Dakota Fanning To Join The Cast Of ‘Twilight’ Sequel ‘New Moon’?
Hold on to your hats, Twilighters. A couple of weeks ago we learned from trusted sources (actress Ashley Green [who played Alice Cullen in Twilight] talking to People magazine, MTVNews) that High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens had auditioned for the role of Leah Clearwater in the upcoming Twilight sequel New Moon. That news sent shockwaves thru the Twilightverse and was a source of much strife among fans of the Twilight Saga. Today we have more casting news … and it might cause the same sort of reaction from fans. The absolutely reliable Marc Malkin, of E! News, is reporting exclusively that Dakota Fanning is in talks to play Jane (one of the main vampire characters from the European Volturi clan). Even more surprising, I think, is that the report claims that Dakota didn’t even have to audition for the role … she was merely offered the part and both sides are now in negotiations to see if they can seal the deal. Be warned! The following report may contain spoilers for those of you who have yet to read the Twilight books:
Dakota Fanning…with fangs? It’s possible. I can exclusively report that the 14-year-old child star—she turns 15 on Feb. 23—is in talks to play Jane opposite Robert Pattinson & Co. in New Moon, the upcoming sequel to box office megahit Twilight. “There were no auditions,” a source reveals. “They just offered it to her outright, and now they’re in negotiations. They’ve been going back and forth.” Jane is a member of Italy’s Volturi, the most deadly group of bloodsucking killers in author Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling series. In the casting notice we got our hands on earlier this month, Jane is described as a petite blonde with a “Botticelli angel-like face…[and] crimson irises.” While fellow Volturi guards Demetri & Felix “are three times the size of her, they are terrified of her,” the casting notice reads. Coincidentally (or maybe not), an online petition started by a Twilight fan already asks the studio, Summit Entertainment, to cast Fanning because she would be “perfect” for the role. Early last month, Entertainment Weekly suggested Pushing Daisies star and Broadway diva Kristin Chenoweth. “Her voice is certainly high enough, and at 4′11”, she’s also short enough,” writer Amy Wilkinson proposed. Director Chris Weitz is expected to start shooting New Moon in March in the U.S. and Italy. If all goes as planned, the movie will hit theaters on Nov. 20.
I suppose we can forgive Malkin for thinking that the vampires in Twilight have fangs … but I absolutely believe his reporting on this casting news. He is very much in the know about these things and he is not one to post unsubstantiated information just to get attention. Whether or not Dakota gets the part remains to be seen but, it sounds like the role is hers if she wants it. I hadn’t considered Kristin Chenoweth as Jane … she’s prolly a bit too old to play the part but Malkin is right, she is short enough. I know that many Twilight fans were really upset at the prospect of Hudgens joining the cast of New Moon … but mebbe Fanning will be better received because it’s feasible that her casting sprang from an online petition started by a fan? What do y’all think? Is Dakota right for the part of Jane? Would you like to see her get the part?
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Tags: 'New Moon', 'Twilight', Dakota Fanning
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January 22nd, 2009 at 8:16 am
I’m sorry, but I do not want a 15 year old playing Jane.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:21 am
15 or not, I think Dakota would do great. In the book Jane comes off as this small…’good girl’ type but she is not at all. I question whether or not she’s got it in her to be the bad girl but all in all, size wise, I think she would be great. Put anyone in the movie except Vanessa Hudgens. Ick.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:22 am
Actually apparently Vanessa Hudgens’ agent denied that she had auditioned for the part of Leah, and she herself was surprised at the suggestion. Ashley Green said that she had heard that Vanessa had auditioned, not that she knew. check on hisgoldeneyes.com, that’s where i got it from.
also Jane has to be 15 or younger, possibly much younger looking. If you think about it, Bella sees her as looking like a child, and Bella is only 17.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:23 am
It has been reported that Vanessa is not going to be Leah Clearwater. That was all a rumor.
http://www.twilightlexiconblog.com/index.php/2009/01/13/vanessa-hudgensone-more-time-with-feeling/
But I think Dayota will be a good Jane…she’s pretty creepy. lol
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:23 am
I think she’d probably play Jane really well – I can’t remember if Jane is in Eclipse (time for a re-read!) but if she is Dakota will look older, kids change so much over the course of a year at that age, so she won’t look the same.
Also, Hudgen’s won’t be in New Moon, Leah’s not even in it as a character according to the screenwriter.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
@Bonnie — thus far, it has only been fan sites reporting that the Hudgens report was only a “rumor”. Whether or not she gets the part is another story but I think I believe Ashley Greene over the fan sites.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:26 am
dear god noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 am
Really? Does nobody else want to see these sweet perfect disney actorettes playing evil blood sucking vampires or vicious self and everyone else loathing were-wolves? I mean come on! Let’s get the Olsen twins in there too! I think it’s a great idea!
