'Eclipse' Actress Bryce Dallas Howard Felt 'Very Lucky' To Work On Film

'It's an incredible group of people,' she says of the cast that welcomed her after Rachelle Lefevre's departure.

"Twilight" fans are notoriously fickle when it comes to the actors chosen to bring their favorite Stephenie Meyer characters to life. In fact, it's now the stuff of "Twilight" legend that following the announcement that Robert Pattinson would be portraying brooding vampire Edward Cullen, online petitions circled feverishly, decrying the British actor's participation in the saga. A similar uproar occurred last July, when just weeks before production was to begin on the third "Twilight" installment "Eclipse," Bryce Dallas Howard replaced Rachelle Lefevre as villainous vampire Victoria due to scheduling conflicts. Howard revealed to MTV News that the prospect of taking over the role Lefevre originated in both "Twilight" and "New Moon" was a bit daunting.

"It was actually a really unfortunate circumstance where the actress who everyone really cared deeply about, who has done an amazing job in this role, was unavailable," Howard said, explaining her last-minute casting. "They were looking for someone to fill that slot. It was right before production actually happened, so of course there was intimidation there and feeling a huge responsibility to do my best."

In the ensuing days, both Lefevre and Summit Entertainment released separate statements detailing their sides of the story. But despite the drama behind the scenes, Howard insists the cast was nothing but welcoming.

"[They] were really lovely," Howard said. "And yes, it's an incredible group of people. I have so much respect for them. There's so much frenzy surrounding them, and they've remained grounded, and their friendships are so genuine. I felt very lucky to work with such a good group of people.

"They love these books — all these actors," Howard continued. "They're fans themselves. It was a great energy on set — that people are so passionate about bringing these characters to life."

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Ashley Greene Gets 'Battered And Bruised' On 'Eclipse' Set

'We're all working really hard and learning how to kick butt,' 'Twilight' star says.

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Ashley Greene is getting her action star on for the third installment of the "Twilight" saga. For "Eclipse," the actress who plays Alice Cullen promises that the group is hard at work to ensure that the book's famous vampire battle is going to translate big when it hits the screen next year.

"We're getting battered and bruised, but it's good, though," she told MTV News. "We're kind of just getting into it. All the battle and fight stuff is going to happen next month."

The actress, who recently signed on to be MTV News' VMA preshow fashion correspondent, assured fans that if you see pictures of her all black-and-blue, there's no need to worry for her well-being.

"It's going really smoothly. It's going really well," she said. "We're all working really hard and learning how to kick butt. I don't know if you've seen recent pictures, but I have bruises all over my body. It's those wires. It looks like a hand mark on my arm, and it's definitely from wires."

She assures fans that all the pain will be worth it in the end. She is pretty sure that "Eclipse" is really going to please the Twilighters who are anxiously anticipating the franchise's third flick.

"I think we're trying to make it more of a drama and then add the fantasy in," she said. "So, I think the film as a whole will be very solid."

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Eclipse Stars Xavier Samuel, Bryce Dallas Howard Stroll Through Vancouver

Rabid Twilight fans camped out in Vancouver, Canada -- where the third installment in the Twilight series, Eclipse is currently filming -- got a two-for-one treat Sunday, as a pair of its stars, Xavier Samuel and Bryce Dallas Howard, walked the streets along with Dallas Howard’s husband, Seth Gabel, and son, Theodore Norman Gabel.

The three grown-ups all sported cool shades, while adorable Theodore Norman, 2, relaxed in his stroller until taking a ride on daddy's shoulders.

Eclipse hits theatres June 30, 2010, but as Twilight fans know, the highly-anticipated second installment in the Twilight series, New Moon, hits theatres November 20, 2009.

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'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' barn scene revealed

Last night, on the set of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, many on-lookers snapped photographs and videos of the production crew setting up a big, red barn.

The consensus seems to be that the scene being shot involves two vampires in some sort of dream sequence. Most agree that this is probably related to Jasper (Jackson Rathbone) and his experience with the character Maria (which has been cast with Catalina Sandino Moreno).

