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THE DAILY MAIL: MICHAEL SHEEN SET TO PLAY ARO

Posted April 11th, 2009 By: Team Switzerland 75 Comments »

In the midst of announcements on who will play some of the more minor characters in New Moon, many fans are wondering who will play the big fish himself, Aro. Well, the Daily mail is reporting that the role has been cast and the part has gone to actor Michael Sheen. Read below for more:

 

He has immortalised Tony Blair, David Frost and, most recently, legendary football manager Brian Clough on the big screen.

Now actor Michael Sheen is set to return to the realm of the firmly fictional after agreeing to play a vampire in the sequel to the blockbuster film Twilight.

Sheen, 40, who made his name with uncannily realistic portrayals of well-known figures in Oscar-winning films The Queen, Frost/Nixon and The Damned United, will get his biggest pay cheque yet, a reported £5million, to star in New Moon.

In New Moon, Sheen will play Aro, the leader of an Italian vampire clan called the Volturi.

Director Chris Weitz confirmed Sheen’s casting to The Mail on Sunday and said he had ‘aggressively’ pursued the actor.

‘Michael’s role is so important because he’s the head of all vampires,’ he said. ‘Aro is, on the surface, a very gracious and friendly vampire, but beneath that he is a tremendous threat.’

SOURCE

(Thanks Elke)

I’ve actually never heard of Michael Sheen, but he has a pretty impressive resume – I think he would make a great Aro. The Daily Mail says the news was confirmed through Chris Weitz himself, but please keep in mind nothing is 100% confirmed until we hear it from Summit directly.

What do you think of this news? Are you familiar with Michael Sheen or any of his work?







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  • Courtney

    This is the man that played Lucian in the Underworld Series. Lucian is the head of the Lycan (werewolf) clan.

  • Heather

    Ok, he was Lucian in the Underworld movies. This is so exciting. He is good with these types of movies and I think that it is kind of ironic that he played a werewolf in Underworld who has a forbidden love with a vampire, and now he will be playing a head vampire who judges a vampire/human forbidden love. This is brilliant casting. Great work, Chris!!!!

  • Danielle

    OMR, I love Michael sheen. I am really pleased ;D

  • Chelsea

    Not bad, not bad. He seems like he will fit in quite nicely with our clan of misfit vampires. Michael def. has “the look”.

  • Tasha

    That is NOT how I pictured Aro. Aro is supposed to be frail looking. Bella described him as looking extremely fragile, like his skin was made of paper. Not young and hot!

  • K_Cullen

    Love it!!!! Is it November 20 yet?!?!?

  • Angela

    Ok, I’ve seen Frost/Nixon, and I thought he was good in it. No, Michael Sheen was not the one I imagined to be Aro. My Aro was more like Jeremy Irons with the looks of Jason Isaacs in Harry Potter movies. So, Michael Sheen might work for me — Michael looks old enough for me.

    Anyone realizes that all the major vampire roles in the movie have gone to the Brits? I’m interested to know what kind of accent Michael and Jamie would be asked to speak in the movie.

  • sis

    I think this could be an awesome casting if its done right. I really hope he can pull it off!
    Bring on November!

  • AllisCullen

    I loved him as Lucian, and I LOVED him as Tony Blair, he’d be good as Aro!!!

    Great, even.

  • spiritblue

    very cool..he will be great… loved him as lucian… the 5 mill british pounds is scary….i hope the budget is a lot bigger than the 50 million we first heard…. ;o)

  • Jill Cullen

    I’m sure he’ll do an excellent job as Aro! Can’t wait until Nov. 20!! :)

  • mary

    AWSOMEEEEEEEEEE I LOVE THIS GUY HE WAS GREAT AS LUCIAN IN UNDERWORLD I THINK ITS TOO FUNNY HES GOING FROM BEING A WEREWOLF TO A VAMPIRE… LOVE IT

  • creamy

    I have never heard of him either, but if Chris Weitz ‘aggressively’ pursued him, then he must think he is right for the role.

    After some of the things I have seen, I am open to supporting Chris Weitz’s decisions.

