'New Moon' casting: Who should play Leah Clearwater?
UPDATE: Hold your horses, Leah fans. Looks like not only did Hudgens not actually audition for the role, the character of Leah didn't even make the "New Moon" cut. Well, we can still ponder who'll be playing her in "Eclipse," can't we?
Turns out "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens auditioned for the part of frustrated werewolf Leah Clearwater in the upcoming "Twilight" sequel "New Moon." Fans already know that Leah, the only female werewolf in the tribe and Sam's former girlfriend, isn't too important at first but becomes more central in the subsequent books "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn." In fact, author Stephenie Meyer has said that if she continued any of the characters' stories, Leah's tale would be her first choice.
But is Vanessa the fans' first choice? Could she be too much sweetness and light? Maybe, maybe not. Click on the photo gallery above and take a look at nine other actresses we think should be contending for the role.
And then take this poll!
-- Denise Martin
Related:
Complete coverage of "Twilight."
Photo credit: Getty Images (all photos)
This is ridiculous. They cannot put a Disney channel character in Twillight. They're just trying to expand the fan base of Twillight. They'll loose fan base because no one wants to a stupid disney channel character in a film too good for the movies. If people aren't fans of Twilight let them not be. They're not worth it. As for the part of Leah, Vannessa coming from HSM can not jump to being a mean wolf-girl. It just doesn't work. She's not talented enough for that. I mean there are so many other people out there who can reprise the role of Leah. NOT FROM DISNEY CHANNEL. Now if she is going out with Taylor Lautner (Yeah lets go there lets go there) does Zac Efron know about this? (That I can't control) Because if he does they got one jacked-up relationship. And now if Zac and Vanessa aren't going out and thats all for publictity, that's another thing. Now if I'm gonna go to the movies with my friends and pay $19.95 per ticket, I think they should put what the people wanna see in it. Heck we are the ones who pay for it. Point blank being, the people(us) need to be listened to. So, MR.CHRIS WEITS(or whatever)needs to look at the polls and see what the PEOPLE want. And BFF ,S,says that Catherine Hardwicke would have never even considered Vanessa for the role, at all. And if i VANESSA ANN WHATEVER(or any other disney channel star) is in New Moon, I will not go see it. And I lots of my friends will not go see either.
Posted by: Precious | January 16, 2009 at 01:10 PM
No, disney people. They have enough time to go be in other movies NOT New Moon or Eclipse or Breaking Dawn.
Posted by: Jessie Cullen | January 16, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Jessica Szohr!!!! seriously i dont think disney actresses should get the role their image has been centered on that and they look way too young and sweet i mean Leah Clearwater is not "sweet girl" she is tough but beautiful and Jessica Szohr has her tough edges in her appearance but yet manages to look stunning. Her appearance completely resembles Leah Clearwater. I dont think that Twilight / Disney fans should chose an actress their fond of just because their fans i think they should pick the best person to take Leah from the book to the screen. Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato are all great and I myself are a fan but they dont have the right characteristics to BE Leah. She has to be somewhat indian looking and tough. All 3 of them either have one and dont have the other or just have none.
Pick the most promising..... Jessica Szohr!!!!
Posted by: *Nessie* | January 16, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Are u serious??!!! DISNEY "stars"????? wats wrong whit u? do u realy picture demy selena or vanessa like warewolfs?? idiots...
Posted by: Tamara | January 17, 2009 at 06:03 AM
I think the role should be played by a Native actress!!!! being native i know it's slightly diffucult to find the talent but i also know there are people out there who could easily fill that roll! It saddens me because "Twilight" brought alot of pride to native people everywhere, not that they're the spokesperson for native people world wide. but it's and AMAZING BOOK, MOVIE, EVERYTHING! I don't feel they need to sellout to make it better because like i said it's amazing already regardless of their lack of funds. they need to realize they have alot of loyal fans who would like them to stick to the book! don't ruin it... we don't need any poptart disney whoevers... the right people are out there keep looking...
Posted by: Angel Rain | January 17, 2009 at 06:30 AM
Q'orianka Kilcher should be Leah. She's the only native american leading lady in Hollywood. She's gorgeous and has a great depth to her that would add so much to the film. She has won tons of acting awards and she's done so much to help the native american populations around the world. Here's her IMDB, check it out... http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0452963/
Also, for Leah's bro, Seth, Q'orianka's younger brother, Kainoa Kilcher, would be a great choice. He's soooo handsome and is a new up and coming actor. He's also an outstanding martial artist and has one of the kindest hearts. And here's his IMDB link... http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2239827/
Posted by: sweetness2121 | January 17, 2009 at 12:13 PM
I think Q'Orianka Kilcher should play Leah Clearwater.