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 am
i dont care who plays who… i just want the movie out already. lol. its their job to make good movies and to pick good actors. i trust them… just get it in theaters… i dont know what to do with myself since i finished the last book. hahah
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:33 am
GOD NO. Please DO NOT put Dakota freaking Fanning in the Twilight Saga movies.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:37 am
I think she would be great. She’s a very young talented actress who I think could play the part well. We shall see…..
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:37 am
I think Dakota will do a decent job. What people seem to be forgetting is the fact that she is actually a good actress, and that Twilight was a pretty terrible movie. Don’t get me wrong- I loved every minute of it, but as a movie, it wasn’t exactly a top quality adaptation. These movies are about looks more than anything, and Fanning actually looks the part.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:38 am
Nooooooooo she’s to good of an actress for this bullshit don’t do it Dakota don’t do it
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:44 am
i could see her playing jane, wayyy more than i could ever see vanesa hudgens play leah.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:47 am
Haha, I think I like the idea. :)
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:53 am
this is a great idea, dont you think she could play that creepy-shes-really-a-murderer type child? i do!! i think if vanessa did get the part, its not that big of a part and who cares. also – maybe she has a different side we havent seen. all we have seen is bubbly HSM!
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 am
I think she would be a great Jane. If they manage to make her look like she’s a few years older…
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 am
I could totally see Dakota in the part for the simple fact that Jane isn’t SUPPOSED to look evil. She’s supposed to look good and pure and innocent. That’s one thing that makes her more dangerous than all the rest.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:05 am
i love the idea!!! she is an amazing actress for her young age and i can totally see her as jane.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:10 am
I wouldn’t mind her as Jane, I just wished she had to audition like everyone else so they would know if she was perfect or not…without an audition for all we know, she could be crap as Jane.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 am
she is creepy enough, although i always envisioned someone a little older.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:21 am
I thought they described Jane is being young (around 16), angelic looking and small. I think Dakota would be perfect for Jane. I am still totally against Vanessa Hudgens for Leah though.
At least Dakota has done some decent roles.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:21 am
Has anyone seen hide and seek? I think if everyone is concerned about her not being able to play a dark character with a sweet face, they should watch it and then post their opinions on whether or not she is fit for the part. I think she would do an amazing job.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:23 am
Noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
I really really don’t get the Dakota Fanning appeal!
Seriously….
She has to be one of the most annoying actresses to watch…
It would be horrendous for the directors and producers to spoil such a fab movie as the Twilight sequel promises to be, with the precense of this miniature queen of annoyance…
Sorry for being so bold, but it just bugs me…surely there are far better child actresses around?
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:25 am
@It’s Trent, Bitch! — EW is reporting it as a rumor, too, thank goodness: http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/01/vanessa-hudgens.html
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:25 am
I think she will do a great job. I know that she is only 15, but you have to keep in mind that once one of the vampires becomes a vampire, they look that age for eternity… Jane is a very, very small girl, obviously she became a vampire at a young age, such as 15.
I think that Dakota has the right look and when I look at her, she is basically what I pictured for Jane…
Although I think she will do a great job, I would rather see more unknowns in the movie… I think that the fact that there will be big names in it will draw it away from the story and just make it more of a superstar blockbuster.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:36 am
Hmmm I dont know but I think it could actually work!
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 am
@jen — I wouldn’t be surprised if the rumor was circulated (via reliable sources) to test the waters to see how fans would react … and now we know
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:55 am
It should be Kristen Bell!!!
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 am
I wouldn’t mind her in the role. It is pretty minor anyway. But she is young and is growing up quickly. She needs to look the same for at least 3-4 years for them to get the other 3 movies made. And I just don’t think that is possible for Dakota. I would go with someone already in their 20s that won’t age much physically in the next few years.
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:58 am
I think Dakota would be fucking awesome for the part of Jane. From the way they describe Jane, I think she fits the part well. Man I CANNOT wait for the movie to come out. I just recently finished reading all the book and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the book. I still can’t stop thinking about it!!!
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:05 am
yeah i hope not vanessa will be tryaing too gett the part of leah.. but i think dakota will doo a good jobb as jane.. she is small:P
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:05 am
i can totally see dakota as jane.
she’s been doing these dark, weird movies lately.. i would love to see her pull jane off; i think she’d do amazingly well [:
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
I am with StaceyE
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:13 am
i prefer her way moreee than vanessa hudgens.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:15 am
i wish they would leave big names out it. they movie did fine with the actors anyone hardly knew. mind you new moon was the slowest book of them all (for me atleast) i think it could still do just fine without an a-lister.
i also cant stand her lol
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:15 am
umm excuse me, but dakota fanning is great! shes amazing and personally i dont like vanessa hudgens. twilight is too good for her. so go dakota!
