The first part of 2018 was a very good one for The Walking Dead fans. Not only did we get the highly-anticipated return of the show’s main characters, but we had some pretty awesome new additions to the cast as well.
One of the biggest additions was former The Good Place actor, John Carroll Lynch. The Walking Dead fanatics will recognize Lynch from his role as Freddy, and while his appearance might not be as big as some other newcomers, his character’s arc was definitely one to watch.
Since then, the second half of 2018 has been pretty thrilling as well. We’ve gotten some amazing visuals from the upcoming Godzilla: King of the Monsters and a new trailer for the highly anticipated Toy Story 4.
However, none of this would be possible without the help of Hollywood’s elite. While some might see working with famous actors like Brad Pitt or Jonah Hill as a chore (and sometimes, it can be), producing a movie usually entails at least some of the following: actors, writers, directors, and producers. For the most part, the people who lay the bricks of Hollywood are extremely talented and skilled, which is why their trailers are so good.
As 2019 begins, it’s time for another round of trailers, and this time, it’s the turn of the biggest superstar in the world. While some might consider Robert Pattinson the face of Hollywood, his rise to fame hasn’t been easy, and it certainly hasn’t been plain sailing.
Pattinson was born in London in 1986. His family moved to Scotland when he was a child, and he grew up in Edinburgh. After finishing boarding school in London, he headed to Scotland to study at the Edinburgh College. While there, he wrote and directed the 2007 short film, Sex Education. The film starred Pattinson and showcased some of his comedic talents. However, it wasn’t until after he graduated from Edinburgh that his career really took of. In 2012, he starred in the critically-acclaimed movie, Dark Shadows, which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. He followed this with another hit, the comedy, A Late Night Wedding, and then in 2015, the blockbuster movie, Pattinson. He’s even made a foray into TV, with appearances on Broad City and Vice Versa.
When it comes to his acting career, Pattinson is usually cast in comedic roles. However, his next role might be the one he’s been waiting for. The film is called Bel Ami and it’s based on a Georges Lepassaigne novel that was first published in 1874. The story follows a young man named Gaspard, who falls for a womanizer named Bel Ami. Together, they hatch a plan to marry, converse, and then divorce, so that Gaspard can marry again and again. However, even the most cynical would be taken aback by the twists and turns that this historical romance has in store. It currently has an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics saying that it’s an “ambitious, richly textured novel that rewards multiple readings.” If you’re a fan of thrillers or mysteries, then this might be the book you’ve been waiting for. It was originally published in French, so those who want to read it in the original can do so. But for those of us who want to watch the trailer, it’s right here.
The Making of “Bel Ami”
It’s been two years since we’ve heard from Pattinson. While he’d been in the public eye since starring in the Twilight movies, it wasn’t until the release of the final installment, Eclipse, that he went back to work. He followed this up with another movie, Midnight Sun, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2016. The movie was well-received, if a bit confusing to those who didn’t read the accompanying novel. But what’s clear is that the actor has been furiously working on new material. So much so, that he didn’t have time to follow up on all of his promises from two years ago. To make up for it, he’s returned with a brand new trailer for Bel Ami. This one’s a bit longer than the average Hollywood trailer, so let’s dive into what makes it so special.
A Grand Tour Of Europe
A big reason behind Bel Ami’s uniqueness is that it was funded by a Kickstarter campaign and it’s the first Hollywood movie to be entirely shot on location outside of North America. Typically, big Hollywood movies are shot in studios in either Los Angeles or New York City, but the makers of Bel Ami wanted to do something different. They wanted to take their cameras, crews, and everyone involved in the making of the film, on the road for a while. They started off in Paris, the City of Lights, and were followed by a cast and crew that included director Rupert Sanders and screenwriter Luke Davies, who originally hails from Wales.
The entire team headed to Spain, specifically for the city of Seville. They took a train from Paris to Seville and arrived at the train station shortly before sunset. From there, they would take a walk to the hotel, where they would spend the night. This would set the tone for the next 10 days, which was spent touring Seville and other Spanish cities. While this might sound like an unnecessary expense, having locations that are far from the big cities allows for some creative freedom in terms of shooting. It also means that the movie can be more authentic, since the only people they’d have to please are the people who actually go to these places. There’s also a sense of adventure that comes with going abroad, which is exactly what the team got when they travelled to Seville.
An Ode To Edward Cullen
While the makers of Bel Ami had decided to do something different and take their cameras on the road, they weren’t above paying homage to their favorite franchises. The first look below is an homage to Twilight, with Pattinson playing Edward Cullen, the vampire king of the Northern Lights. This isn’t the only time that the actor pulls double duty, as he also appears in the role of both Edward and Volturi vamp, which is when he turns into a giant worm. This is also the first in a trilogy of trailers for Bel Ami, with the second trailer focusing on Volturi vamp and the final one, which comes after the premiere, focusing on Gaspard and his search for true love.
Why Now?
As exciting as all this sounds, Pattinson wasn’t exactly at the top of his game when he signed on for this role. In fact, he’s admitted that he’s “never been in better shape.” It’s clear that the 47-year-old has put in a lot of effort, and it shows. It’s not just about looking the part, but about taking on the character, which the team behind Bel Ami wholeheartedly supports. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Pattinson in such good shape, which is fortunate, because it means he’s been working hard. While not all of us can claim to have read all of Georges Lepassaigne’s 1874 masterpiece, we can still appreciate the fact that Hollywood finally decided to give it a try.