Paris Hilton in New Moon?

Hollywood nobody Paris Hilton has been pestering Robert Pattinson to get her a part in New Moon, according to Star magazine. She had met Pattinson at the Oscars and has since been calling him to plead for a role in the franchise.

Sources told Star: "She has also had her manager call the casting agent to lobby for a part on her behalf. She is desperate for people to take her seriously as an actress and thinks she'd be perfect to play one of the vampires. She's even willing to play a victim - she just wants in."

If Ms Hilton wants to be taken seriously as an actress, she might try the usual route: acting lessons at a performing arts school. Does she expect to just swan on to a film set with a miniature dog (and, no doubt, her British best friend) in her handbag and be taken seriously? I think not. She has no discernible talent and should be kept out of movies.


Meanwhile, spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona is to helm the third movie in the Twilight vampire franchise based on the novels by Stephanie Meyer.

The third movie, Eclipse, is set for release on June 30, 2010. Summit Entertainment is expected to officially announce Bayona's involvement shortly, according to Variety.

Bayona (pictured) is a protégé of Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, The Hobbit) and directed the excellent Spanish language thriller The Orphanage, which was executive produced by Del Toro. Bayona is also attached to direct the thriller Hater, for Universal.

Bayona got the job on Eclipse ahead of several other directors being considered, including former Charlie's Angel star Drew Barrymore - who has just finished her directorial debut on the comedy Whip It! starring Ellen Page.

Although it sounded like a bogus piece of gossip, Barrymore confirmed she was on the shortlist for Eclipse in an interview with Access Hollywood. Other names on the list reportedly included New Moon director Chris Weitz's brother Paul and Walk the Line director James Mangold.

Catherine Hardwicke directed the first Twilight film, and was replaced by The Golden Compass director Chris Weitz for the second film, New Moon.

Production on New Moon is due to start shortly with the key actors - Robert Pattinson as Edward, Kristen Stewart as Bella and Taylor Lautner as Jacob - reprising their roles. It's set for release on November 20 this year.

Twilight Saga: Juan Antonio Bayona Set to Direct Eclipse?

With the Twilight sequel New Moon under two weeks away from starting production in Vancouver, it appears Summit Entertainment is set to tap Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona to helm the third Twilight adaptation, Eclipse. The new director news for Eclipse comes via Variety despite the fact that Summit has not issued an official confirmation. As reported by Variety, Twilight fans should know soon, "Summit, which had no comment Wednesday, is expected to make the official announcement soon. The minimajor recently gave "Eclipse" a release date of June 30, 2010."

Although some Twilight and New Moon fans may not be familiar with the previous films of Bayona, Eclipse readers can watch the 2008 horror movie The Orphanage, directed by Juan Antonio, to see how the Bayona style will mesh with the Stephenie Meyer based Eclipse, which will star Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner.

However, fans of Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse should also take note that Juan Antonio Bayona has worked under stylistic visualist director Guillermo Del Toro who helmed the Hellboy movies, the visually ominous Pan's Labyrinth, and the upcomming Hobbit. So what does all of this mean for the tone of the Stephenie Meyer Based Eclipse? It certainly indicates that after New Moon closes up Twilight shop, Eclipse, from a visual directing standpoint, may be much more stylistic and deliberate in exposing the darker qualities of the Twilight saga in terms of fear and suspenseful tension. The Bayona film The Orphanage was one of the better, well-constructed horror films of 2008.

So what does this say about all of the recent Twilight rumors that suggested Drew Barrymore and director Paul Weitz, brother of New Moon director Chris Weitz, were on tap to direct Eclipse?

Aside from a lot of wasted white background with Eclipse related black text in recent weeks, it's a reminder for fans to still take any Twilight headlines with a "?" lightly until Summit officially sounds off. In the case of Juan Antonio Bayona tapped to direct the third Twilight adaptation, Eclipse, Variety wouldn't be reporting it if there wasn't something credibly Twilight to it.

By Larson Hill