While we’ve already gotten news this week of a brand new cast member on set for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (read more about that here if you missed it), we now have some good news about a veteran cast member who is confirmed to return for Breaking Dawn! Well, for part one, at least. Michael Welch, who plays the role of human Mike Newton in the Twilight Saga films, has just confirmed (via his official Twitter page) that he will be back for the first part of the closing installment of the saga. No word on part two yet. Check out his confirmation below:

Follow Michael on Twitter HERE and follow TA on Twitter HERE.

Hooray! There was speculation that the humans wouldn’t return for the final films (since they had such a brief appearance in the books), but I’m guessing that means we can expect Mike and the rest of the ‘humans’ to return as guests for Bella and Edward’s wedding. What do you think of this news? Are you happy to have the humans (or, at least one human) back for Breaking Dawn?

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In an exclusive new article from Hollyscoop.com, they share their recent conversation with Twilight Saga screenplay writer Melissa Rosenberg, who is currently hard at work finishing the scripts for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (parts one and two). In the new interview, Melissa gives a little insight as to what we can expect with the birth scene – blood, gore, and all. Read more below:

“That is a really intense scene,” Rosenberg told Hollyscoop. “It’s a horrific scene. We want to convey all the terror and horror- all the horror of that moment. Whether or not that requires gallons of blood to be spilled, I doubt it.”

“I think it will be much more terrifying from Bella’s point of view. We have no intention of shying away from it,” she added.

As for when the script will be done, director Bill Condon told E! recently, “It better damn well be before the beginning of November, because that’s when we start shooting.”

Check out the full article from Hollyscoop here.

What do you think of Melissa’s insight on the birth scene? Are you worried about how it will translate on film?

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Wow, some exciting news out of the gates today! This past Sunday at the Emmy’s, Rami Malek (star of War At Home, The Pacific, Night at the Museum, etc.) confirmed some news that has been speculated for the past few days – he has been cast in the role of Benjamin in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn! Check out his video confirmation with Entertainment Tonight below and scroll down if you need a refresher on who exactly Benjamin is:

Benjamin is a member of the Egyptian Coven who is described as a young boyish-looking vampire with midnight hair, olive pallor, and an oddly cheerful look. Benjamin has a gift of element manipulation and is able to physically influence the elements (earth, air, water, and fire).

And see all of Rami’s past credits on IMDB here.

(via TwiExaminer)

I love this casting! I think Rami will do great. What do you think? Is Rami similar to the look you had in mind for the role of Benjamin?

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It’s a sad realization, but yes, we are nearing the end of summer. To close out the summer, Moviefone has a series of movie-related polls they want your opinion on, and unsurprisingly, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and its cast are in several categories. Check them all out below and make sure you scroll down to find out where you can vote:

• Which movie was most worth your cash? (Eclipse)
• What was the best chick flick? (Eclipse)
• Who was summer’s sexiest woman? (Kristen Stewart)
• Who was summer’s hottest leading man? (Robert Pattinson or Taylor Lautner)
• Who was your favorite on-screen couple? Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart)
• What was the best gasp-worthy moment? (Bella and Jacob’s kiss)
• What was the summer’s best sequel/prequel?

To vote for all of the above categories, click here.

Eclipse is up against some tough competition like Inception and Toy Story 3, so make sure you vote!

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There is still a little more news coming out of Brazil regarding the filming of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. Last night, RioFilme’s director tweeted about producers from the movie being in the city to discuss filming. Read more below:

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn “producers” are in Rio, according to RioFilme’s director/president Sérgio Sá Leitão. Answering a query from a fellow twitterer about whether the Breaking Dawn producers had given up on Rio, Leitão tweeted that “they’re in Rio. I can’t give out any details. The decision will be made soon.” In a follow-up tweet, he added: “Breaking Dawn in Rio = Investments of US$1.5m in the city + creation of many jobs + great publicity for Rio + 1 gift to the fans.”

The three official Breaking Dawn producers are Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, and Twilight Saga author Stephenie Meyer. Whether any of those are in Rio, or if Leitão was referring to Summit Entertainment executives is unclear.

Read more at Alt Film Guide here.

Remember absolutely none of this is confirmed right now, we’re just bringing you reports as we hear them!

Do you like the thought of some of Breaking Dawn being filmed in Rio?

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Cinematical has a new article that talks about how recent trouble in Rio could affect the location for filming The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. Were they really planning to film in Brazil? We have no confirmation on that either way, but we’ll bring you updates as we hear about them. Check out more below:

Blame it on Rio that Edward and Bella are looking for a new place to honeymoon. In the book Breaking Dawn, they spend their marital vacation on an island off the coast of Brazil, and I guess the filming of this opening section of the Bill Condon-directed adaptation (which will play out over two films) would have therefore brought the production to Rio de Janeiro. According to the AFP, however, Summit Entertainment is afraid to bring stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson to shoot in the city after a hostage situation right out of a Jose Padilha movie (yes, I’m trying to get Twilight fans to check out Brazilian cinema) occurred at a tourist-filled hotel.

“The real-life drama on Saturday of drug gang members taking 35 people hostage in Rio’s Intercontinental Hotel as they tried to escape police has proved scarier to the production crew than the fictional vampires and werewolves they deal with,” writes the AFP reporter. Har har, but seriously the majority of the hotel’s 1550 guests were fine, as the Rocinha favela gang only held 35 hostages, mainly staff, and the single person killed was a female gang member. So, as Rio officials insist, the Breaking Dawn crew and the $1 million they planned to spend in the city should still come down.

Read more at Cinematical here.

In addition, News.com.au reports the following:

Riofilme, the city’s agency for promoting movie production, said that the production company for Twilight, Summit Entertainment, was in talks with Rio de Janeiro state officials who were trying to convince them to stay. The original plans were for scenes from the movie Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final installment in the vampire fantasy, to be played out in the Brazilian city which is famed in equal measure for its spectacular beaches and its rampant street crime.

The potential loss of Breaking Dawn and the $US1 million it was expected to inject into Rio’s economy was despairing for many in the city.

What do you think of possible filming in Rio? Do you think it would be for Isle Esme scenes?

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Summit Entertainment has just announced some brand new local casting directors who will be in charge of the local casting offices for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. Check out the details on them below:

Official local casting directors have been hired for THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN. Stuart Aikins reprises casting duties for Vancouver-based casting. Fincannon and Associates Casting is handling talent searches for Louisiana-based casting. Both work under LA-based casting director Debra Zane. There are no other casting organizations involved with the production at this time.

Contact information for official casting directors:

Debra Zane Casting
5225 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
E-mail: BreakingDawnCast@gmail.com

Aikins / Cossey Casting
#403 1755 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6J 4S5
E-mail: BreakingDawnCasting@canadafilm.com

Fincannon and Associates
1235 N. 23rd St
Wilmington, NC 28405
E-mail: breakingdawn@fincannoncasting.com

Make sure you note that there are no other casting organizations involved right now!

What do you think of this information on local casting directors?

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