14 DAY TRIAL // Stephen Moyer, who plays Bill Compton on the HBO series “True Blood,” is packing his coffin and his fangs and moving to a new vampire film currently in the making. The actor has joined “Twilight” baddie Cam Gigandet for the Screen Gems thriller / vampire flick “Priest,” which has already entered production, Variety can confirm.
“‘True Blood’ thesp Stephen Moyer and Lily Collins of ‘90210’ have joined ‘Priest,’ the Scott Stewart-directed Screen Gems thriller that stars Paul Bettany, Cam Gigandet and Maggie Q. Scripted by Cory Goodman, the thriller involves a warrior priest who turns against the church to track down a murderous band of vampires who kidnapped his niece.” the aforementioned publication informs.
Moyer, though, will not need his fangs for this film, scheduled for release in 2010, since he will be playing the mortal brother of the protagonist, presumably the priest played by Bettany. Still, as Splash News also points out, the latest addition is exciting on more counts than one. What with Hollywood’s recently uncovered passion for vampire flicks (thanks, in part, to “The Twilight Saga”) and the fact that “Priest” counts with two actors from the two of the most successful productions in the genre (namely “Twilight” and “True Blood”), this could also mean “Priest” stands great odds of becoming next year’s biggest blockbuster.
“Moyer’s casting in ‘Priest’ is sure to get the blood pumping in ‘True Blood’ fans, but it’s also interesting for another reason. Gigandet, of course, is a ‘Twilight’ veteran, having played villainous vampire James in the first film. Now that Moyer is aboard ‘Priest,’ the on-screen collision of Bill Compton and James is about the closest thing to a ‘True Blood/Twilight’ crossover that we’re ever likely to see. If nothing else, the double whammy of Gigandet and Moyer in the same film is likely to bring both ‘Twilight’ and ‘True Blood’ fans into the movie theaters when ‘Priest’ hits wide release.” Splash writes in light of the recent announcement.
For more on what promises to be the hottest vampire movie of 2010, “Priest,” keep an eye on this space.