About a month ago, Eclipse director David Slade used his Twitter to tease fans about potential filming locations for the newborn hideout and battlefield. While the recipe for those sequences might not call for a barn, it is indeed a possibility.

If it is Jasper's backstory that the barn is being used for, though, there are a few select sequences to choose from. Obviously, Jasper's transformation is a definite possibility, as Maria is responsible for that handiwork. Also, the Southern Wars - battle sequences in which Jasper learns to fight and winds up protecting Maria against her many newborns - are a potentiality. The fact that Rathbone has been taking horseback riding lessons, perhaps, might be the deal-sealer on that conclusion.

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Jodelle Ferland: Eclipse's Nameless Teen Vamp

Jodelle Ferland has been sworn to secrecy. She's not allowed to say much about the part she just landed in the third Twilight movie, Eclipse.

"I'm allowed to tell people that I play a vampire who has just been turned," the 14-year-old Canadian actress tells me. "In other words, I'm a newborn vampire. I'm not allowed to say the name of the character."

So if she won't say whether her character is Team Edward or Team Jacob, what's her pick in real life?

It's Team Edward all the way for Jodelle.

Keep reading to find out why...

"I just think if maybe Jacob had been introduced first then everybody would like him better," she said. "It just seems that since Edward was the first one to be with Bella, people want him to stay with her. So, you know, that's the character that you start to like first! And then Jacob comes into the picture and everybody's like, 'Oh, no! Stay with Edward.'"

Jodelle says she's "really, really excited to meet Robert Pattinson." As are her friends. "Every single person I've told has asked me if they could come to the set," she said, adding with a laugh, "I've said, 'I'll have to think about that.'"

How did Jodelle celebrate snagging a part in what's destined to be one of the most successful movie franchises ever?

"You know, I was just thinking about that yesterday," she said. "I was just thinking that I haven't done anything yet. I need to think of something. Basically, I just jumped up and down and then I went into my room and watched a movie on my mini-DVD player.

"Actually, it wasn't a movie," she continued. "I was watching The Addams Family—the old ones, not the movie."

That sounds like a suitably ghoulish celebration for what could be the start of a monster career.

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Catalina Sandino Moreno will see an 'Eclipse'

"Eclipse" has found its Maria, and she's full of grace.

Producers on Summit's third "Twilight" pic have cast Catalina Sandino Moreno, best-known for playing the title character in the indie drama "Maria Full of Grace," to play the vampire character of Maria.

The CAA-repped actress will take on the role of a woman who tries to create a newborn army of vampires, recruiting the Confederate soldier Jasper to her cause. In Stephenie Meyer's book, the character is described as a petite brunette with a soft voice.

The Colombian-born Sandino Moreno most notably starred in "Grace," in which she played a pregnant teacher who becomes a drug mule, as well as Steven Soderbergh's epic "Che" and the upcoming indie drama "Frail," in which she plays the title character, who's described as a naive Midwestern girl.

The actress joins an "Eclipse" ensemble that -- in addition to stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner -- includes Jack Huston as a human who lived during the Great Depression, Xavier Samuel as a newborn vampire named Riley and Bryce Dallas Howard as the villainous Victoria, The actress replaces Rachel Lefevre last month in what amounted to a controversial casting switch.

"Eclipse," directed by David Slade, begins shooting next week in Vancouver.

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'Eclipse' Is 'Big On Fighting,' Kellan Lutz And Jackson Rathbone Say

'We're all hitting the gym pretty hard so we can have the endurance,' Lutz tells MTV News at Teen Choice Awards.

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So when they rolled into the Teen Choice Awards to pick up an evening's best 11 trophies, they had a brief respite to celebrate the past ("Twilight"), talk about the present ("New Moon") and prepare themselves for the future ("Eclipse").

"Oh, it's exciting, man," Jackson Rathbone told us about recent meetings the actors have had with David Slade, the bloodthirsty "30 Days of Night" director who will oversee them for the soon-to-shoot third film in the series. "We've all met with him. We've all been up to Vancouver doing training and getting ready for all the action."

