Writer Wants Channing Tatum For ‘The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse’

CHICAGO – Channing Tatum, the star of “Fighting” and “G.I. Joe,” may want to brush up on his vampire mythology because Melissa Rosenberg, the writer of “Twilight” and “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon” wants the muscular leading man to play Riley in the third film in the Stephenie Meyer franchise, “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse”.

According to E! News today, Rosenberg spoke to the network over the weekend at the Los Angeles Time Book Festival benefit for the Writers Guild Foundation and said, “There’s a very big battle at the end with Riley, and I think Channing would do that so well. And there are some complexities to the character. He really is tragic. He’s a puppet for Victoria [bad-girl vampire played by Rachelle Lefevre]. So he has to break your heart a little bit at the end when he realizes that she doesn’t want him. Channing could do that beautifully.”

Star brawler Shawn MacArthur (Channing Tatum) faces off with an opponent in the action film Fighting.
Image credit: Phillip V. Caruso and Rogue Pictures

Rosenberg went on to reveal details about “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon,” currently filming under the direction of Chris Weitz in Vancouver. She allays concerns that Robert Pattinson may not play a major role in the film as he doesn’t in the book.

She said, “In the book, he’s actually an enormous presence in [Bella’s] mind. He’s so present in her mind throughout the entire center of the book, so we really played off that, and it kept him alive in a slightly different way, but fans will feel it’s true to the book. You can’t have a Twilight without Rob Pattinson.”

David Slade (“30 Days of Night”) was recently hired to direct “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse”.

Chris Weitz is currently directing “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon” starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Dakota Fanning, and Michael Sheen.

“Twilight,” which stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Ashley Greene and Taylor Lautner from director Catherine Hardwicke, has grossed $178 million domestically. This has put the “New Moon” and “Eclipse” sequels into production immediately. The fourth book, “Breaking Dawn,” is sure to follow soon.

Read about Michael Sheen joining “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about the teaser poster for “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about Dakota Fanning in “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about DVD release parties for “Twilight”.
Learn how to win a walk-on part in “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about Bronson Pelletier in “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read our story about the release date of “The Twilight Saga’s Eclipse”.
Read about the new name and logo for “The Twilight Saga’s New Moon”.
Read about why Catherine Hardwicke left the “Twilight” franchise.
Read our story about AnnaLynne McCord auditioning for “New Moon”.
Read our story about Dakota Fanning talking about “New Moon”.
Read our story about the open casting call for “New Moon”.
Read our story about Lucy Hale auditioning for “New Moon”.
See our 2009 Summit release slideshow with “New Moon”.
See our high-quality, 28-image “Twilight” slideshow.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com