To Film ‘New Moon,’ ‘Twilight’ Star Robert Pattinson Cancels Part in ‘Parts Per Billion’

CHICAGO – While “Twilight” fanatics are currently busy following the drama of whether the character Jacob Black will again be played by Taylor Lautner in the film’s “New Moon” follow up, news surfaced on Tuesday on “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson to temporarily keep followers gabbing about something else.

In order to film “New Moon,” the agent of 22-year-old Pattinson on Tuesday revealed that he must bow out of his part in the much-anticipated and lesser-known film “Parts Per Billion,” which was slated to begin filming in Jan. 2009 in Los Angeles, according to MTV.

Kristen Stewart (left) as Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen in “Twilight”.
Photo credit: Summit Entertainment

While “Twilight” fans would much likely prefer to be deprived of Pattinson’s performance in “Parts Per Billion” if it meant he wouldn’t be able to film “New Moon,” some may especially feel neglected of what was reported to be a provocative sex scene with Olivia Thirlby from “Juno” fame.

While choosing “New Moon” (which is riding on the blockbuster fame of “Twilight”) over “Parts Per Billion” is a sign that the British actor is gravitating toward more grander film over independent fame, at least Rosario Dawson is disappointed that he’s chosen more profitable pastures.

Dawson is producing the “Parts Per Billion” indie flick and was to be Pattinson’s co-star.

“Unfortunately, the prep time and production schedule on ‘New Moon’ haven’t left enough time for Robert to work on ‘Parts Per Billion’ in the first quarter of this year,” Pattison’s agent, Nicholas Frenkel, told MTV on Tuesday.

Dennis Hopper also stars in the Brian Horiuchi-directed “Parts Per Billion,” which centers on three couples whose lives are being stirred by the same cataclysmal incident. Pattinson’s departure from “Parts Per Billion” forces a swifty recast for his role in order for the show to go on as planned.

Pattinson can also be seen in the 2008 films “Little Ashes” (where he plays Salvador Dalí; the film has a limited release on March 27, 2009) and “How to Be”. He filmed both before “Twilight” and also played Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”.

“New Moon” is slated to begin filming in March 2009 and open in theaters on Nov. 20, 2009.

Read our Taylor Lautner casting story for “New Moon”.
See our 2009 Summit release slideshow with “New Moon”.
See our high-quality, 28-image “Twilight” slideshow.
Read our “Twilight” opening-weekend box-office story.
Read our “Twilight” sequel story prior to opening weekend.

By ADAM FENDELMAN Editor-in-Chief HollywoodChicago.com adam@hollywoodchicago.com