Twilight, New Moon and True Blood: The Vampire Feud is On!

by Troy Rogers

When you’re at the top of the heap you can only enjoy your exclusivity for so long before the up and comers start taking shots trying to chip away at your position above the crowd. Currently the top dog of the vampire world is Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga and the upcoming sequel New Moon, starring Robert Pattinson, Kristin Stewart, and Taylor Lautner, but with Twilight’s phenomenal success it was bound to attract some competition and a rivalry aside from the Buffy comparisons.

The inevitable Twilight Saga spark over Twilight, New Moon and True Blood was bound to ignite, as the HBO vampire series, True Blood, is the first to draw … true blood. According to a report by MTV, True Blood star, Stephen Moyer, who plays Texas vampire Bill Compton, had choice but colorful Twilight words for the big screen New Moon competition, namely the Robert Pattinson embodied Edward Cullen of Twilight and New Moon fame.

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Welch gives us some insight into the mini-movie shown during the ‘three-way date’ scene in ‘New Moon.’

By Larry Carroll

SANTA MONICA, California — It’s a beloved moment in the “New Moon” novel, a rare moment of comic relief as Bella Swan attempts to get over her Edward Cullen-induced heartbreak by going on what becomes a three-way date with the love-struck Jacob Black and Mike Newton. Recently, actor Michael Welch made big news by assuring Twilighters that the scene would be in November’s “Twilight” sequel — and now, we’ve got the scoop on the key tweak masterminded by director Chris Weitz.

“I really should’ve checked with someone if this is information I can give away or not,” grinned Welch, the fan favorite who plays puppy dog-like Mike Newton in the blockbuster series. “But, whatever — here we are.”

Welch stopped by the MTV studios to discuss such far-ranging topics as his concern for Robert Pattinson’s safety and the “three-way date,” a scene that has Bella, Mike and Jacob at a movie theater, watching a horror film. But, in the grand tradition of such films as “The Player,” “Bowfinger” and “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” director Weitz is inserting his own mini “movie within a movie” into the mix.

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‘Is it time to start getting concerned here?’ actor asks after hearing about RPattz being grazed by a cab.

By Larry Carroll

SANTA MONICA, California — When Robert Pattinson was grazed by a moving taxicab recently, the news rocked legions of “Twilight” fans who feared for their favorite actor’s life. His series co-star Michael Welch, however, was surprised to hear the news when he sat down with MTV News on Tuesday.

“No,” marveled the actor, who plays Mike Newton in the films. “You are how I stay in touch with this stuff.”

Once we briefed Mike on the recent near-tragedy, the affable actor expressed concern for RPattz’s health — and a hope that the star’s skyrocketing fame crests soon.

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Entertainment Weekly has scooped the movie tie-in book cover for The Twilight Saga: New Moon that strays from previously imagery from either film.

The new cover relegates Rob Pattinson as Edward Cullen into the moon while Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black steals the spotlight bearhugging a submissive Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan.

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Breaking Dawn: Will the Movie Beat the Book?

By Jenny Davies

After Robert Pattinson’s announcement that Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in Stephenie Meyer’s ridiculously popular Twilight Saga, will hit the big screen, we got to thinking: Will it make a good movie? And more important, will it turn out better than the book?

Breaking Dawn is very different from the first three novels in the series (Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse) and saw numerous mixed reviews during its release week. The millions-strong fan base was divided — everyone either loved it or hated it.

We’ve come up with 10 ways the movie could either rake in major box-office bucks or epically fail in a way not seen since Speed Racer dropped off the face of the planet. Even Pattinson might not be enough to save this one.

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Enter Our ‘Class Of ‘09 Shout-Out Search’!

Winner of video contest will get to go to Twi-Con!

By MTV News staff

Attention graduating seniors!

During MTV News’ Class of ‘09 Week, we’ve celebrated high school graduation season with stories and memories of graduation from some of your favorite celebrities — including “Twilight” star Cam Gigandet — and touched on some key cultural milestones for this group of seniors. One of the biggest milestones is, of course, “Twilight.” With that said, we’re still looking for video of YOU representing for your senior peers in our “Class of ‘09 Shout-Out Search,” so we’re upping the stakes by giving you a chance to see the “Twilight” cast members! Interested yet?

