The third installment in the 'Twilight' film series, 'Eclipse,' is about to start production next month, and a new Australian actor is reportedly set to star alongside heartthrobs Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

Xavier Samuel has been hired to play the role of Riley, an attractive vampire college student who assists in the plot to kill the protagonist Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), according to The Hollywood Reporter. Riley, described as a "newborn vampire" by THR, teams up with villain Victoria (Rachelle Lefevre) in this murder scheme.

'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse' will go into production on August 17 and David Slade will be directing the film. He also directed another vampire flick '30 Days of Night' in 2007.

'Eclipse' picks up where 'New Moon' left off, continuing the love triangle between mortal Bella Swan, the werewolf Jacob Black (Lautner) and her true love Edward Cullen (Pattinson.)

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