VARIETY: TWILIGHT SEQUELS HEATING UP

Posted January 17th, 2009 By: Team Switzerland 37 Comments »

Variety.com has a short new article addressing all the rumors surrounding ‘New Moon’ and ‘Eclipse’. Read more below:

Don’t believe everything you hear about Twilight and its sequels. Things are heating up already on the third installment, Eclipse. They haven’t even started the second one yet, New Moon. When you’ve got a robust franchise, filmmakers are eager to get on board. Word is, the Spanish director of The Orphanage, Juan Antonio Bayona, and 3:10 to Yuma helmer James Mangold are both circling the project, but Summit insists that no meetings are scheduled as yet. Both would be strong choices.

As to the last two unfilled roles in New Moon, vampires Jane and Aro, no offers have yet gone out, despite what you may have read. And the role of Leah Clearwater isn’t being filled, because according to writer Melissa Rosenberg, she isn’t in the script!

SOURCE

Whether the rumors are true or not about a possibly new director for ‘Eclipse’, isn’t it soon to start talking about replacing Chris, when he was just hired? In any sense, I’m glad the rumors are Leah are untrue, but I still can’t wait to see who they cast for Jane and Aro!

What do you think about all the rumors? Are you relieved or saddened to hear that the Leah rumors are untrue? And what about Jane and Aro – do you have anyone you’d like to see fill those roles?

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Forever a twilighter

It says the two unfilled roles are Jane and Aro…..does that mean they cast the rest of the Volturi and I missed it? What about Caius and Marcus? Or even Felix and Demetri?
Angela

Actually, it makes sense to have another director to do the 3rd movie. Otherwise, I don’t know how Chris Weitz could be directing Eclipise and editing New Moon at the same time, espeically after Summit wants New Moon to be released in November.

The 3rd book is my favourite. I can’t wait to see how they are going to bring the storyline in which Edward kills Victoira into the big screen!
Angelica

I’ve been going under the assumption that there will be a new director for each film- so I’m excited these killer directors might be interested. Bring ‘em on!

I kind of want to be surprised about the cast… You know, find out in one big press release… That would be cool! And, I’m VERY relieved Vanessa rumors were untrue. Very.
Midori

Rob was talking about New Moon in an interview. I believe it’s his favorite book. It’s seems as the story progresses, each book has more events taking place which makes it exciting. It is interesting to know that there may be a different director for each of the sequels. Nothing is for sure until we hear it from the horse’s mouth (Summit). In other words, don’t believe everything to hear or read. In New Moon, I believe Rob will play Edward totally differently from in Twilight. He does have his work cut out for him….since a portion of the story is kind of depressing. As talented as Rob is, he should portray Edward brilliantly.
kirsten tapp

Considering how much of the book they try to cram into an approximately two hour movie, it’s to be expected that a few characters are going to be left out. Personally, the character of Leah annoyed me everytime she came up in the books. But then I was more focused when reading New Moon on when we were going to get Edward back.

For Aro, it would be cool if they got some one like David Carradine to play him. A well-known name and presence. For Jane, Abigail Breslin perhaps. Although going with less known actors or actors new to the business would work too. With less known actors we’d have nothing to be disappointed with.

As far as Directors go, I don’t mind who directs as long as they stick to the book as much as possible.
shannon17

I always envisioned all the ancient Volturi vampires as young like Carlisle. As they were turned hundreds and hundres of years ago, most people didn’t live to be very “old” so in my mind everyone was 30 to 40 max.
dv

I keep hearing the Ben Barnes as Aro rumour, I know a lot of people dismiss him because he’s only in his late twenties, but I think it’d be pretty cool. I’m a big fan of him as an actor – after seeing Prince Caspian and clips of him as Dorian Gray, I think he has the presence to make viewers forget about the age thing. Plus, having two amazing British actors on screen at the same time would be great
Mercedes

I’m really glad that the Leah rumors are false, someone told me that Vanessa Hudgens was already confirmed the role of Leah and I truely DO NOT want that to happen.
Melanie

I hope they cast an unknown as Jane, but it would be neat to see the little girl from the Golden Compass…..
Angelica

I agree Ben Barnes would be a good Aro (I know we’re all discussing rumors at this point, but hey- what the heck!). The Volturi in my head were about Charlisle age too- just with that sickly- paper thin skin thing they’ve got going on. And, MAYBE for Jane: Dakota Fanning- she might be able to! you never know…
spiritblue

… i like the idea of slightly unknowns staring in the up coming movies… much easier to believe… i thought i read somewhere they were shooting both new moon and eclipise at the same time so that no one aged that much…that might have been a rumor…novemeber seems so long away…lol….
Jenn

wait! Im confused. They haven’t posted the rest of the cast yet right? Don’t they have to wait for the other two spots to be casted???
Also confused!!!

