14 DAY TRIAL // As “New Moon,” the second installment in the “Twilight” franchise, is still heavily underway, preparations for the third and fourth one are already being made. In this sense, at least one person on the production staff, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, believes that Channing Tatum would do wonders for “Eclipse,” the third film, as she has revealed in a recent interview with E! Online.
Rosenberg sees Tatum as perfect for the role of Riley, not solely on account of his good looks (it’s an established fact that all vampires in the “Twilight Saga” are extremely good looking) but also because he could bring the character the complexity it needs. Moreover, she says, he is also able to play the hurt, ignored lover better than most actors his age, which is why she would seriously consider him for the part if she had a say in it.
“There’s a very big battle at the end with Riley, and I think Channing would do that so well.” Rosenberg states for the publication. “And there are some complexities to that character. He really is tragic. He’s a puppet for Victoria [bad-girl vampire played by Rachelle Lefevre]. So he has to break your heart a little bit at the end when he realizes that she doesn’t want him. Channing could do that beautifully.” the screenwriter adds.
However, should this not be enough for “Twilight” fans, some of which are still lamenting that Robert Pattinson, who plays the gorgeous vampire Edward, will not get enough onscreen time in “New Moon,” Rosenberg also reveals some details about how the production will manage to keep him away from Bella while also in front of the camera. In doing so, the screenwriter confirms what Pattinson already said in a recent interview.
“In the book, he’s actually an enormous presence in [Bella’s] mind. He’s so present in her mind throughout the entire center of the book, so we really played off that, and it kept him alive in a slightly different way, but fans will feel it’s true to the book. You can’t have a ‘Twilight’ without Rob Pattinson.” Rosenberg says. Her words echo Pattinson’s, who recently revealed that Edward would still get plenty of onscreen time, even if only as an illusion that Bella sees.