It’s simple: we want graduating seniors to shout out to the Class of ‘09 with a video message on Your.MTV.com. Tell us about your own hopes and dreams, what you think the makes the class of ‘09 rock, just say “best of luck!” … any or all of above. Play it straight, spit some rhymes, act it out as a “Twilight” character — do it your way. The video we decide is the most fun, interesting and original is the winner!

As if Robert Pattinson getting hit and attacked this week weren’t enough, now we have Robsten haters attacking them—with suspicious pics conveniently added for that extra-special, fake drama touch. Yes, yes, we’ve seen the shot of Michael Angaranosupposedly leaving Kristen Stewart’s house after hanging out together. And we’re not making any big fuss over it for multiple reasons. For one, timing’s a little shaky. The pic was taken yesterday, and we have footage of Kristen arriving at Joan Jett’s hotel at 12 and staying until 6.

We don’t totally know the deal with Splash News, if they are a Radar reporting false Mikesten stories, but if their dish was totally accurate, what in the heck did they need to clear up? Something’s just a bit off here—and it’s not Michael’s blatant imitation of Rob. If you ask us, this screams staged, or just plain as desperate as it gets. Remind you of any wacky photos from the past?

We told you Pattz and Stew weren’t going public anytime soon, but just for all of you, we checked with our Robsten insiders to find out what the deal is. And it ain’t pretty…
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As people-friendly as studios would like you to think they are, they aren’t—at least when it comes to ordinary people sullying their star-studded events. Anyone who has covered a film premiere knows they’re really just self-congratulatory PR gatherings limited to stars, moguls, friends of said stars and moguls, and the press. A smattering of ogling fans may work their way down the red carpet via radio contests or Web giveaways, but that’s about it. Any riffraff that wants to see or meet a star gets the exciting privilege of standing behind a cordon and getting barked at by security clowns.

I’ve received no indication from Summit Entertainment that the New Moon premiere will be any different…

Officially, the studio tells me, it has no confirmed details on that premiere. But here’s how things work in general.

“The more high-profile the movie, the harder it would be for the general public—and less than A-list stars—to get tickets,” says publicist and former Sony publicity associate Marc Kruskol. “There are rows set aside for the stars, the filmmakers and their guests. Studio bigwigs usually have reserved seats as well. Other invited guests include agents and other industry-related folks.”

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You see, Twilight/New Moon’s Dr. Carlisle Cullen has a bet with his best friend Rob “Rob D.” DeFranco. If Facinelli doesn’t get 500,000 followers on Twitter by tomorrow, he has to give DeFranco the back of his Twilight director’s chair.

You know, that’s the piece of fabric emblazoned with Mr. Facinelli’s name…

“Marc,” Facinelli wrote in his email, “I need your help to win a bet. I’m sure you have caught wind of this bet my friend has with me. Rob was at my house and wanted the backing of my Twilight chair. He loves to bet, so he bet me for it.”

Now, if Facinelli gets his half-million in time, DeFranco has to dance down Hollywood Boulevard in a bikini while singing Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” and holding a sign that says, “Twitter Me.”

But has Facinelli hit his mark yet? There seems to be some wonkiness with his count. At one point yesterday, his page said over 500,000 followers, but by this morning it dipped all the way down to about 200,000. Hmm…

“When the recount comes in and all the hanging chads are counted I am positive that I will declare victory and Rob will be dancing in a bikini, damn it,” Facinelli wrote.

As an added incentive to help him win, Facinelli promises to give the chair backing to one of his followers.

“Help me, Marc Malkin,” he wrote. “You could be the chosen follower who gets that chair backing. :-)”
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Despite the fact that Robert Pattinson was supposedly hit by a cab running from insane stalkers, not to mention that alarming security breach that left Pattz straight-up vulnerable to the crazy fans, Summit, the studio Rob’s currently working for while filming Remember Me in New York, reveals it isn’t overly worried. A spokesperson for the studio states:

“Robert Pattinson is fine. The reports are exaggerated, and the accident was not caused by fans. Production continues.”

The Summit rep refused to say what didcause the cabbie accident, or whether or not additional precautions were being taken for Pattinson. Jeez, why the hell not? But first, a disclaimer: Sources where Rob was filming, as well as bystanders, tell us they did not see the accident. Remember, Radar also “broke” that Kristen Stewart’s boyfriend was chasing her around Italy (uh, didn’t happen).

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