But since Rathbone plays Civil War soldier-turned-vampire Jasper Hale — and confirmed to us that Jasper's 1863 transformation will be included in "Eclipse" as a flashback — the charismatic star has been blessed with one bit of training that the other Cullens don't get to partake in.

"Horseback training," Kellan Lutz sighed. "I'm jealous."

"Yeah, I've spent two and a half hours a day riding horses and two and a half hours a day fighting," Rathbone revealed of his preparation for "Eclipse," the plot of which will depend far more heavily on Jasper, Emmett and the other Cullens than the first two films. "We've been training in the gym."

" 'Eclipse' is big on fighting, so Jasper trains all of us," Lutz said of a key sequence in the book that has Rathbone's war veteran teaching the werewolves and vampires fighting techniques in order to defend themselves against newborn vampires. "All of us characters are actually going through fight training, stunt training. We're all hitting the gym pretty hard so we can have the endurance."

The noticeably larger Lutz, who has spoken before of his desire to be an action hero, said he can't wait to unleash Emmett in full form. "You can't really do scenes like that, that are so crucial, [unless you train]. You need to know what you're doing, you need to know how to take blocks, how to go on the offense, prepare yourself for defense," he explained. "It's a lot of training, but it's great when we're all done with the training and get to shoot it."

"Yeah," Rathbone laughed. "Once all the black eyes and bloody lips heal."

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Vancouver actor to sink teeth into Eclipse

Home-school student turned global phenomenon, Jodelle Ferland, 14, 'won't hide' from recognition -- or her thousands of new Twitter followers

Jodelle Micah Ferland didn't know much about Stephenie Meyer's vampire saga before Twilight was released late last year, but she's catching up fast.

She should. The 14-year-old Vancouverite has just landed a coveted role in Eclipse, the third film in the series. Since seeing the first film with friends and auditioning for the role, she borrowed and read all four books.

"I hadn't heard much about Twilight when it first came out," she said in a phone interview from Playland.

"I'm home-schooled so sometimes I don't hear about things like that," she said. "But my friends were all freaking out about Twilight and I was like 'What's that?'"

"Now I know what it is, obviously," she laughed.

She's up to speed now and entering a whole new world of notoriety. Since Twittering the news about being cast in the film, Ferland has been gaining about 100 new Twitter followers an hour.

"I got about 2,000 new followers on the first day," she said. From young actor to global phenomenon with the flick of a switch.

"I got Twitter just a couple of weeks ago and I had 136 followers and I was like 'Wow, I have 136 followers,'" she said. "And then the Twilight news came out and we checked and it was 800 and something right away."

"I started freaking out, I couldn't believe it."

Ferland has been working in film and television since she was two years old, starring in her first film at the age of four (Mermaid) and playing the lead in a successful suspense thriller (Silent Hill).

She has worked with Rene Zellweger, appeared on Late Night With Conan O'Brien and just-wrapped The Cabin in the Woods written by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Drew Goddard (Lost), but nothing of the magnitude of the Twilight saga.

"I'm so excited," giggled Ferland. "It's not that I didn't think I would get the role, it's just that things like this never happen. I'm still having a hard time believing it."

Eclipse will be Ferland's second time working with Twilight star Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella Swan, the mortal teen who falls for vampire Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson.

Stewart and Ferland appeared in The Messengers, a film about children who can see otherwise invisible supernatural horrors.

Ferland concedes she is often cast in horror films and television shows with a supernatural angle. Indeed, her list of acting credits is long as her arm.

"I've never played a vampire before so I am really excited about that," she said.

The Internet rumour mill has Ferland cast as newly turned vampire Bree, a vampire soldier in a ravenous army bent on avenging the death of Victoria's partner James.

"I'm not allowed to say, but I can tell you I am playing a newborn vampire," she confirmed.

"But I'm not a newborn, I'm newly turned; some people don't get that."

So not only will Ferland meet the stars of Twilight, she will likely have to fight some of them.

"I don't know, but that would be fun," she said.

"Usually I read the script before I take a role, but I haven't read this one," she explained. "It's Twilight, of course I'm going to take it."

Despite her lengthy resume, Ferland has always been able to walk down the street without being noticed.

That could all come to an end with Eclipse.

