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Robert Pattinson’s Twilight role catapulted him to international fame and established him as a prominent figure in Hollywood. Robert Pattinson‘s role in Twilight as Edward Cullen, a centuries-old vampire with a brooding and mysterious demeanor, was pivotal in bringing Stephenie Meyer’s beloved character to life on the big screen. But while the actor seemed like the perfect person for the role, he almost didn’t land the iconic part initially. According to the film’s director, the producers had doubts about Pattinson’s appearance.
Robert Pattinson’s Twilight Role Almost Went to Someone Else
Robert Pattinson’s Twilight role undoubtedly captured the hearts of millions worldwide and solidified his status as a Hollywood heartthrob. But surprisingly, the producers initially had their reservations about casting Robert Pattinson on Twilight. On Monday, the movie’s director, Catherine Hardwicke, opened up about the casting process during a chat on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Hardwicke told listeners that the producers were convinced Pattinson didn’t fit the conventional image of the charming vampire heartthrob.
“When he came over to my house, he had black bangs for hair and was kind of out of shape because he was hanging out at the pub all the time,” she recalled.
However, Hardwicke saw something special in Pattinson and fought for his inclusion in the audition process. In the end, she managed to convince the production company that the actor was the man for the job. She noted they would do a makeover on Pattinson’s hair and get him to hit the gym till he became gorgeous.
Pattinson Convinces Hardwicke and Stewart
After Hardwicke convinced the production company, Pattinson made sure not to make the director regret her decision. During the first audition with co-star Kristen Stewart, the Harry Potter star sealed his place as the perfect person to play Cullen. Hardwicke recounted how the audition panned out during an appearance on The Big Hit Show podcast in 2022.
“They did the kissing scene and he fell off and landed right there on the floor,” Hardwicke explained.
In the end, the director relayed that Stewart said it had to be Pattinson or no one else. In the subsequent months after landing the role, the actor had an amazing time on set, receiving a lot of love and encouragement from Hardwicke. Ultimately, the film turned out to be a hit, grossing $3.3 billion at the Box Office. Also, Pattinson has gone on to star in other movies including The Batman and Tenet.