Kristen Stewart Not Dropped From ‘Snow White And The Huntsman’ Sequel

Reports surfaced on Tuesday that Kristen Stewart was dropped from the sequel to "Snow White and the Huntsman." The Hollywood Reporter alleged that the follow-up to the hit summer film was being redeveloped as a spin-off -- focusing solely on the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth). The claim was refuted by Universal Pictures (GE) on Wednesday.

In a statement to the Wrap, the studio's co-chairman, Donna Langely, addressed the rumors.

"We are extremely proud of 'Snow White and the Huntsman' and we're currently exploring all options to continue the franchise," said Langely. "Any reports that Kristen Stewart has been dropped are false."

Talk of Stewart's removal from the film comes in the wake of her highly publicized affair with "Snow White" director Rupert Sanders. The "Twilight" sensation was photographed in a romantic embrace with the 44-year-old, who is married with two children.

News of her infidelity erupted into scandal, and she responded by issuing an unexpected public apology to Robert Pattinson, her boyfriend of three years.

To say that Stewart's "momentary indiscretion" has tarnished her image is an understatement. Since news of the affair broke, the actress has received death threats via Twitter and faced a storm of media criticism -- Fox News dubbed her a "home wrecker." "Twilight" fans, who have been vital to her success, were distraught -- one sobbed uncontrollably in a video post.

Jodie Foster, who played Stewart's mother in the 2001 film "Panic Room," took to the Daily Beast on Wednesday to defend the 22-year-old.

"Eventually this all passes," wrote Foster in her open letter. "The public horrors of today eventually blow away. And, yes, you are changed by the awful wake of reckoning they leave behind. You trust less. You calculate your steps. You survive. Hopefully in the process you don't lose your ability to throw your arms in the air again and spin in wild abandon. That is the ultimate F.U. and -finally -- the most beautiful survival tool of all. Don't let them take that away from you."

According to TMZ, Stewart is angered that the entire affair has been pinned on her.

"Kristen can't believe the public isn't painting Rupert Sanders as the bad guy," a source purportedly told the site. "She's grousing that he's 19 years her senior and was 'in a position of power over her' ... being a director of a movie she had just shot and presumably someone she was going to work with again."

Aside from a few reported sightings, the actress has yet to make a public appearance since the affair made headlines. It is unclear how the scandal will affect promotional events for her upcoming films "Breaking Dawn: Part 2" and "On the Road."

Stewart and Pattinson are slated to promote the final "Twilight" installment later this year. The two were initially scheduled to be co-presenters at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 6.

A source close to MTV allegedly told the Daily Mirror that the pair's appearance may not go ahead as planned.

"This event could be a real embarrassment," the source claims. "The idea was for them to jointly present awards but that is looking unlikely now."