Tatum to sink his teeth into eclipse role?

Heartthrob Robert Pattinson is facing some serious competition - movie bosses are eyeing pin-up Channing Tatum for a lead role in the vampire franchise's third outing Eclipse.

Pattinson has become one of Hollywood's hottest young stars since he landed the role of bloodsucker Edward Cullen in Twilight.

But it could be time for the young star to stand in the sidelines - screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg is desperate to sign former model Tatum as nasty vampire Riley.

She tells E! Online, "There's a very big battle at the end with Riley, and I think Channing would do that so well.

"And there are some complexities to that character. He really is tragic. He's a puppet for Victoria (vampire character). So he has to break your heart a little bit at the end when he realises that she doesn't want him. Channing could do that beautifully."