Twilight News: Sheen Joins New Moon

Soon-to-be-vampire Michael Sheen.

Variety says that Michael Sheen has joined the cast of “New Moon,” the adaptation of the second film in the “Twilight” series. Sheen will play the leader of the Volturi, an Italian vampire coven. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson star as Bella and Edward, a girl and her vampire.

For those who mostly know Sheen for playing parts like former British PM Tony Blair in “The Queen” and interviewer David Frost in “Frost/Nixon,” this might seem like an odd movie to jump into. Those are oh so prestigious movies that attract award nominations and are geared towards an older audience. However, it’s not as strange as it seems–Sheen has been in all the “Underworld” movies, playing a werewolf. So he’s good with the supernatural creature roles.

I don’t know if “Twilight” fans will approve or disapprove of this casting. I suspect that most of them don’t really care that much about the actors who aren’t part of the teen/young adult group of characters.

As for me, well, I admit with more than a little embarrassment that when I saw the Variety headline, I thougth they meant Charlie Sheen. I thought, “Wow, that’s courting controversy!” How wrong I was, and how lucky we all are that that wasn’t true. Though it would be one heck of a daring career move for Charlie. Hey, buddy, come on, surprise us with something like this. Stretch as an “artiste.” You can do it!

“New Moon” is currently filming in Vancouver. It’s set for a November 20th release.