Yeah, I am confused too…when will they be posting the cast? I’m assuming that nobody’s heard anything about it yet, because I haven’t seen anything. Anyone know anything about it?
Jim

Dakota Fanning for Jane.
twilightfan14

I like Ben Barnes for Aro or any Volturi-I was going to say Dakota Fanning too for Jane. I think she’d take the part too as she’s in Summit’s next big movie, Push and Push is sci-fi/fantasy too. Push looks really good-seen the trailer every time I saw Twilight-9 times-watched it a couple times online too. Hope it does well for Summit-I want them to make more money-hense more money for New Moon/Eclipse effects. They are obviously going to have a different director every time and I’m now fine with that, as long as they stick to the books.
http://twilightersanonymous.com/variety-twilight-sequels-new-moon-eclipse-heating-up.html ABCMom

Will someone enlighten me – is Jane actually that young or just really petite? I was picturing Kristin Chenoweth when I read it since it was suggested in another article – I think EW.
Luna

First of all I’m happy Vanessa is not involved in anyway…I’m mean I have nothing against her but I don’t see her with the potential needed for anything twilight related. Leah is not really such a relevant character anyway,only perhaps in breaking dawn but that’s a whole other drama. As far as the directors go I think our first pick would obviously be Catherine, but that’s not an option at the time, so as long as they do well at capturing the essence of each book I don’t really mind who directs…maybe Catherine could be back for eclipse…who knows? Dakota seems good for Jane although I had actually envisioned her a little older. I always pictured the volutri looking something like Mark Feehily from the irish band
Luna

***con’t***Westlife…but that’s just me. Lol. I can’t really think of anyone specific for the other missing characters but new faces would be good. I do wish that they bring a little more of bella and edward’s couple “personality” into the film so it doesn’t look like they just fell head over heels in love with each other in the course of 3 minutes,anyone who has read the books knows that I wasn’t really that shallow and unrealistic. I would say more of bella’s dry humor but its kinda late for that and almost impossible to show in new moon when she’s in an almost dead state.
On another note, I find it coincidencially funny that Rob’s favorite book is new moon. I think that apart from the fact that its the book with the lowest
Luna

***con’t***edward-appearing percentage, its the book where Edward is most emo and depressive, just as rob wanted to play him. However according to his interviews he has not read breaking dawn, so I think he might like that better because Edward is under lots of emotional pressure so he can have a field day portraying edward as “dark” as he wants. In theory of course.
Erika

Dakota Fanning as Jane. She is not filming right now.
midfan

Not that it matters what we say but Jane and Alec are suppose to look somewhat alike boy/girl twins. So they need similar looking people. Jane is described as very pretty like a cherub and quit frankly Dakota Fanning looks a little weird right now – she is between that kid going into an adult stage. Plus she probably commands a pretty big pay check and I don’t think they have the budget for big stars. This made Rob and Kristen big stars so I’m guessing they’ll look for more less known talent like they did when they originally cast Twilight. But just for fun how about Josh Jackson for Demitri, he’s a big guy like Rob and it’s always fun to dream.
kirsten tapp

I did think of Dakota Fanning, but the description that sticks in my head from the books (and there’s a really good chance I’m getting this wrong) is that Jane had the face of a child. Dakota Fanning is looking quite grown up now despite only being fourteen. Still, I think it could work. It’s just a shame that we aren’t in charge of casting.

I read in Famous magazine that the second movie has gone away from the book by a lot. I’m not putting much faith in that magazine as they also said Rob was turning up to casting session drunk and I’m pretty sure Stephenie wouldn’t agree to a script that deviated from the book by a huge amount.
Christina

Please not Dakota Fanning.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaah! I’m so depressed Leah won’t be in the movie. I thought she was great – although moreso in the next two books than New Moon. I wonder what’s going to happen for Breaking Dawn then…? Will they leave her out entirely or just bring her into the later sequels? I wouldn’t mind the latter.
Ashleigh

I think Dakota Fanning would be good as Jane,
Summit has worked with her before so ye.

I think an unknown should play Alec.

But I heard Johnny Deep is Aro, But I wish they would post the whole cast somewhere.
Isleesme

I can’t believe Leah is not going to be in New Moon. I though Chris was supposed to mirror the book the best he can. Could this be due to the tight schedule? Or is this a result of the ambitious goal, to release the movie this November? I really hope detrimental decisions will not be made in making of this upcoming movie.
http://letterstotwilight.wordpress.com UnintendedChoice

I don’t think we can believe any of these rumors– if Chris does a great job, it would be SO STUPID to replace him for Eclipse…I think people are just speculating b/c they have no other new news to talk about… I want new twilight/Rob Pattinson news :)
Manuela

