After due consideration, I've decided it is time to weigh in on the Rachelle/Bryce debate. Not that anyone really gives a rat's rear end what I think, but I figure if you have something to say you may as well say it. It's relaxing to unburden.
Victoria, as she is written, is important to the first three books as a catalyst, but the third book was her time to shine. In the book, New Moon, she is a mention and a thought, but not much attention is really paid to her being. The movie, I think will dwell on her a bit more than Twilight the Movie did. I mean Twilight ended with Victoria. It stands to reason that she will be important. Of the three nomads, she's the one left standing after New Moon. The one left to avenge the others.
For this reason, it stand to reason that while Victoria was hinted at being behind all the upheaval in Seattle, we don't really see her until showdown day in the book. Right? But the movie script is going to expand on her activities and explore her new relationships with the newborns, especially Riley. This is going to have to be one of the meatiest villain roles to come along in awhile. What eager actress wouldn't want this part? Juicy, juicy, juicy. Evil incarnate. It's going to be great, I have a feeling. And it would have been a prime part for Rachelle to expand on her acting talents and to add to her resume the word versatile.
So I have a problem figuring out why any up and coming actress would jeopardize this opportunity by taking on other projects that will "overlap" with this movie. And who is to blame. I'm pretty sure that Rachelle is only partly to blame for what happened. I'd tend to think that it is her "people" wishing to keep their new famous fatted lamb fat, for through her projects come their paychecks and in Hollywood, isn't it about the money bottom line? The acting food chain. Agents and publicists. The actor, just a pawn. I can almost see the sleazeballs talking her into the little ten day shoot and sure they will work around you, after all Victoria is crucial to Eclipse, and isn't the opportunity to work with Paul Giamatti every girls dream, look at what it did for Bryce Howard? Indeed. The problem is, that while Victoria is central to the story line, whoever plays Victoria isn't necessarily a big deal.
So, you ask, Summit made allowances for Cam's other commitments and shot his stuff first so that he could go on to another project. True they did. Two things are different though. Twilight was so low budget, locations weren't logistically impossible to change in what order it was shot and I would bet that Twilight's manic director Catherine Hardwicke wanted Cam. Not only that, who would have wanted the role should some concessions not have been made and Cam had said "Thanks, but no thanks." He'd have been replaced without a second look with what ever they could have found. Obviously, most in the industry didn't imagine what the movie would do. Otherwise one of the bigger studios would have picked it up to begin with. Right?
Enter Twilight's success, New Moon's anticipation and a third different director who may not wish to screw up his rehearsal and shooting schedules for an actress that doesn't necessarily have to be the one who brought the part to fruition. I have no doubt that had one of the central actors had scheduling conflicts, Summit and David Slade would have bent over and kissed their collective asses to accommodate simply because the people who have made this franchise as popular as it is, you and I, would have said "screw you", if you don't give us Rob, Kristen and Taylor, we won't go. But it wasn't Rob, Kristen or Taylor was it? Especially in Taylor's case as they didn't know if they wanted him back for New Moon. But he worked hard and the outrage at thinking they would recast him and Chris Weitz' backing of Taylor saved what could have been a major recasting faux pas.
Perhaps Summit and David Slade were just looking for a reason to recast Victoria and Rachelle gave them the small, albeit not unworkable reason to do it. Here's the thing. They didn't replace her with some nondescript unknown actress. They replaced her with an actor with a resume that any actress would die for. She's done some funky weird things that were just great. True, M. Knight Shamayalan had a lot to do with it, but still, the girl can act. So let's examine why Bryce said yes. First, she doesn't have to burn her acting candle at both ends to earn a living. She can make choices. Second, Eclipse will most likely be the movie of the summer season 2010. Third, it is always good to make choices that give you the most exposure and Eclipse will give her plenty of exposure. Fourth, she doesn't have to carry the movie as it is a supporting role. Fifth, since Victoria is finished off in Eclipse, she doesn't have to commit to any more Twilight movies. So she gets a paycheck and gets to go all evil and can walk away when filming is over. Ideal.
So, while I would have liked to have seen all characters played by their original actors, I'm sort of coming to the conclusion that I want to see this movie, even with Bryce Howard. I want to see what she will do with the role and how she will play Victoria. I'm willing to bet that it will probably be pretty good and I'm hoping memorable in that Heath Ledger villain kind of way.
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