Nearly two decades after the release of Twilight, Robert Pattinson is still discovering unexpected details in his own performance as the vampire Edward Cullen.
The Twilight movies are based on the novels by Stephenie Meyer. The franchise quickly transformed into a cultural phenomenon. Pattinson starred alongside Kristen Stewart, who portrayed Bella Swan, and Taylor Lautner, who portrayed Jacob Black. Together. At its core, Twilight is a teenage love story with supernatural elements such as vampires and werewolves thrown in. The Twilight series included five films and garnered a massive fanbase.
The actor, who became a global sensation following the film’s release in 2008, explained some of the creative decisions he made during the production of the young adult film to Vogue. And, the moment that stood out to him the most was one that he didn’t even notice himself until long after Twilight’s debut.
Pattinson looked back at a scene set in the high school cafeteria, where Edward first appears seated with his adoptive family. He further elaborated, stating that he noticed a strange gesture he made subconsciously. As the actor began to sit down, he pressed two fingers from each hand onto the table. He further elaborated, stating that he thought it was a very vampire-like thing to do. However, Pattinson admitted that upon rewatching Twilight, he found it “very strange.”
He further elaborated that the gesture had been an effort to convey a sense of elegance. At the time, he believed it would subtly showcase Edward’s demeanor. But now that it’s been a few years, Pattinson’s view on that moment has changed. The actor found it unusual and even funny that what once felt so important now strikes him as a slightly over-the-top gesture.
Despite this new realization, Pattinson is incredibly grateful for the Twilight franchise. He acknowledged the doors that the films opened for him that changed the course of his career as an actor. He said that he would not change his performance if given the opportunity. He believes that recreating those performances in the present or future might be difficult. Pattinson added that the entire cast and crew took Twilight very seriously, which feels rare for a vampire love story.
Pattinson credited Twilight’s audiences for its success and appreciated the viewers’ connection to the story and characters. The intensity of Edward and Bella’s relationship, combined with the film’s dramatic tone, helped distinguish Twilight from more traditional love stories and made it something that was entirely its own.
All five movies in the popular vampire saga, Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn Part 1, and Breaking Dawn Part 2 are currently streaming on HBO Max.
Release Date
November 21, 2008
Runtime
122 minutes
Director
Catherine Hardwicke