Twilight's Victoria Eclipsed by Bryce Dallas Howard

Bella Swan better watch out: The face of evil will look different next year.

It will still be ringed by long, red locks, but otherwise...different.

Bryce Dallas Howard, most recently Christian Bale's misused mate in Terminator Salvation, will be replacing Rachelle Lefevre as the Bella-hating Victoria in next year's threequel, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Lefevre's exit from the franchise has been attributed to scheduling conflicts. (For the record, she's not moving on because of a real-life relationship with Kristen Stewart that mirrors the one onscreen or due to an emotional love triangle...We mean it! That's how rumors get started!) Regardless, it makes her the first major castmember to leave midsaga.

The 30-year-old Canadian beauty will bare her fangs for the last time in New Moon, which starts biting into the winter box office Nov. 20.

"We are incredibly happy that Bryce has agreed to come into the franchise," Erik Feig, president of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions for Summit Entertainment, said in a statement Tuesday.

"Rachelle brought ‘Victoria' to great screen life and Bryce will bring a new dimension to the character. The franchise is lucky to have such a talented actress as Bryce coming in to fill the role."

So it will be Howard who seduces newborn vampire Riley, to be played by fellow Twilight newcomer Xavier Samuel in Eclipse, due in theaters June 30, 2010. Cameras start rolling in Vancouver next month.

(Originally published July 28, 2009, at 8:05 p.m. PT)

Well, Summit Entertainment's incredibly happy about bringing Howard onboard. Do you get über-villain vibes from the porcelain-skinned redhead, or are you...concerned?

________

The New Moon cast was a major draw at Comic-Con last week, and we were there to drink in every word. Or you can just look.

• 
• 
• 
• 
•