Summit Entertainment announced today that it has rounded out the cast of the Cullen family in the first installment of its filmed franchise, Twilight. The family of vampires, to which the leading male character Edward Cullen belongs, will be comprised of actors Peter Facinelli as Carlisle, Elizabeth Reaser as Esme, Jackson Rathbone as Jasper, Nikki Reed as Rosalie, Ashley Greene as Alice and Kellan Lutz as Emmett.
Robert Pattinson, who was previously announced, will play Edward Cullen opposite Kristen Stewart in the thriller-romance, based on Stephenie Meyer’s publishing phenomenon. The film is slated to begin production this month with Catherine Hardwicke directing a script by Melissa Rosenberg (Step Up). Karen Rosenfelt (The Devil Wears Prada), Greg Mooradian and Wyck Godfrey will produce along with Mark Morgan via his Maverick Films banner.
Twilight tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan (Stewart) who moves to the small town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, and becomes drawn to Edward Cullen (Pattinson), a pale, mysterious classmate who seems determined to push her away. But neither can deny the attraction that pulls them together … even when Edward confides that he and his family are vampires. Their unorthodox romance puts her in physical danger when Edward’s nemesis comes to town and sets his sights on Bella.
“Finding six talented actors who can portray supernaturally beautiful, talented vampires of the sort Stephenie Meyer has created and her fans have come to know and love was not an easy task but we are happy to say we have found our perfect Cullen family,” said Erik Feig, Summit’s President of Production.
Meyer’s “Twilight” is a cultural phenomenon, hitting legions of readers of all ages, that has spawned two sequels including “New Moon” and “Eclipse.” “Twilight” is a #1 New York Times best-seller which has sold over five million copies worldwide and has been lauded by critics. “Twilight’s” recent sequel “Eclipse” most recently debuted at #1 on the USA Today best-seller list unseating the newest Harry Potter.
Erik Feig along with Summit Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Production, Geoff Shaevitz, and Creative Executive Gillian Bohrer will oversee the project for the studio.
