Last summer, no one knew who Xavier Samuel was. Then he was cast as the vampire Riley in "Eclipse" and suddenly found himself an object of fascination in the "Twilight" community.
Now a new crop of actors, many of whom are largely unknown, have joined the franchise for "Breaking Dawn," the two-part finale of the supernatural series. Summit Entertainment announced on Wednesday that the studio had cast the members of the Amazon, Egyptian, Irish and Romanian vampire covens and the American and European nomads. Following on the heels of Samuel in "Eclipse," which of these folks might become the fresh breakout stars of "Breaking Dawn"? Let's take a look.
Lee Pace: The 31-year-old "Pushing Daises" star is easily the biggest name announced this week. And that gives us a hint that his character, Garrett (one of the American nomads), will likely play a meaty role in "Breaking Dawn." Canceled last year, "Daises" was a critically lauded show that was perhaps a bit too quirky to attract a mainstream audience. Pace, though, is an immediately likable fellow with a boyish grin and an old soul. Expect to hear a ton about him in the coming months.
Noel Fisher: This former child actor is perhaps best known for his part in "The Riches," an AMC drama in which he excelled, going to toe-to-toe with Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver. He's one of those actors who can communicate a damaged rage with just one intense stare. His character, Vladimir (part of the Romanian coven), is not so much a smoldering vamp in the vein of Edward Cullen as a straight-up creep show. Yet that won't stop fans from clamoring for the 26-year-old Fisher's attention.
Judi Shekoni: The glamorous British actress is set to portray Zafrina of the Amazon coven. The part, which draws her into close contact with Bella and Renesmee, should give Shekoni a bunch of lines. That screen time, combined with her striking good looks, could set the actress up for an outpouring of affection from Twi-hards.
Joe Anderson: It's unclear how large Anderson's role, as European nomad Alistair, will end up being. But the guy has got acting chops: He turned what could have been a disposable supporting part in "The Crazies" into the film's most compelling character. It'll be interesting to see his look in "Breaking Dawn," as Alistair is described as having dark hair, while Anderson is a natural blond. Regardless, the 28-year-old Brit deserves more than a passing glance from the "Twilight" community.
Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn."
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