Fanning to join Twilight sequel

Dakota Fanning will star as Jane in the New Moon

Actress Dakota Fanning is to star in New Moon, the sequel to teen vampire film Twilight, it has been confirmed.

The 15-year-old War of the Worlds star will play Jane in the film, a member of the evil Volturi coven of vampires.

In the series of books on which the film is based, Jane is able to manipulate a person's mind to make them believe they are in excruciating pain.

Filming is due to begin at the end of March in Vancouver with the movie scheduled to be released in November.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly at the January premiere of her latest film Push, Fanning said: "I am a very big fan of the books. I read them all and Jane is an interesting part."

Meanwhile, actress Drew Barrymore has reportedly confirmed that she is being considered to direct Eclipse, the third movie in the blockbuster franchise.

"I'm one of the directors that is being talked about, which is great, because I'm a director now," Associated Press reported Barrymore as saying in a recent interview.

"But, you know, they'll make their choice," she added.

Barrymore is making her feature directorial debut in Whip It! starring Oscar-nominated actress Ellen Page, which is due for release later this year.

The Golden Compass director Chris Weitz is directing New Moon, the second film based on Stephenie Meyer's best-selling series, after taking over the series from Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke.

Twilight topped the US box office in November after taking $69.6m (