  • Ashlee Reign

    Haha someone mentioned it before I got to it. I first saw him playing a lycan (werewolf) in Underworld, and now he will be playing a vampire. I hope that this is true. He is a very good, versitile actor, and could really pull this off. Nice job.
    The more I hear about New Moon, the more excited I am getting, and the more confidence is building for Chris Weitz. Of course the movie itself will give the final verdict, but from this angle, it’s shaping up to be pretty darn good!! :)

  • Liesl

    Tasha, yes Bella describes Aro as being fragile looking, but that is what a great make-up artist is for. I mean he was in his late 30′s when he started filming Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, and yet in the movie he looked maybe late 20′s. Make-up artists know what they’re doing.

    I alreayd can’t wait for New Moon to be out, but, wow, now I really can’t wait!!! Michael Sheen as Aro…perfect! Way to go Chris!

  • edelacruz

    Michael is a great choice for Aro…he has that kind of subdued anger that I think would be perfect…I admit though that I pictured Aro a little younger…he did a great job in the Underworld series…I think he’s a great addition.

  • Liesl

    Forgot…on a side note, Michael Sheen is quite a versatile actor. He almost never looks to same in any more unless it’s sequels.

    Again, I think he’ll make an excellent Aro.

  • twilightcountryresident

    He looks like he can be a good Aro. But wow, that sounds like a rather unreasonably large paycheck for what seems like a relatively small part. Though Aro is an important character who shows up again in some significant scenes after New Moon. So I guess Chris must be pretty set on having him – if the article is accurate of course.

  • just megan

    ew

  • http://TeamSolomon.weebly.com Lorabell

    Whoop Whoop for the Brit boys rocking the Volturi! I think he’ll be kick a** – but I’m still hoping for Ben Barnes somewhere… maybe as Marcus ;)

  • Hannah

    Most epically awesome casting choice EVER! If it’s true….

  • Susan

    PERFECT!!!!!!! New Moon is going to be GREAT!

  • kerri

    Thats really cool. I saw him in the Queen and was very impressed. Im really pleased with Chris Weitz’s choices. He seems to get the book…so far.
    Aro really freaks me out. More so then Caius and Marcus. Aro is so cordial on the outside but clearly has a nasty streak underneath. The way he so non chalantly asked Jane to use her talent on Bella was so sinister, and his jealousy of Carlises family is skin crawling.
    CAN NOT wait for it. I wish I had a remote that could fast forward all the Jacob crap just to get to Italy!

  • Taun85

    This is a pretty big name, are we sure this is true? LOL!!! I find it funny that he played a werewolf in the Underworld movies. He is a really great actor.

  • lee

    He would be perfect, but we all know that it might just be a rumor. Since they cast that other guy to play Cauis and he’s only twenty. But I am not sure if Summit has confirmed the actor as well.Either way, I thought they would keep the actors who would play ARO, CAUIS, and Marcus, around the same age group. I do hope this rumor is real, but I guess time will tell. I hope it’s soon. We know who the wolf pack is, now it’s time to see what actors will play the Volturi.

  • Flightless_Bird

    Doing the happy dance…I just watched Underworld, Rise of the Lycans yesterday…I knew he looked familiar.

    New Moon is gonna kick some major butt…can’t wait to see the rest of the Volturi. Gonna have to bust New Moon back out after re-reading Twilight. :)

    I would love to be the meat in an Aro and Cauis sandwich.
    Bring on New Moon

  • Susan B

    I am so happy we will have an older Volturi for us Twilight Moms! We need a few more mature actors to make us feel less guilty to be at all these events without dragging a few teenagers with us to make us look less pathetic. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  • Chelsea

    oh i love it! and i love his hair like that so i hope they keep it like that for the movie! i’m so happy and cant wait for november 20th!!!!!

  • TexasVampire

    I’m beyond ecstatic that he is Aro! Chris Weitz is an genius!!! He have exceed my expecations thus far with his ability of filmmaking! Finally a HOT older man! Even better he is British! Super excited to see two hot British (Rob Pattinson and Michael Sheen) together!!!

  • Bianca

    Greatest casting EVER for New Moon.
    I, honestly always pictured him as Aro.
    I read New Moon after watching Underworld and thought he would be the
    perfect Aro. And now he is!

  • Mandi

    he’s no Ben Barnes
    but he’s a great Aro
    he just looks like a Creepy vampire lol

  • AK

    As some of you have said, great casting choice for New Moon.
    He is similar to what I have pictured him to look like, not too young but not too old, and he has kind of a creepy feeling to him. Hope this is true.

