Shooting hasn’t even begun on the third Twilight Saga flick (Eclipse), but drama is already plaguing the film. Just days after the cast got cozy in front of fans at Comic-Con, Summit Entertainment has dropping actress Rachelle LeFevre (pictured, left) and replaced her with Bryce Dallas Howard (right). LeFevre, who portrayed the vampire Victoria in the first two flicks, is a fan favorite, and is known for her friendly demeanor and her breast cancer fund-raising on Twitter. In a statement released last night, she said she was “stunned” and “saddened” by Summit’s decision, adding, ” I am hurt deeply by Summit’s surprising decision to move on without me.”
Summit responded by accusing LeFevre, who had also accepted a part in the movie Barney’s Version, of creating unresolvable scheduling conflicts. “Ms. Lefevre took a role in the other film that places her in Europe during the required rehearsal time, and at least 10 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,” Summit said in a statement. “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 [Eclipse].”
Fans of the uber-popular series are freaking out across the web, and an online petition has been started in support of LeFevre reclaiming the role. But E! Online reports that Summit insiders - who allegedly wanted to drop LeFevre due to her gigantic salary for Eclipse - don’t care what the Twi-hards have to say. When asked if their protest would have any effect on their decision, one Summit source replied, “I don’t think so.” Ouch. Hurts almost as much as a vampire bite. [Photos: GettyImages]
