The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight's Lefevre 'stunned' at loss of role

The Associated Press

  Montreal-born actress Rachelle Lefevre starred as the evil vampire Victoria in the first two Twilight movies. (Seville Pictures)

Bryce Dallas Howard is taking over as the villainous vampire Victoria in the third Twilight movie, and the Canadian actress who's played the part in the first two films says she was "stunned" and "hurt deeply" by the switch.

Montreal-born Rachelle Lefevre says she was unaware that Summit Entertainment, which is releasing the vampire saga, had chosen someone else to play her part in Eclipse.

Summit announced Howard as her replacement late Tuesday, saying Lefevre had scheduling conflicts that would make her unable to participate in the production.

But Lefevre said Wednesday that she was "fully committed" to returning as Victoria. She says her involvement in the Canadian-made drama Barney's Version," starring Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman, would only last 10 days.

"I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules," she said in a lengthy statement.

"Although the production schedule for Eclipse is over three months long, Summit said they had a conflict during those 10 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."

Summit says Lefevre didn't inform the studio she would be shooting Barney's Version — which will require her to be in Europe during rehearsal and at least 10 days of principal photography on Eclipse — until July 20, even though she reportedly signed onto the project in early June.

Read More »