three vampires (Victoria, James, & Laurent) were nomads, and just went from place to place.
April, if you’re going to ask Dani how he thinks Rachelle was so annoying in Twilight if she was only in ten minutes of the movie; I’m gonna ask you, “How could she have been soooooo good if she was only in ten minutes of the movie?” You’re basically discrediting your own opinion by bashing someone else’s by asking them how they could form their opinion if she was barely in the first movie at all. Seriously, if someone can like her, someone can hate her too. Don’t bash on others opinions just cause they’re different than yours.
@ Dani, FYI Rachelle is a natural red-head, not dyed!
is there a petition? bring back Rachelle, she is the only Victoria in my eyes, anyone else would just be..well..very disappointing.
Where do I vote for “You’re all losers”?
Also, this is kind of petty, but she took her role soooooo damn seriously. And she had only, what, 10 minutes of screen time? That was probably the most annoying thing about her. She should have followed Kristen and Rob’s lead and just gone with it without being all “OMG I am so passionate about this character!!” (Seriously read her interviews and see for yourself).
I’m going to be murdered after I write this, but producers should go ahead and recast Jacob and Rosalie too and they may have a shot at a more decent movie. Don’t worry though, they won’t, they’re probably already shivering in a corner based on this overblown reaction to a recast. It happens. Deal. At least it is GOOD recasting.
Is there a reason why you think taking her role as an actress seriously is a bad thing? Doesn’t that show exceptional work ethic and a love of her craft? She is a good actress and was excited at the opportunity to show that in Eclipse.
Well, Twilight isn’t exactly Oscar-worthy material, her role isn’t life-changing. It was nice that she was enthusiastic about it but there is a point where you get to over-enthusiasm and you start thinking maybe her judgment is a little wack. Rob and Kristen did very well in their roles because they took them for what they were and didn’t treat them like The Most Important Roles Of Their Lives.
Thanks Dani, was totally thinking the same thing!!!
Did we just diss her for doing her best and being excited about a movie everyone who has read the book was excited about? Yes, better she be like Kristen, who phoned in her performance. Kristen who thinks muttering, blinking, sputtering is good acting and who cares so little about Twilight that she insults fans with every interview and irritates us to death with her hostility, ungratefulness and immaturity at ever promotional event. Yes, better Rachelle be “too cool” for a project we all love and wish some of these people would take MORE seriously. Ridiculous.
Again you show your idiocy. I think it’s great that she was so enthusiastic about it, I’d rather her be overexcited than seem disinterested like Kristen Stewart.
Ughh!! Finally I can reply to some of the Kristen haters. Kristen knows the character of Bella inside and out. Maybe you should try listening to some of her interviews on youtube. She is “disinterested” in the media and the fame aspect of it. Do your homework before you make negative comments about someone. And who else would have that kind of chemistry with Rob?
Heather, I never said that I didn’t like Kristen, she’s great as Bella. I’m just saying that in her interviews, she comes across as cold, IMO.
Judi Dench took home a Best Actress Oscar for 8 minutes of screen time in “Shakespeare in Love”, the shortest Oscar winning performance went to Beatrice Straight for her 5:40 minutes in “Network” (I’m dating myself). So, it’s the quality of the work and the impact the actor makes, not the amount of screen time they get. You are correct, Twilight is not really a big Oscar film, but it’s great that they did cast people who were passionate about their craft and in the acting business you must be passionate about what you do or you won’t make it. Dani, I think you need a little reality check about something you are passionate about but maybe others in your life feel is no big deal….
I AGREE.. Rachelle got the raw end of the stick… just for Ron Howard’s daughter… SUMMIT totally sucks!! She will always be my Victoria… how could they replace her?!?! She’s one of the main characters @ the end of Eclipse… UGH.
We all have to remember this is a business….for a studio to work around an actor’s schedule, not even one of the principle actors, is a huge inconvenience to a lot of people. I’m sorry to see Rachelle go, but since she had made a commitment to Summit for Eclipse, she really should have checked with them before she signed on to do the indie film. I think it was naive of her to assume they would just work around her schedule. She made a mistake and it has cost her.
She was within her contractual rights to only chose small roles with short shooting schedules. Summit seriously can’t accommadate her for TEN days?? Ten days! That’s it. They aren’t filming for Eclipse until mid-August, which is plenty of notice to rearrange a few things. It’s not like they’d have to completely redo everything!
April you are so right. After all , couldn’t summit if they didn’t want to mess up everyone elses schedule, continue shooting then when rachelle came to work shoot her part and edit it in? Isn’t that what hollywood movie makers do????
Your web poll is worthless unless the vote count is included. Sadly, the lack of a count indicates that not many people visit this site.