Hardwicke claims Howard was first choice for ‘Twilight’ role

In a stunning piece of spin on the dropping of Rachelle Lefevre from “Eclipse”, director Catherine Hardwicke claims Bryce Dallas Howard was always the first choice to play villainous vampire Victoria in the original “Twilight” movie.

Summit signed Dallas Howard on to replace Lefevre. Fellow redhead Lefevre, who stars in the first two installments, was dropped for a supposed scheduling conflict, setting the Twifans into full scream mode.

Hardwicke said Dallas Howard was always producers’ top pick, but the star initially rejected the part.

“I know we originally asked Bdh (Bryce Dallas Howard) to do the first movie but she thought it was too small a part at that time,” noted Hardwicke, who was herself dropped from “New Moon” in favor of Chris Weitz.

Hardwicke admitted she sympathizes with Lefevre, but insists she only knows about what has been reported in the media.

“Of course I cast (Lefevre), so I wish (producers at Summit Entertainment) could have worked out something. I wasn