  • http://robpattinsonfanclub.ning.com Erika(RobPattinsonsWife)

    That awasome he goes from playing a werewolf in the underworld movies to playing a vampire in the twilight series, I think he will make a better vampire than he was werewolf.

  • Erilu77

    @ 1st I thought it was the guy that played Gollum on TLOTR… LoL!!

    Then read he’s the one playing Lucian on Underworld… Nice… he actually looks pretty sexy there… he’s got that 1/2 Yumm 1/2 Scary type… and he’s actually around the age I originally imagined Aro to be (well, thechnically, anyway…) kind of older but not that much… w/ all the talk about Ben Barnes I was begining to get used to the idea of a younger-looking Aro… So I’m kind of sad about that…

    And he’ll get to go to Italy!! only Rob, Kristin & Ashley… + Dakota, now this guy and whoever get’s a Volturi part… & the whole BTS (behind the scenes) team

    mmm… Italy… *dreams of going there soooooooome time*

  • kijo921

    At first, when I saw his pic, I didn’t recognize him as Lucian. I thought …”Hmm, now that’s more like it! I like this casting but am still heavily against Caius’ part.” Anyway, I think this is a great casting choice! I did like him as Lucian as well. They must’ve gotten a “raise” to that budget! Maybe it came after DVD sales and we just don’t know anything about it! Let’s HOPE!

  • cullen-lover

    wow..better casting ever!!!go chris!!!!!

  • Karenmarie

    I am SO excited if this is in fact true!!! He will be AMAZING as Aro, such a talented actor and like many have said, he has that nice guy on the outside but creepy on the inside down. I am so stoked for this.

  • Marie

    People, people are not NATURALLY so fraile looking! its all in the makeup! give this dude a chance, i think he’s really capable of being a good Aro, considering the experience of being Lucian.[btw, LOVED those movies!]

  • Alex Pierce

    Holy crap. Pardon me, but I’ve never seen the Underworld stuff. I know him from Frost/Nixon, and, well… holy crap.

    Weitz aggressively pursued him? And GOT him? Don’t get me wrong- I love New Moon as much as the next fan- but Sheen’s going to play Aro? Twilight fans don’t know how lucky they just got.

    Well, color me tickled pink. That’s incredible. Not to mention a fantastic indicator of how this movie is being handled.

    I’m stoked!

  • Drew

    Don’t get me wrong now, I think he’ll be amazing, BUT I really would have been even happier if Ben Barnes was chosen for Aro. If not Ben Barnes, than we could give Gerard Way acting lessons! That would be spectacular to me. Anyway, nice choice.

  • quique

    i never abt him being aro but now that i heard this he can do it ^_^ i love him as lucian and i can’t wait to see him in alice in wonderland

  • Emily

    I think it’s funny how people talk about him looking perfect for the part of a creepy vampire. :) Does he know he looks creepy???

    I think he is very close to what I would expect Aro to look like. His casting makes me pretty sad (I already was, this just makes it worse)about the Caius casting – they don’t go together at all, and they really need to look like they do. I thought the other guy was way too young for that part, this is more like it.

    We’ll just have to wait and see what make-up will do for those two. AND who will play Marcus?

  • claude

    Brilliant choice! He is a real chameleon so I wouldn’t worry about the physical resemblance. You’ve probably seen him in a lot of things and not even realised it was the same actor. I know I had and it wasn’t until I saw The Queen and checked imdb that I put it all together. He will play Aro’s malevolence so well. I was worried hearing the younger names of potential Aro’s, Ben Barnes in particular, that they were just going for looks and not someone who could convey the depth the role requires.

    Bravo!

  • Lanna

    All the thought I put into who should play Aro, and OME Chris Weitz has found him! he is perfect, Michael Sheen (in that pic) has the gentle and accommodating yet unpredictable look that is Aro. I haven’t seen Underworld (will now tho) but from reading other Twilighters’ comments on him I am eager to see his portrayal of Lucien and Aro himself! He is a good age for Aro too. Can he speak in an Italian accent tho hehe?
    GREAT CHOICE!!!!!

