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Michelle Trachtenberg Couldn’t Replace Kristen Stewart (as Rob’s Girlfriend or Otherwise)

by Lindsay Mannering on December 2, 2011 at 3:40 PM

michelle trachtenbergMichelle Trachtenberg. If you're anything like me, you know the name, you can picture her face, but you're not really sure how you know her. Kristen Stewart, on the other hand, we know close to everything about her -- her age, her relationship status, how well she and her mom get along, and her entire filmography is ingrained in our minds. But! It could've been oh so different. It's hard to imagine Twilight any other way, but Michelle recently told Us Weekly that she could easily have been Bella. Well now. That changes everything.

Michelle joked that she was up for a role in Twilight because "there are only so few pale girls in Hollywood" (ha!), but it sounds to me like she had a viable shot at starring in the movie.

She and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke go back a few -- they worked on the movie Thirteen together and Michelle explains that because of her schedule, she was never able to commit to being in the vampire saga that's changed our lives.

Maybe it's because I don't like change, but I cannot for the life of me picture anyone other than KStew as Bella. Her permanent grimace, her vulnerability yet strength is something Kristen really brings to life in Bella. I can't say Michelle wouldn't have done an amazing job, but I think the casting directors made the right choice.

If Michelle had gotten the role, do you think she would be dating Robert Pattinson? No, right? I can't tell. This is kind of like when I read that Jessica Biel almost got the role that Rachel McAdams got in The Notebook and I couldn't sleep for two weeks. Would Jessica be dating Ryan Gosling? Would I then be dating Justin Timberlake? It's all so complicated.

Even though I wasn't consulted on these casting decisions, I'm glad that the right woman was chosen for both roles. Sounds like Michelle isn't bitter, either. She's got a great part on Gossip Girl and having starred in Buffy, she'd "already done the vampire thing." I can't speak for Jessica Biel, but she's got JTimbs. And I think she's done some movies? Not sure.

Do you think Michelle Trachtenberg would've made a good Bella Swan?

 

Photo via Michael N. Todaro/Getty

Filed Under: twilight

Comments

83
  • Lucre...
    --

    LucretiaMcEvil

    December 2, 2011 at 3:54 PM
    I don't watch Twilight, but did catch some of one of the movies on TV Thanksgiving weekend.

    The color of the movie hurt my eyes. Why is everything green-looking? Everything about the movie sucked. I'm glad I saw Robert Pattinson in "Water For Elephants" before I ever saw him in Twilight. Otherwise, I might not like him.

    I think he and Kristen Stewart are perfect for each other, though. I've read that both of them have horrible hygiene.
  • Bertha21
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    Bertha21

    December 2, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    Yeah I think she would have been better.


  • Rache...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Rachel Schiller

    December 2, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    She would have been a great Bella Swan.


  • cocob...
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    cocobeannns

    December 2, 2011 at 4:08 PM
    I think Kristen is a horrible actress.
  • Court...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Courtney Paige Neale

    December 2, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    Come on now, Harriet the Spy!! You MUST remember her from that! I think she wouldve made an awesome Bella.


  • Cee
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Cee

    December 2, 2011 at 4:10 PM
    I don't watch Twilight, but I've seen Kristen Stewart..attempt to act and a broom stick would have had more emotion than her. She just stands there with her mouth slightly open..or bites her lip. She looks stoned out of her mind too. Have you noticed that in the first
  • Cee
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Cee

    December 2, 2011 at 4:12 PM
    aack..my comment got cut But have you noticed that in the first Snow White trailer they don't even have her speak? Because..shes not a good actress.
  • Mama2...
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    Mama2MonkeyBoys

    December 2, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    If she played Bella the same way she played perpetually-whiney-annoying-as-hell Dawn in Buffy, Twilight would have sucked. More. (The movie, I mean...obviously).

    I think Kristen was the right choice - of the two.


  • Jenni...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Jennifer Just

    December 2, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    I am not a KStew fan.  She is a horrible actress and only has one look on that sad face.  Oh, and the hand fidgeting! and the lip biting! She does that in EVERYTHING.  I wish they would've chosen Michelle.


  • kebrowni
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    kebrowni

    December 2, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    I agree with Mama2MonkeyBoys. I think she would've been an awful choice. And I actually like Kristen Stewart. She's no Julia Roberts, but she fits the part of Bella.


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