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:33 am
i’m all for dakota gettin the gig as jane. i think she’d rock the part. hudgens on the other hand….well i hope it is all a rumor. i really can’t see her as leah…
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
Exactly how I pictured jane to look when I read the books. Very good casting.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:38 am
This is the worst thing that could possibly happen among other things. I think that they did enough damage on Twilight, that they dont need to ruin New Moon too. I already hate Vanessa as Leah, because she can’t act, and as much as i love ms.fanning, i think everyone including myself thought of jane as much older. wtf are they thinking. This really bothers. Im livid right now.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:39 am
I could see Dakato playing Jane, she is a brilliant actress and she looks very similar to what I pictured Jane to look like. Vanessa though, I really can’t picture her for anything in Twilight. I am trying not to be biased since I hate the high school musical movies but I’m not really succeeding lol. It’s bad enough that she will/may play a lead role in another up coming movie I want to see -_-
~~Mithdolwen
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Dakota Fanning is a really good actress and I could see her as Jane. But I do worry about Dakota getting older and not looking like Jane anymore for the other movies. Even 15 is pushingit b/c Jane was supposed to have been changed before puberty so she REALLY looks like a child. (She was changed early by Aro, who recognized her gift early on, to save her from being burned at the stake as a witch. I’m pretty sure I didn’t dream that but read it on one of Stephenie’s official “back story” webpages like http://www.twilightlexicon.com or something… ;)
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
She would be a perfect Jane! I adore her.
I hope she does it.
Hopefully they film Eclipse and Breaking Dawn right after though because a 15 year old girl can age quickly and a Vampire shouldn’t at all.
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 am
I think Dakota is a great actress and should be able to play the part no sweat.
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 am
I think it’s great! I think a lot of people see Dakota as this sweet and innocent actress, which she is, but don’t you guys remember Hide and Seek?! She can do the dark and creepy role just as well as the sweet and innocent!
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
I think she’d be fine.. that’s pretty much how I picture Jane to look.
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
She’s too old/tall for Jane IMO :-/ But her looks are good for it. Dang!
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
15 years old? So by the time they get around to filming Breaking Dawn (if they do) she’ll be how old? The casting people know that’s around the age when our appearance changes the most, right?
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Shed be great. Dakota owns.
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
HAHA! i think she’d be awesome as jane.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I have seen many movies dakota has been in and I think shed be great shes very versitile, while she may not be exactly what we imagined she fits the bill, angelic, small, yet demented, ever seen hide n seek? im sure she could do it, i hope she gets the part, i dont want some old lady doing it, then id be pissed, u forget these vampires are beautiful, and perfect someone younger is better off playing jane rather than some old person.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Dakota… Don’t do it… I’d lose some of my respect for her if she did.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I think Dakota will be great as Jane. She’s how I pictured the young cherub-looking Jane. My concern is she’ll likely out-act the others and make them look bad. Hopefully having her on the cast will raise the bar for the others.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
OMG… Dakota would be absolutely perfect for that role I think! I know she’s supposed to look younger than 15, but I think Dakota still does. I can’t see any actor much younger pulling off everything Jane has to.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Ooo wow, she’d make an amazing Jane!
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I think Dakota would be fine…for now. But as other people said she will continue to age and change–which Stephenie Meyer’s vamps don’t do.
I always pictured Amanda Seyfried from Big Love and Mama Mia.
January 22nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I’d love to see her as Jane in New Moon tbh..
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I can’t say I’m against her playing Jane but it’s not how I pictured here. She may fit the height but I understood Jane to be an adult, not a teenager.
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
wow… what a perfect way to turn twilight into even MORE of a teeny-bopper movie. I love dakota, think she’s adorable and a great actress- but twilight does not need a big name teen. when is summit gonna WAKE UP and realize that twilight doesn’t have to be a young teen movie? the books are good enough that there are MILLIONS of people outside of the ‘typical demographic’ in love with the stories. Plus.. we have MONEY… cater to us!! i’m hoping that the big wigs at summit and chris weitz (b/c i know they read your blog, duh) will listen to me, then cast Kristin Chenoweth like EW suggested, make DOUBLE what they did on twilight and give me Rob pattinson to have my way with as my reward.:)
letterstotwilight.com
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I don’t think Dakota would work she is a little too old but doesn’t she have a younger sister named Elle? she is also and actress and i think she would work for the part a little bit better than Dakota would
January 22nd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
oh my god.. when I was reading the books, i imagined dakota fanning in my head as jane and later thought “it would be funny if they cast her in the movies”…whoa!
i think she would be perfect!