I checked Wikipedia, and it says that both Q'Orianka Kilcher and Taylor Lautner's birthdays are the same day! - what a coincidence!
Posted by: AMB(: | January 17, 2009 at 05:20 PM
i cant believe that they are even thinking about hiring the Disney stars for Leah's Part!
Posted by: alli | January 17, 2009 at 05:31 PM
PLEASEPLEASEPLEASE.
Kristen Kreuk or Miranda Cosgrove.
We don't need a Vanessa face - sweet and perfect.
Leah's a badass, we need a rebel.
Posted by: YunaKona | January 17, 2009 at 05:37 PM
KRISTEN HERRERA shes perfect. shes slightly native American and shes pretty enough to play Leah! look her up!
Posted by: alli | January 17, 2009 at 05:42 PM
Ok so first off, Demi's album is called Don't Forget not Never Forget but I guess either which way you forgot...
Secondly no way can a disney star play Leah, she is too opinionated and headstrong to be played by the young stars singing about who they will be and the prom...
Can't they just find a Native American actress because from what I recall Leah wasn't described as Chinese or Hispanic...
Posted by: no disney stars please! | January 18, 2009 at 04:18 AM
I know many people have mentioned this but cut the crap ith the disney stars there not the only ones who bring in money! Vanessa , Demi and Selena neither have the face of Leah Clearwater. There faces are beautiful dont get me wrong just to ...sweet and innocent and disney... and shes a werewolf haha!!!
Posted by: Adrienne | January 18, 2009 at 06:50 AM
Jana Mashonee, a Lumbee and former Grammy nominee, is beautiful and would be perfect for the part. She also has a new album about to be released called New Moon Born. Perhaps, one or more of the songs from this ablum could be used in the movie.
Posted by: Ernie | January 18, 2009 at 10:05 AM
I would recommend
Dilshad Vadsaria
Sonya Balmores
for the cast of Leah Clearwater, other wise I think Daniella Alonso is a good choice and Jessica Szohr. Please take these into consideration, I truly believe that Nickolodeon and Disney stars do not belong in twilight.
Posted by: anjelica | January 18, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Michelle Rodriguez!
Come on everyone let's not have any disney channel stars destroy what's left of the Twilight series!
Leah is a hard-core chick I think, we need someone who can act and be someone who is tough and completely kickass!
I want Leah to be played by Michelle Rodriguez !!!!!!
Posted by: Thea | January 18, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Q'orianka Kilcher would be a great Leah. She was in The New World with Colin Farrel. No Disney people!!!!
Posted by: feria | January 18, 2009 at 07:53 PM
JESSICA ZSOHR!
AND I'M ALSO FEELING CAMILLA BELLE.
THEY COULD WORK
Posted by: celly | January 18, 2009 at 07:57 PM
Leah Clearwater should be played by Rachel Bilson from the movie Jumper!
Posted by: Krys | January 18, 2009 at 09:05 PM
ugh. bad bad choices. pick someone native american! duh. I think Taylor Lautner is really good for Jacob though. mayeb a bit on the small side but he is good. anyhoo we're on about leah
whoever said kristen kreuk. ew. no. she has *the* most annoying voice second only to vanessa hudgens. I used to really like her but either her character was bad in msallville or she just a bad actress because by the time she left smallville in series 7 i wanted to kill the woman. no kidding. she was very "help me i need rescuing again". not at all Leah like.
Leah should be played by a real Native American but also by someone who has .. 'sass'. A Native American Erica Durance/Lois Lane would be awesome.
also. Twilight rules :)
Posted by: Twilight | January 19, 2009 at 06:49 AM
Q'Orianka Kilcher
Posted by: Antwinette | January 19, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Why isn't Megan Fox on this list? :(
Posted by: Somer | January 19, 2009 at 01:03 PM
I think Rana LaPine should be leah!! (http://s408.photobucket.com/albums/pp164/NativeDancer/?action=view¤t=ranaasleahg.jpg) She's half Mohawk, and I think she'd be PERFECT.
Posted by: Girl In The Fire | January 19, 2009 at 02:02 PM
i think Jessica Szohr suits da role of leah !!
Posted by: chloe | January 19, 2009 at 06:21 PM
So. I am native.
Pretty sure I have said this before, but I I would LOVE to see a native play this part.
Q'orianka Kilcher ... good choice.
She is beautiful, can look angry, and I think pull it off well!
If I were an actress I would go for this part haha.
Posted by: t.adams | January 19, 2009 at 08:12 PM
A REAL NATIVE AMERICAN PLEASE!!!!!
Posted by: nicole | January 19, 2009 at 08:15 PM