'New Moon' Adds New Cast Member

The long-rumored addition of Dakota Fanning to "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is now official.

People Magazine has confirmed Fanning's involvement in the sequel to "Twilight" through a representative from Summit Entertainment.

Filming for "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" is set to begin later this month. The movie, which will be directed by Chris Weitz (About a Boy), is slated to be released Nov. 20, 2009.

 According to a Summit Entertainment release: "In 'New Moon,' Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black. Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested."

Fanning, 15, will play Jane, "a sinister vampire with an angelic exterior who works for the Volturi."

As of March 1, "Twilight" has earned $190,109,313 in domestic box office since its Nov. 17, 2008, opening.

The films are based on the "Twilight" series of books by Stephenie Meyer. After "New Moon," there are two books remaining in the series, with plans to make each of the four books into a movie. In addition to her appearance in "New Moon," the character Jane appears in future installments of the saga.

In the People Magazine piece, actress Nikki Reed said there are plans to make "The Twilight Saga" films consecutively.

"We did just get a script," said Reed, who is set to play Rosalie Hale. "We're shooting the rest of the films back to back."

"Twilight" will be released on DVD and blu-ray on March 21.