They Said, She Said: Summit vs. Departing 'Twilight'er

Yesterday, we announced that Bryce Dallas Howard was filling the role of Victoria in the Twilight series beginning with the third installment, Eclipse, which is due out in about a year. What has developed in the 24 hours since is pretty strange, actually. And it's gotten very public very fast. First, there's the original Victoria, Rachelle Lefevre. She had signed on to appear in a movie called Barney's Version, and at that point, Summit Entertainment declared that Lefevre was not available to film the threequel, hence the hiring of Howard. Lefevre claims she was shocked to hear the role had been re-cast, because she felt she had done everything she needed to do to line other projects up around her vampiric responsibilities. If you're up for a bit of a reading, we've got Lefevre's official statement on the matter to which Summit, rather snarkily for a film studio, responded almost immediately. You don't see studios engage in this sort of war of words very often, which makes the fact that Summit did (and the lengths to which its rebuttal goes to refute Lefevre's claims) all the more strange. So, sit back and enjoy a big Hollywood pissing match. First, Ms. Lefevre:

“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.”

OK. Seems genuine. And now here's Summit's official response.

" 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 Sage, 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."

President Obama has already said Summit "acted stupidly" in its hasty decision to ditch Lefevre. OK, maybe not. But yesterday there was a Twitter campaign to bring her back. Frankly, though, I think this is the best thing that could happen to her career. Any heat the Twilight series was going to give her would happen through the first couple of movies. Now she's getting bigger headlines than if this had never happened.

Comments

[c]

I agree with Obama....SUMMIT ACTED STUPIDLY!!!!! THis is a bloccbuster.....and replacing the
top charcters IS A BAD MOVE...unless theres an emergency...like a death. BOYCOTT ECLISPE.
SEND A MESSAGE ....THIS COUNTRY WILL NOT BE BULLIED NOT EVEN BY ITS OWN PEOPLE!!!!!

WHAT 10 DAYS? ITS NOT LIKE SHES IN EVERY SCENCE.

I THINK SHE SHOULD SUE THEM FOR BREECH OF CONTRACT AND FOR HAVING TO TURN DOWN OTHR JOBS. UNFORTUNATLEY, THATS ALL THESE BIG COMPANIES UNDERSTAND.

THEY FORGET WE ARE ALL HUMANS AND NOT THEIR LITTLE ROBOTS.THERE DEMANDS ARE WORST THAN THE MILITARY.

[Franky J]

@C - At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this blog is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[Feisty]

Well put Franky J. All point shall be awarded to you.

[SEAN]

HAHA you guys are funny...

But hey I do agree with Colin again, I mean this is the best thing for her career, if she can actually act... I mean I dunno her resume or her at all and havent seen Twilight bolshit so I dunno if she can act but she should take this as a relief...

Summit is now reminding me of like a Disney company or those companies that put a hold on an actor for years and years and they cant just shake them loose b/c of contractual complications and eventually they never can really work again... it happens in the music industry a lot more than films...

But yeah Summit seems controlling and greedy... I mean she seemed genuine and nice, i feel bad for her... but hey Bryce Dallas Howard (who Iv lost a lot of respect for in the last 3 days) is a bigger name

[Get The Big Picture]

Why have you lost respect for Bryce Dallas Howard? Did you lose respect for Don Cheadle when he took over for Terrence Howard?

Summit has not handled the success of Twilight well at all behind the scenes, but I don't think they knew what they were getting, either. I don't know that they're trying to control people for years or they wouldn't change directors every movie and try to knock out three films in 18 months. They see the finish line here and if they can build a big, big franchise, they can lay the groundwork for another one.

[Lillian James]

Summit fails. Shitting movies out of your ass is not the way to make quality films. For instance: the Saw movies. The end.

[SEAN]

Don Cheadle situation is different ...

Don Cheadle is an acclaimed actor who has been nominated for Best Actor and has many accolades to his name, he has established himself of prestige and dedicated to his craft...him taking Terrence Howards role is fine by me b/c thats actully a good franchise and I know IRON MAN 2 will actually be a GOOD FILM...

Bryce Dallas Howard however few know.. and is BUILDING A CAREER... and on the "upswing" she is trying to better herself and her craft, but this film Twilight and taking this job is a DOWNGRADE for HER and HORRIBLE FOR HER CAREER WHICH SHE IS STILL TRYING TO ESTABLISH...

But hey I do still like her and im sure her career wont faulter like any other actresses would, I mean her dad is FREAKING RON HOWARD , she will get future jobs and probably good work...but doing this is stupid.. the perks of being a Directors hot daughter!

[Debt Settlement]

Sorry for my bad english. Intresting title. It attracted me to read the complete post. Thanks