CHICAGO – Michael Sheen [1], one of the stars of last year’s Best Picture-nominated “Frost/Nixon [2],” has joined the cast of the “Twilight [3]” sequel, “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon [4],” appearing with the already-cast Robert Pattinson [5], Kristen Stewart [6], Taylor Lautner [7], Ashley Greene [8], and Dakota Fanning [9] in the film to be directed by Chris Weitz [10].
Sheen also appeared in the award-winning “The Queen” as Prime Minister Tony Blair and played a vampire before in 2003’s “Underworld,” co-starring Kate Beckinsale [11], and in this year’s “Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans”. Sheen will play Aro, the leader of the Volturi vampire coven from the book based on Stephenie Meyer’s “New Moon”. The casting news was broken by E! News [12] today.
Michael Sheen in Screen Gems Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
Image credit: Ken George/Screen Gems
“Twilight,” which stars Kristen Stewart [13], Robert Pattinson [14], Ashley Greene [15] and Taylor Lautner from director Catherine Hardwicke, has grossed $178 million domestically. This has put the “New Moon” sequel into production immediately and has spawned a series of casting rumors. Other books in the Stephenie Meyer series include “Eclipse” and “Breaking Dawn”.
Read about the teaser poster for “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”. [16]Read our Dakota Fanning story on “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”. [17]Read our story about DVD release parties for “Twilight”. [18]Win a walk-on part in “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”. [19]Read our story about the release date of “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse”. [20]Read about the new name and logo for “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”. [21]Read about why Catherine Hardwicke left the “Twilight” franchise. [22]
">Read our story about AnnaLynne McCord auditioning for “New Moon”. [23]
">Read our story about Dakota Fanning talking about “New Moon”. [24]
">Read our story about the open casting call for “New Moon”. [25]Read our story about Lucy Hale auditioning for “New Moon”. [26]See our 2009 Summit release slideshow with “New Moon”. [27]See our high-quality, 28-image “Twilight” slideshow. [28] [29] | By BRIAN TALLERICO [30] |