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I could totally see her as playing Jane.
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Maybe because I haven’t “passionately” read the books, so I can’t talk that much if this is good or bad. But for the haters of Dakota Fanning – from what planet or dimension are you?!?! She is one of the best actresses around & had more acting chops than any other actors in the whole cast of twilight (yup they are eye candies, but acting wise – PLEASE). I am actually more afraid for Dakota Fanning creds if & when she joins Twilight. Come on give her chance, who knows, non-twilight fans can see the movie & love it too. As for the comments about her aging – umm I just want to ask do you think Rob, Kristen, Cam (woot) won’t age? PEOPLE GROW UP!!!
January 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 pm
i dont know..maybe…but i think it’d be better to get someone who’s younger
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
eh… I haven’t really thought about the Volturi casting, but Dakota Fanning wouldn’t really be my first choice. Not that she couldn’t do the part, and do it well because she really is a damn good actress… I just always imagined the Volutri being played by European actors, to keep with the European theme. Then again Rob Pattinson is a Brit playing an American Werewolf (doesn’t he go to Paris at some point in his past?… funny… anyway, sorry) and he pulls that off pretty well so what do I know? I still contend that as long as the principle cast doesn’t change then I’m happy.
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:39 am
Ewwww….please no! I don’t want her to play in this movie.
It will throw the whole movie off balance!
I would rather them keep picking low key actors and actresses for these movie!
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 am
OMG! I would’ve never thought but I think it could really work! Vanessa Hudgens had me pretty pissed but I think Dakota could totally pull off playing Jane…it would be really great to see her in this kind of role. I hope it’s true!
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Zanne is comepletely right. Jane was supposed to be young when she was changed. Aro had to change them earlier than he’d have liked because they were going to be burned at the stake. I even imagined her younger than 15.
Dakota would be perfect though, just perfect! Oh, please say it’s true!
:)
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
I say “YES, Yes Yes!” for Dakota as Jane….
As for Vanessa Hudgins? I’m not sure thats a good fit. Leah is a little rough around the edges, a little more boyish… and not a princess, AT ALL…
I would hate for Vanessa to break a nail! LOL
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I think Dakota Fanning would be a perfect Jane. She’s done really well in all of her previous films. She looks exactly like how i’d have pictured Jane to look. I think se’ll do a great job.
As for Vanessage Hudgens. Whether it’s fact or fiction……..Definitely not. That’s all I have to say.
January 23rd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
EWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NO NO NO NO NO.
thats just gros shes to young and skinny and not the “right pale”
January 23rd, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Ever since I heard her name being floated around as being up for Jane I can see NO ONE else in the role. She’s perfect. This may have been influenced by the fact that each time I went to see Twilight I sat through the Push trailer. Speaking of which, how about Chris Evans as Felix? Yes please.
January 23rd, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I dunno theres something about Dakota Fanning that annoys me. Although, i never felt like that until I saw the Push trailer. She just rubs me the wrng way in it…anyway Trent your point about floating a rumor to test the waters is valid, and wouldn’t be a bad idea for Summit to use. Eitherway, I saw an interview (i want to say it was MTV?) from the day after it was announced Taylor was definitely coming back as Jacob, and whoever interviewd Ashley told her “i heard vanessa hudgens is auditioning, what do you think of that?” and she said “oh what role could she be? maybe leah?”to it. So it sounds like she took what the reporter said and believed it and started repeating it.
January 24th, 2009 at 5:47 am
Every time I think about the Volturi I imagine Dakota as Jane. She fits the role perfectly……so innocent she’s evil! Children- there’s nothing scarier.
January 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I completely agree w/ Zachary….Dakota is an excellent actress. She would do a good job and would probably help the rest of the actors.
The 1st movie was ok…but it got better towards the end. It made me realize that the best was yet to come!
January 24th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I agree I would much rather see Dakota play Jane than Vanessa play Leah! Dakota is a good actress and they always play characters much younger than the actors themselves so 15 is perfect to look like a child in a movie. Kirsten Dunst was 12 when she was playing a child vampire that was supposed to look 5 or 6 years old. Anyway at least Dakota has proved herself to be a reasonably good young actress. I do worry about how much she might change/age in the next year or 2 though.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 am
I can see Fanning as Jane. The description fits her perfectly (except the red eyes) and she is an incredible actress for her age.
But Vanessa…No. That’s just stupid.