Posted 08.31.10 by Jenny The first new cast member has been announced for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. Rami Malek, a 29-year-old actor of Egyptian descent, will be playing vampire Benjamin in Breaking Dawn Part 2. If he looks familiar, you may have seen him (in headdress and mummy wrap) as Ahkmenrah in both Night at the Museum movies.
Benjamin — who's part of the Egyptian coven with Tia, Amun, and Kebi — can control the natural elements (fire, water, earth, and air), a unique ability among vampires. He only appears at the end of the book, with the rest of the vampire covens, and doesn't have a huge part in how the story plays out. That said, it's possible screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg will create bigger parts for select characters, definitely an option that could play well for fan favorites.
Author Stephenie Meyer describes Benjamin as boyish-looking, with olive skin and black hair. What's your opinion on this casting, Twilighters? Does Malek look exactly how you pictured him? And more important, is he a big enough character to warrant your attention? Let us know in the comments.