Wow! Johnny Depp as Aro would be trully amazing!! I bet he would play it just as machiavelic as the one on the books… and imagine as the sequels progress, how brilliant he would be on Breaking Dawn. Too bad Rob wont be in the movie as much as he was in Twilight though… his performance was a GREAT surprise!
Fiona

eclipse was my fav book.. i hope they will do a good job on it..
LeighaBrandt

I think that Ben Barnes should get the role. he is attractive and old enough and mature. Aro is described as stunning and beautiful and goregeous and Ben Barnes is seeking the role and he fits the part. He would make a stunning Aro no doubt about it. If they were to cast someone old it would ruin the vibe of the book. Vampires dont age and although is like 3,000 years old. vampires dont age. his appearance is agless and flawless. Ben doesnt have lines on his face like Ian Mckellan. I belive Ben should get the role. I think Aro and the Voultri need to be chosen wisely with hint, that Aro is to look flawless and stunning. The other characters as well need to be chosen with caution and belive that if chosen wrongly, a huge upset will start up.
LeighaBrandt

Also Jane isn’t that young. Dakota Fanning isn’t that great of an actor. Maybe a bit older. I heard and this is a fact that Chris himself said That Rob was going to have a major role in New Moon, even bigger than in Twilight, and that according to the book that he wasnt in it that much but he was going to change it so that Rob was in it alot more. Well i dont know about you but I like the second book the way it is. Although Rob is great, it is Taylor’s turn to shine and Edward is supposed to rarely be in the second book til the end and that is the way i think it should be. If they screw up New Moon or change any of the plot drastically they are in for it. Johny Depp was just a suggestion for Aro. Ben Barnes I believe is who they are looking at right now. And I do belive many of the actors for New Moon have already been casted accept for the Voultri,but they have not posted any of it yet.
~Me~ ;]

Hey everyone go google Shane Brolly images… I think he would be the PERFECT Aro. It’s insane.
mandi

yuss! i’d hate vanessa hudgens to play leah and all though she’s left out in new moon i read a article somewhere and they wreckoned keisha castle hughes would b a good leah.
i think dakota fanning would be a good jane
i love ben barnes he’s great but he’s not really what i pictured as aro
he’s just not scary even with makeup i’d just go throught the whole movie thinking about how hot he is and when is he gonna come out
http://www.amybesse98.blogspot.com amy

First of all… I think it is great that they are filming New Moon and Eclipse back to back… Second of all it will be interesting to see who they choose for Aro and Jane.. Those characters need to be protrayed perfectly.. Dakota Fanning would be interesting but he really should not be such a high paying actress. Same with the other Voltouri characters.. Leah is not even in New moon she is mentioned but not in the actual book she is not in it until Eclipse… Obviously these people have not read the books.
suzee

I’m glad to hear the Leah rumours are untrue. She annoyed me in the books, and I always though of her as rather plain and unnattractive. I think Cillian Murphy would be great as Aro. Can’t wait for New Moon, but I hope they modify the script a bit because if Edward isn’t in it for a large portion, I will only watch it once, not like the 9 times I’ve seen Twilight.
bree

I really want to see Ben Barnes play one of the Voturi members :] I know that rumors are going around about him being Aro, and I like it! It would be very interesting to see how Ben brings out Aro’s character. And I know he doesn’t really look the part… but did Rob? And now, after Twilight is out, we all love him! I used to really not like him because he didn’t look like Edward at all, but then you see him on the big screen and BAM! He’s amazing.

New Moon is my favorite book and I am SO excited about it! I am also excited about them making New Moon and Eclipse back to back. And I really want to know how they are going to make the Quileutes phase into werewolves *cough* I mean, ‘shapeshifters’. I heard that they may be using real wolves, which is rather weird because real wolves aren’t the size of horses… But anyway, I am excited :]
mandee

They better not use real wolves for the wolves the Quileutes shift into! That would look so stupid! They’re described as being bigger than a bear at one point, and then bigger than a horse at another point. I realize they can’t make the human Quileutes massively huge without casting a bunch of pro wrestlers, but c’mon! At least give us some huge CG wolves. A human would barely be afraid of a normal sized wolf let alone a vampire! Not to mention Bella doesn’t understand how all that wolf could fit into Jacob, not the other way around. And as far as the Volturi, I realize they probably don’t look old, but I didn’t exactly picture them as attractive. Bella can’t decide whether she thinks they are beautiful or not when she sees them for the first time. I kind of thought they might look a little creepy. Just my opinion.
AllyCullen

I am so glad those rumors about Leah are not true. Phew.
But…. I read a news thing on the i google homepage thing that they had some people in mind for Jane and Aro, for Jane they had this blond person with short and Aro some guy that looks like he just cam out of Underworld or Vanhealsing and I was thinking…. “W-O-W…”
But that Articla was about three to two months ago… Twilight wasn’t even out.