Why Does Victoria Look So Different in ‘Eclipse’?

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As a die-hard Twilight fan since its release back in 2008, I must say that Rachelle Lefevre’s portrayal of Victoria left an indelible mark on me. Her performance was captivating and intense, making every scene she appeared in feel electric with tension. The way she embodied Victoria’s cunning and vengeful nature was truly mesmerizing.

In September 2024, Netflix unveiled plans for an animated adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s 2020 novel “Midnight Sun,” which is a companion to the original “Twilight” series. This novel revisits the events of the first book but from Edward Cullen’s point of view. As production on this animated series progresses and potential actors audition, there’s speculation about whether and how the vampire Victoria will be integrated into the narrative and who might voice her character.

Discussing Victoria, it’s hard to forget for fans of the Twilight Saga that actress Rachelle Lefevre was unexpectedly replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard in the third installment, Eclipse. As it’s been 14 years since the film came out, many may have forgotten why Lefevre had to depart from the successful teen fantasy series. With enough time having passed, revisiting the reasons behind Lefevre’s exit and comparing the performances of both actresses as Victoria could reignite interest in the upcoming Twilight animated series.

Who Is Victoria in the Twilight Saga?

In the initial Twilight movie that hit the screens in 2008, we are introduced to Victoria, portrayed by Rachelle Lefevre. This malicious vampire, along with her partner James (Cam Gigandet), was the founder of James’ coven. After the demise of her lover, James, Victoria embarks on a vengeful crusade against Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), the star-crossed lovers who she targets relentlessly.

In the initial two Twilight films, Rachelle Lefevre, a Canadian actress, portrayed Victoria. This character transitioned into the series’ main adversary starting from Twilight: New Moon, which was the second installment with a love triangle involving a shapeshifting Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Victoria orchestrated multiple attempts to undermine Bella, such as forming an army of newborn vampires in Seattle, popularly known as Riley’s Coven, with the intention of thwarting Bella and annihilating the Olympic Coven.

Luckily for Bella, Edward successfully overpowers Victoria during the fight between the newborn army and the Olympic Coven, bringing a swift end to her life. However, when viewers saw Victoria’s demise in Twilight: Eclipse, they noticed that a different red-haired actress had stepped into the role, sparking immediate curiosity about Rachelle Lefevre’s sudden replacement.

Why Was Victoria Recast in Twilight: Eclipse?

Following her roles as Victoria in both “Twilight” and “New Moon”, Rachelle Lefevre was ultimately replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard, the daughter of well-known actor and director Ron Howard. Regrettably, this change wasn’t primarily due to Lefevre’s enthusiasm for the part, but rather a complex scheduling conflict.

Although she longed to revisit her villainous vamp role, Lefevre’s dedication to a film titled “Barney’s Version” kept her from extending her career in the most profitable movie franchise. This film, an acclaimed slice-of-life drama, cost $30 million and earned only $12 million worldwide, while the box office smash “Twilight: Eclipse” garnered over $700 million globally (according to The Numbers), a disheartening financial reality that intensifies the regret of her replacement.

As a movie enthusiast, I shared my concerns about potential scheduling conflicts with the Twilight producers regarding two roles I was offered. Unfortunately, I brought up this issue too close to the production timeline, which didn’t allow them to accommodate both castings for me. I was genuinely taken aback by Summit Entertainment’s choice to replace me with Bryce Dallas Howard, especially considering the significant role expansion in New Moon that I had accepted.

According to Lefevre, she consciously chose to forgo other film roles to stay with the Twilight Saga, but she was still replaced. Even though many fans were taken aback, most believe that Lefevre delivered a more compelling and convincing portrayal of Victoria compared to Bryce Dallas Howard.

Who Portrayed Victoria Better: Rachelle Lefevre or Bryce Dallas Howard?

Although Bryce Dallas Howard did a commendable job in Twilight: Eclipse, many fans still prefer Anna Kendrick as Victoria. As Kendrick’s character is Victoria’s onscreen creator, she establishes a dramatic benchmark that Bryce Dallas Howard is frequently measured against. Consequently, in the eyes of most fans, Bryce Dallas Howard’s portrayal will always seem less impactful in comparison.

After becoming familiar with Victoria in the popular vampire films “Twilight” and “New Moon”, fans found it challenging to accept and embrace Bryce Dallas Howard following the sudden change in casting, which made it hard for them to warm up to her performance that was compared to Lefevre’s exceptional work.

Beyond having two films to establish and progress (or regress) into the villain role, Lefevre had greater opportunities for character exploration compared to Howard, who portrayed the character in just one movie for half the duration. With a richer source of material to draw upon and more extensive screen time to develop a character arc, Lefevre’s performance appears far more convincing.

What Fans Have to Say

While some people praise Howard’s portrayal for capturing the character’s immature and youthful traits, others find Lefevre’s acting more convincing in revealing Victoria’s complex web of lies. A 2019 discussion on Reddit compared the two performances favorably, with many expressing appreciation for both. However, Lefevre edged out slightly due to comments lauding her performance.

“I like both, but I have to say Rachelle. I will never forgive Summit entertainment for just ditching her like that. Victoria was a wild woman full of passion, fire and vengeance, and Rachelle embodies that perfectly. She has that seductive air of a female vampire, combined with untamed hair, and a feral nomadic appearance. She’s fantastic.”

DiamondCupcake supports the sentiment, adding:

It’s quite impressive how Rachelle Lefevre seemed to truly capture Victoria’s shrewdness and hidden lethality. In comparison, Bryce Howard, who was also solid in her portrayal, gave off an impression of a frustrated kitten attempting to appear menacing rather than mature and calm like Rachelle.

Undoubtedly, the book edition skillfully combines elements from both realms. To put it succinctly, TwiWolfAlice’s perspective on the contest might offer the most accurate summary, asserting:

Bryce excelled at depicting the innocent aspect, while Rachelle excelled at portraying the strong side. Ideally, we should have seen a blend of these two aspects. Personally, I find Rachelle’s interpretation of Victoria more appealing, but if we’re discussing adherence to lore, Bryce may be more accurate. She aimed to convey a mix of both sides, but her portrayal of the strong side wasn’t as effective.

Concerning the imminent animated spin-off of Twilight titled Midnight Sun, Victoria will subtly appear in the storyline as she delves into Bella’s past and plans her retaliation. Fans of Twilight would be thrilled if Rachelle Lefevre, who originally played the role 16 years ago, were to voice the character. You can stream Twilight on AppleTV and Hulu.

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2024-12-14 18:32