Yesterday we reported that Rachelle Lefevre was dropped from the Twilight franchise (in her role as Victoria) and was to be replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard. In that new bit it was reported that Lefevre was released due to an obligation to another film (Barney’s Version). According to Lefevre, that is not the case, and Summit has since responded to Lefevre’s reaction.
Lefevre told Access Hollywood:
“I was stunned by Summit’s decision to recast the role of Victoria for ‘Eclipse,’
and added:
“I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules. My commitment to ‘Barney’s Version’ is only ten days. Summit picked up my option for ‘Eclipse.’ ”
Although the production schedule for ‘Eclipse’ is over three months long, Summit said they had a conflict during those ten days and would not accommodate me,” she furthermore detailed. “Given the length of filming for ‘Eclipse,’ never did I fathom I would lose the role over a 10 day overlap. I was happy with my contract with Summit and was fully prepared to continue to honor it. Summit chose simply to recast the part.”
“I am greatly saddened that I will not get to complete my portrayal of Victoria for the ‘Twilight’ audience. This is a story, a theatrical journey and a character that I truly love and about which I am very passionate. I will be forever grateful to the fan support and loyalty I’ve received since being cast for this role, and I am hurt deeply by Summit’s surprising decision to move on without me. I wish the cast and crew of ‘Eclipse’ only the very best.”
Doesn’t sound like something close to as amicable or as innocent as the previous report indicated (or rather didn’t indicate at all). Since then, Summit has responded:
Ms. Lefevre’s representatives were advised as early as April that THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE was expected to start shooting in early August.
If Ms. Lefevre was, as she describes “passionate,” about being part of THE TWILIGHT SAGA, we feel that she and her representatives would have included us in her decision to work on another film that would conflict with the shooting schedule of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE.
It was not until July 20th that Summit was first informed of Ms. Lefevre’s commitment to BARNEY’S VERSION, a commitment we have since been advised she accepted 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. 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.
Furthermore Ms. Lefevre took a role in the other film that places her in Europe during the required rehearsal time, and at least ten days of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE’s principal photography. This period is essential for both rehearsal time with the cast, and for filming at key locations that are only available during the initial part of 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.
The fact remains that Ms. Lefevre’s commitment to the other project – which she chose to withhold from Summit until the last possible moment – makes her unfortunately unavailable to perform the role of Victoria in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE.
I almost can’t believe that’s real, because that press release comes off as “mad blogger” but after watching the first Twilight film.
Honestly, at the end of the day I couldn’t care less about Twilight’s casting beefs and drama thought they might be better acted than the films. Furthermore, I think Lefevre probably has a chance to be a real actress and would benefit from moving on (she’s in the the upcoming Casino Jack with Kevin Spacey and the aforementioned Barney’s Version). That sound a bit harsh, but even the director (who I think is a rather talented) of Twilight: Eclipse, before getting the gig and paycheck , had negative things to say about the franchise.
This is the update I put up this morning:
http://www.bscreview.com/2009/07/twilight-eclipse-bryce-dallas-howard-in-rachelle-lefevre-out/
While I simply wonder how much they are changing the story of Eclipse if Victoria’s participation in the “ensemble” is going to take so much time. Um, in the book she shows up in the last 100 pages and (SPOILER) doesn’t really do much besides have a big fight scene with Edward and one of the young werewolves.
While I don’t like seeing someone get tossed over for doing a decent job in the first one, I wish they would show the same fluidity of casting with some of the larger parts. Because most of the Cullen family’s casting was, in my opinion, poor. But these are not movies being made to be good movies; they’re being made a breakneck pace to maximize the money from an audience too young and/or too obsessed to care about the production value of the films. Not sure why they had it out for this girl, but from my point of view, a shift in the casting of this particular role isn’t going to affect much either way….