  • Dazzled-By-Rob

    Oh my gosh! I love Michael Sheen, he is an AMAZING actor, so very talented. Watch ‘The Queen’ or ‘The Damned United’ if you need to be convinced. Both excellent films were he gives outstanding performances.
    I am so excited to see him as Aro!

  • Krish

    Jason Isaacs would have been GREAT as Aro!

  • I Found MY Edward

    I think that this is one of the most exciting bits of news I’ve heard about New Moon yet! I LOVE Michael Sheen, he is an incredible actor, and absolutely PERFECT for the part of Aro!! The only thing that bothers me is that the other members are SO young, TOO young….it just doesn’t seem cohesive to have them be different ages.I would’ve really like them to have picked Caius & Marcus in the same age bracket.Oh Well.I really didn’t think I could get any more excited about seeing New Moon but this news has just upped it to a whole new level! YAYYYYYYYYYYYY! I CANNOT WAIT!!

  • Donna

    HE IS PERFECT! I am very excited!

  • Kris

    Wow. I recognized the name, then went and googled more images. I really believe this is a good choice. I agree with a previous poster about the older actors. I’m a Twilight mom in my early 40′s and think New Moon is going to be wonderful!

  • Bobbie

    That’s how I pictured Aro.

  • traci

    oh he’s amazing! he was great in The Queen as Prime Minister Tony Blair. i can totally see him as Aro!!!! great casting!!!!!

  • Inga

    Excellent casting! I was actually holding out hope that Bill Nighy (who played the head vampire in Underworld) would take on Aro but he shouldn’t be typecast…Michael Sheen is an excellent actor and he’ll do a great job, I have confidence in him.

  • Rebecca Veight from Greece

    OMG Perfect, perfect, perfect casting! Michael Sheen is amazing he is so good at showing things brewing beneath the surface something Aro soooo needs! It is soo funny that he was Lucian and now hes Aro! I cannot wait to see what he will look like as a vampire!!YEAHHHH

  • Denise

    NOT how I pictured Aro. Thought ALL vampires were supposed to be beautiful. Good luck making this guy look anything close. He is FUGLY. *sigh*….not so sure about Weitz’s choices. Guess we won’t know until New Moon comes out. Till then…let the anxiety continue!

  • RosalanieMcCullen16

    i dont like him for the role. sorry
    i wanted Ben Barnes.
    no offence but hes a bit old and he really doesnt look like the Aro i pictured.

  • Losgann

    Michael Sheen was great as Tony Blair. I’m sure he can play a great Aro. As far as fragile looking goes, look what the makeup team did to Gary Oldman in Bram Stoker’s Dracula! I can’t remember how old Aro was when he became a vampire (like Edward was 17), someone please remind me.

    I will eagerly await Summit’s confimation on this one. Unfortunately the Daily Mail can be highly unapologetic for their lack of accuracy.

  • Angelica

    I’m SO glad they got a ‘heavy’ actor! We need some skills for Aro… It makes me hopeful (and the hope is really pilling up here lately) that the Volturi will actually come off the terrifying clan that they are! Thank. Goodness.

    Maybe the Cullens will beef it up and actually look scary from now on too… OH THE POSSIBILITIES!!!!!!! SO. EXCITED.

    Drew- come on. “nice”? seriously? please. that’s an understatement.

  • shaya cullen

    Finally!!!! we finally know whos gonna play aro! i had no idea who this micheal dude was…until my friend told me he was in the underworld. anywho i seriously hope he does aro justice. im a little dissapointed on who they chose. i wanted alec baldwin!!!!!!!!!!! he seemed more ‘appropriate’., but we cant get everything we want…so ill just have to wait and see. btw Lorabell, i HOPE ben barnes gets to be in this movie too! hes soooooooooooo hot!!!!!!! *sighs* but his movie ‘voyage of the dawn treder’ (sorry if i speLled that wrong)comes out next year, well thats what they said so for now lets just keep the dream alive! lol. NOVEMBER HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!

  • Sarah

    wowww he doesnt look like what i thought lol
    oh well he is a good actor so should be fine!

  • Kelly

    I am so glad to finally know that Chris Weitz is casting the right people for the right characters. Michael Sheen is an excellent choice.
    I absolutely loved him in Underworld. And I think it’s a nice twist that in this movie he plays a vampire when his role in Underworld was a werewolf who was in love with a vampire. I was getting a little disappointed thinking that there would be too many big names in New Moon which I feel would totally ruin it. But I am surprised to see that the choices being made look to be good ones. I cant wait to see the first movie trailer. Go New Moon!!!!!!!!!!

