Riley Has Been Cast For Eclipse!

That's right, folks! Xavier Samuel has been cast as Riley in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Here's an article that confirms it. And GUESS WHAT! He's AUSTRALIAN! YAYY! You go dude!

So this is what the face of an impressionable lad turned corrupted bloodsucker looks like.

It looks fang-licking good if you ask us!

Summit Entertainment has tapped Australian newcomer Xavier Samuel to play Riley in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third film in the burgeoning franchise based on Stephenie Meyer's megaselling novels, according to the Hollywood Reporter's Risky Business blog.

As fans of the series know, Riley starts off as a plain, old human college student, only to fall under the spell of the increasingly vengeful Victoria and, as a newborn vampire, join her crusade against Bella.

Among the names bandied about for the Riley role were Tom "Draco Malfoy" Felton and Channing Tatum, whom Meyer once said would play the part "beautifully."

Well, we think Samuel's doing beautifully so far...

Eclipse is expected to start shooting sometime next month in Vancouver in time for its June 30, 2010 release, while Twilight fans are expected to go into overdrive any day now as they await the Nov. 20 arrival of New Moon.

(Then theres this article from Just Jared.)

Australian baby face Xavier Samuel has been cast in Eclipse, the third flick in the Twilight franchise.

“I don’t have any facial hair, so it will be a while before I play the gruff leading man,” Xavier has said. “Maybe one day I’ll get to play my actual age. For now my baby face has condemned me to play the teenager.”

According to THR, Xavier, 25, will play newborn vampire Riley, a good-looking college student who joins the plot of villain Victoria to murder protagonist Bella (Kristen Stewart). Riley is corrupted by Victoria, for whom he has an inexplicable weakness.

Eclipse stars shooting next month in Vancouver.

WHAT DO YOU THINK of Twilight’s latest star — HOT or NOT?