LAPUSH — Look out Twilight fans, the leader of “the pack” will be in LaPush for Quileute Days next month.
Solomon Trimble, who played Sam Uley in the movie version of “Twilight,” will be the special guest at the annual celebration July 17-19, said Jackie Jacobs, Quileute tribal publicist.
Trimble, who is Mescalero Apache and Lakota, will be the first actor from the movie, released last November, to visit the North Olympic Peninsula in a “Twilight” capacity.
He will be available for a photo opportunity on First Beach during the celebration.
The days and times were not available Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to have Solomon Trimble as our special guest for Quileute Days,” said tribal chairwoman Carol Hatch.
“He has always shown us much respect in interviews about his role in ‘Twilight’ and his desire to keep authenticity to the role.
“He has a huge fan base, and we are a part of that fan collective. It is going to be a real treat to have him join us.”
Dozens of message boards by fans proclaiming “Team Solomon Trimble” supported his casting in the first movie, and a couple of e-mail petitions circulated when he was not recast for “New Moon,” the sequel due to be released this fall.
Although author Stephenie Meyer’s fictional Twilight saga is set in Forks, LaPush and Port Angeles, neither film has any scenes from the North Olympic Peninsula.
This year’s theme of Quileute Days is “Legends of the Wolf — Fact and Fiction,” acknowledging the fact that Sam, along with several other Quileute teens, are depicted as being transformed into werewolves in New Moon.
The Quileute have no werewolf legends.
The Twilight series details several supposed legends about the Quileute. While some of them are similar to actual Quileute legends, many were changed to fit the plot of the books in which wolves and vampires are enemies.
The Twilight saga details the romance between human Bella Swan, the daughter of the Forks police chief, and vampire Edward Cullen — as well as the story of her best friend, Jacob Black.
In “Twilight,” it is Trimble as Sam who delivers the line to Bella that the reason Edward doesn’t show up at a party at First Beach is that “the Cullens don’t come here.”
It is because of Trimble’s portrayal of a Quileute teen, and that very line, that he was invited to the celebration, Jacobs said.
“It is the first indication that there is something going on between the Cullens and the Quileute, so we thought it fitting to extend the invitation to him,” Jacobs said.
Quileute aspect
“We wanted to focus on the Quileute aspect of the film, and First Beach was a significant locale in Twilight.
“We wanted to share this [Quileute Days] experience with Twilight fans.”
Trimble has been a traditional Native American Grass Dancer since age 3. “Twilight” was his cinematic debut, Jacobs said.
He served as a cultural consultant for a few films by Oregon Public Broadcasting in association with PBS, Jacobs said.
Trimble will not play the role of Sam in “New Moon.”
A bulked-up Sam will be played by Chaske Spenser.
In the book version of New Moon, the teens physically change dramatically from how they look in “Twilight” by growing very tall and muscular once they begin transforming into werewolves.
Quileute Days, meanwhile, is a celebration of the cultural heritage and modern lifestyle.
The celebration also will include a traditional salmon bake, Quileute arts and crafts, dancing and songs, adult and youth softball tournaments, a parade and a fireworks display.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
