In a very surprising turn of events, Bryce Dallas Howard was suddenly catapulted into the role of Victoria in the third installment of the Twilight saga. The studio’s silly feud with Rachelle Lefevre spurred this sudden casting switcharoo. The studio’s dissatisfaction stemmed from Lefevre’s lack of transparency regarding her schedule, leaving them hesitant about retaining her for the following movies. Eventually, they had no choice but to bid her farewell and, welcome Howard for the rest of the journey.
Why Was Bryce Dallas Howard Recast as Victoria?
The original actress portraying the villainous Victoria, Rachelle Lefevre, was replaced midway through the saga, with Bryce Dallas Howard stepping in. While fans were disappointed, the actress made sure there was no room for complaints. To understand the sudden change, one must travel back to 2009 when the drama was in the spotlight. Before the filming of Eclipse began, Lefevre released a statement sharing her perspective on the decision.
The issue mainly stemmed from a misunderstanding. The studio’s main complaint about the actress was her lack of transparency and failure to share her scheduling details with them. This led them to believe that she wasn’t fully committed to the project.
Her statement that she released on Entertainment Weekly read,
“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.”
The actress was also working on Barney’s Version simultaneously at the time. The studio thus disapproved of her ten-day break from the tight three-month schedule, leading to her recasting.
Bryce Dallas Howard’s Take on the Role
Bryce Dallas Howard, on the other hand, was incredibly thrilled to step into the role. Being a fan of the franchise herself, joining the cast was a dream come true. Additionally, she was excited to portray a character as intriguing as Victoria.
In an interview with MTV, she stated,
“Victoria is a wonderful character. … It’s awfully juicy to play a villain. To play someone that’s just evil; Victoria is evil. And I think with “Eclipse,” it ends with quite a huge battle, a big spectacle, and it’s very scary. It’s a very, very scary book and very terrifying set of circumstances, and I think the Cullens are in jeopardy in a way that they never really have been before. It was a really, really exciting world to be a part of, because it was so scary and the stakes were so high.”
Although the abrupt casting change surprised some fans, many understood both perspectives and enjoyed the movie regardless.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is available on Apple TV to rent.
Also Read: Bryce Dallas Howard Got a Surprise Gift From Brother-in-Law After Fighting Robert Pattinson
