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What You Need to Know About 'Eclipse'

Inside the Vampire Movie 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'

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The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is the third film of the super popular teen vampire Twilight series and focuses on the Edward (Robert Pattinson), Bella (Kristen Stewart), and Jacob (Taylor Lautner) love triangle as well as the showdown between the Cullens and the evil vampire, Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), who creates an army of newborns in order to kill Bella in revenge for Edward killing her mate back in the original Twilight film. [full cast list] The most action-oriented film of the franchise thus far, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse moves the story forward and sets up the final Twilight film: Breaking Dawn.

Opening Date: June 30, 2010

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some sensuality.

Movie Review: Eclipse is the best of the first three Twilight films and earns 3 1/2 out of 5 stars in our review.

1. 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Photos

Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Jackson Rathbone, and Robert Pattinson Eclipse photo© Summit Entertainment

Check out these photos and posters from Eclipse featuring the film's three major characters as well as the Cullen family, the Volturi, and the evil vampires:

2. 'Eclipse' Filming News and Budget Info

Taylor Lautner as Jacob, Kristen Stewart as Bella and Robert Pattinson as Edward photo from Eclipse© Summit Entertainment
Production on Eclipse took place from August 2009 to October 2009. Just prior to the film's release, some of the members of the cast (including Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart) were involved in reshoots and pick up shots which caused all kinds of rumors of rifts and feuds to circulate on the internet. Some reports even had David Slade out as director of the reshoots, replaced by one of the past Twilight directors. Slade reacted by Tweeting: "So strange, I go away for three weeks and return to all these upsetting completely fabricated rumours. Who makes this stuff up as news."

The budget grew with each film of the series, with Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke struggling with just $37 million. The Twilight Saga: New Moon director Chris Weitz had slightly more to work with at $50 million, however he also had to deal with more CG effects, including the introduction of the wolves. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, directed by David Slade (Hard Candy) has an estimated budget of $65 million.

Eclipse was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

3. 'Eclipse' Interviews, Trailers and Videos

Eclipse poster featuring Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson© Summit Entertainment
The trailers for Eclipse show off the movie's action scenes, but the brooding Edward, the torn-between-two-guys Bella, and the studly Jacob also get their fair share of screen time:
Eclipse cast interviews (print):
And a few interview videos:

4. Behind the Scenes of 'Eclipse'

Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart Eclipse photo© Summit Entertainment
Eclipse Fast Facts:
  • Bryce Dallas Howard replaces Rachelle Lefevre as 'Victoria' in this third film of the franchise. Lefevre was released by Summit after a dispute over "availability".

  • Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse was published on August 7, 2007.

  • Eclipse marks the first time Summit released a film of the series in the summer. Twilight hit theaters on November 21, 2008 and New Moon followed on November 20, 2009.

  • Eclipse is second film director David Slade has tackled featuring vampires. Slade previously helmed the gory, much darker vampire tale, 30 Days of Night starring Josh Hartnett and Danny Huston.

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