"Some people say that would be so great to be famous and have people ask for your autograph, and that does happen in acting if you get really famous," she said.

"I can't say it's something I'm looking forward to, but I won't hide."

Jodelle Ferland to Join Kristen Stewart to Star on 'Eclipse'

A new cast member for Kristen Stewart's "The Twilight Saga's Eclipse" has been announced. 14-year-old Jodelle Ferland will join the cast of the third "Twilight" film to portray "a vampire who has just been turned", Variety reports. Additionally, Celebuzz claims the young Canadian actress will star as Bree, a member of the newborn vampire army that Victoria raises to avenge James' death.

"Silent Hill" star Jodelle Ferland recently played Sandra on drama-romance movie "Wonderful World". She can next be seen starring together with Renee Zellweger on thriller "Case 39", which will be released in U.S. theaters on October 2.

On Monday, August 3, "The Twilight Saga's Eclipse" cast, including Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene, Xavier Samuel, and Bryce Dallas Howard, were snapped arriving at LAX airport. All of them flew to Vancouver, Canada to start the pre-production for the upcoming vampire drama movie.

The following day, Peter Facinelli, the depicter of Dr. Carlisle Cullen on "Twilight" and its sequels, revealed that the film's rehearsal would be begun on Wednesday, August 5. "We have two weeks of rehearsal and then a week of fight training," Facinelli said, before adding "'Eclipse' has more action in it and so I'm excited to get in there and have Carlisle roll his sleeves up a little bit and get into fight stuff."

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Jodelle Ferland Cast as Vampire in Eclipse

Young but far from inexperienced actress Jodelle Ferland has landed a role in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse per a report at Variety.

The Fourteen year-old actress will join cast members from The Twilight Saga: New Moon and newcomers Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel when filming commences on Eclipse later this month.

Her role is described only as "a vampire who has just been turned" in the report, leaving the door open to speculate on exactly which character she will portray. Feel free to share your guesses in the Comments below.

Ferland's resume is far beyond her years, stretching back nearly a decade with her next appearance in Case 39 with Renee Zellweger bowing in theaters this September. She has also already completed filming a role in The Cabin in the Woods, a thriller coming in 2010 from Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon.

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Rachelle Lefevre ‘Stunned’ Over ‘Eclipse’ Recasting

Summit Entertainment announced the replacement of “Twilight Saga” star Rachelle Lefevre in the series’ third film, “Eclipse,” on Tuesday night – and fans weren’t the only ones surprised by the news — Rachelle was shocked as well!

“I was stunned by Summit’s decision to recast the role of Victoria for ‘Eclipse,’” Rachelle said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

On Tuesday, Summit announced that Bryce Dallas Howard would be taking on the role in “Eclipse,” due in May 2010.

“I was fully committed to the ‘Twilight’ saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria,” Rachelle continued, explaining the turn of events that led to the casting change. “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. 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.”

The star concluded her statement with a regretful tone.

“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,” she said.

Rachelle will appear in the series’ next film, “New Moon,” due Nov. 20.

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‘Twilight’ Casting News: Bryce Dallas Howard Replacing Rachelle Lefevre In ‘Eclipse’

Bryce Dallas Howard is joining the “Twilight” franchise.

The “Terminator Salvation” star will replace Rachelle Lefevre in the role of Victoria, according to Summit Entertainment, which produces the vampire film series based on the books by Stephenie Meyer.

“We are incredibly happy that Bryce has agreed to come into the franchise,” Erik Feig, Summit’s President of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions, said in a statement to Access Hollywood. “Rachelle brought ‘Victoria’ to great screen life and Bryce will bring a new dimension to the character. The franchise is lucky to have such a talented actress as Bryce coming in to fill the role.”

Summit said Rachelle would not be continuing on as Victoria, an evil vampire out for revenge over the death of her lover, due to scheduling conflicts.

Bryce, the daughter of director Ron Howard, will take over the role beginning in “Eclipse,” the third installment in the “Twilight” series.

“Eclipse” begins filming in Vancouver this coming August, Summit confirmed. The film will be released in theaters on June 30, 2010.

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