Rachelle's statement

(I thought she would curl up and suffer in silence. Good for her!)
Exclusive statement from Rachelle Lefevre via Access Hollywood:

“I was stunned by Summit’s decision to recast the role of Victoria for Eclipse. I was fully committed to the Twilight saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria. 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.

“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.” (hat tip: Confessions of a TwiCrack Addict

Shoving Rachelle under the bus.. for what?

OK, the title of this post tells you where I sit today. In comments at Twilight Anonymous two names have come up in the comments: David Slade, director of Eclipse, and Ron Howard, incredibly famous and powerful Hollywood denizen .

My first reaction was that Ron wanted his little girl to get a great big chance in movies by moving that pesky nobody Rachelle out of the way, and placing Bryce in the role of Victoria. I even bet that it wouldn't take money to shove Pinnacle into going along with this: a simple invitation to a soiree at the Howard mansion would do the trick. (I don't have a lot of respect for the Pinnacle crowd, who have stumbled upon a goldmine in the Twilight franchise and don't know what to do with it, including keeping Rob Pattinson safe from NY harpydom).

The case of David Slade is also interesting. As I have mentioned below, by replacing Hardwicke, the Twilight Saga may lose the essence that is so appealing to its core audience: women. It is not quite 'respectable' to appeal to women, my friends. It is so much more cool to pull in the Transformers and Star Trek crowd, ok? David Slade is an action GUY, he will concentrate on the Vampire Wars, and denigrate the tension between Edward and Jacob and Bella (all of which is based on Wuthering Heights, which I am sure is of no interest at all to Pinnacle or Slade, being a 'romantic novel' and all.)

Rachelle has a vivid and energetic presence in Twilight. I don't think Slade or Pinnacle realize that... they think one red head actress is much like another red head actress, I guess.

The good thing is, the books are still here. Thank you, Stephenie Meyer!