'Frost/Nixon' Star Michael Sheen Joins 'New Moon'

Michael Sheen, who was good enough for Oscar nominations opposite two heads of state in The Queen and Frost/Nixon (even though he didn't get them), will put his Underworld experience to good use in New Moon. The lycan from all three of the Underworld flicks will see life from the other side now, as he's been cast as Aro, the leader of the Italian vampire clan called the Volturi. Director Chris Weitz told The Daily Mail that he "aggressively" pursued Sheen for the role, which while it might not get him closer to an Oscar nomination, will at least pay him roughly $7 million, easily the most he's made in his career. "Michael’s role is so important because he’s the head of all vampires," Weitz said. "Aro is, on the surface, a very gracious and friendly vampire, but beneath that he is a tremendous threat." New Moon is currently in production in Vancouver, and the second Twilight movie will be in theaters on November 20th. I say good for Michael Sheen. People don't recognize how hard it is to balance dominant performances like those of Helen Mirren and Frank Langella, but the truth is neither of those actors would have been as good without Sheen in their films. And because he's already made the Underworld movies, why not take the money for a huge event movie that could actually get him a substantial leading role in a studio film?

Comments

[Brian Dunn]

Ummm... Michael Sheen has never been nominated for an Oscar--not for The Queen and not for Frost/Nixon.

[sati]

he sold himself, I'm ebarassed for him

[lara petersen]

i LUV Michael Sheen and i will support everything he does.

[lara petersen]

i LUV Michael Sheen and i will support everything he does.

[Get The Big Picture]

Yes, I know he's never been nominated. Perhaps I chose the words poorly, but I'm saying he was good enough in both The Queen and Frost/Nixon to warrant nominations.