  • Courtney

    I hope this is accurate! He is incredibly talented! I could not possibly think of someone better to take the role!!!!!!!!!!

  • Stephanie

    I agree he is perfect. The only concern I have now it that the boy who is playing Cerius is to young to play along side him. That is what is going to bug me now.

  • persephone

    This is a much better casting choice then the kid they got for Caius… too young! I’m encouraged to read that others pictured these three as much older. I did too. Bella described Aro’s skin with words like onionskin, brittle, powdery like chalk, crumble at the touch, ancient. She described his eyes as being clouded over with a milky film. Her description created an image in my mind of a very old man. Personally, whenever I read the parts with Aro, I had Gary Oldham from Bram Stoker’s Dracula in my mind. That would have been the best casting choice… so evil!

    I think Chris Weitz is going to do a great job! I like that most of the cast are people that haven’t established themselves as a personality in Hollywood. These books are so personal to us, using already well established actors would ruin it for us. Thanks for giving new people a chance!

  • ErikaP

    (I have been trying to send my comment and the server seems to crash. Hopefully this time it will go through, crossing fingers!)

    Now that I put name to face and face to name, I know who he is! Very impressive resume! And being Lucian…he WILL fit the bill! “…cloudy eyes with a milky film, yet blood red like the others.”

    There is 1..ONE actor who should play “Marcus” and it is: Derek Jacobi !
    He played on Mystery! Cadfael from 1994 to 1998. Just checked movie database, he is “in-production” for a movie called “The Winter’s Tale”, maybe, just maybe Chris could ask (beg, plea Mr. Weitz) to have him portray as “Marcus”. He is perfect!

    The young 20-something year old British actor who played alongside Johnny Depp in “Sweeney Todd”…Jamie Campbell Bower. I pictured the three Volturi vampires as 40+ yrs of age.

    Who is going to play Alec, Demetri, and Felix?

  • mommymanor

    I love Michael Sheen! What a great choice! He is so great in Underworld. YAy! I am so excited for this movie to come out!

  • Lily

    Love this choice. He is an amazing actor unlike some of the others in the movie so i think he’ll bring some safistication to the movies.

  • bazzattack

    so is it only Alec, demetri and felix now??

  • M.

    Well, I didn’t pictured Aro like that, but I think he’s really good choice.

  • Lizz

    does anyone else find it funny that he played in 3 other vampire movies as the enemy of them??? as a werewolf? lol i had to look up who he was at first, but i think it’s funny.

    i think he’ll do a good job though… i liked him as Lucian.

  • Kasey

    Uhm… EW! No! Not how i imagined Aro at all! I still think they should have cast Ben Barnes! This guy looks too old to me. Of course, Aro was supposed to be and ancient, but he wasn’t supposed to LOOK old! I thought he would be handsom, even breath taking! SOOO dissapointed. He was one of ym favorite characters! :(

  • lulu

    oh my gosh!?! that was really unexpected! i didn’t think that experienced of an actor would do this series. i’m really shocked but so thrilled! i can’t believe he’s 40, he could totally pass as really young. interesting–kind of exactly how i imagine aro. so cool! nice job chris!

  • Team RCatz

    Talk about versatility. Sheen is amazing. I can’t believe Weitz got him. Can this be confirmed as factual?

  • Tia

    Love Michael Sheen, I really do, but I thought they had someone young playing Caius, I mean dirt you like in their 20′s (Capon maybe) I dunno, I just think you have to be consistent. Sheen is an excellent person for Aro ( I LOVED him as Lucian) but, if you’re going with that age and look (and yes I know special effects will take care of the rest) then all the actors need to be in the age frame or close to it. So if you’re going to keep Sheen then someone on the same caliber needs to be used for Marcus and replace Capon for Caius.

  • gaelle

    new moon is cooking up real well!

    can´t wait!

  • Caitlin

    Ok my sister loves Twilight, she watches it almost everyday. But I can go ahead and say, New Moon, Ima watch alot since Michael Sheen is in there. I wouldn’t want to miss anything!!!

 

 

 
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