As we’ve covered previously, the ‘Twilight Saga’s’ have been a massive hit with fans, earning hundreds of millions of dollars and boosting Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling books to the top of the bestseller lists. Perhaps even more impressively, the films have also become surprisingly popular in some unlikely places – such as Russia.
Since its premiere in 2016, Igor Smolin’s version of Dracula – titled Vlad Tretiak – has become a worldwide sensation, and apparently even impressed Tom Hiddleston, who plays the eponymous hero in the film.
Hiddleston had this to say about Vlad in an interview with Entertainment Tonight (via The Independent):
“I was never into vampires as a kid. I always hoped that when I grew up, it would be Black Leather Jackets and Black Guitars, not pale Hollywood vampires. But in real life, it’s mostly been great.”
This is a sentiment that we can probably all relate to. While it would be unwise to completely write off the cultural influence of the ‘Twilight Saga’, it’s also clear that many people have found solace in the cinematic depictions of a world beyond the grasp of disease and death. Even more impressively, the films have also provided an opportunity for those in the LGBT community who may not feel comfortable identifying themselves readily.
This is evidenced in part by the international success of the romantic comedy film City Lights, in which a young woman befriends a werewolf (played by Colin Farrell) and falls in love with him despite the occasional predatory behavior he displays. The film was released earlier this year and has so far been a huge hit, earning over $38 million dollars at the box office worldwide (according to Variety). In an interview with Deadline Hollywood, co-star Amanda Seyfried discussed the important role the films have played in expanding the horizons of many who see themselves in the stories:
“For me, this was such an eye-opener to see a love story between a werewolf and a human being,” Seyfried said. “I mean, it was quite an experience to see somebody who looks like me on screen and how people reacted to it. I’ve had transgender people write to me saying that the character was inspiring, that it was a story that they could relate to. So it’s been really special to see that reaction and to know that I’ve played a part in that.”
These days, it’s clear that the ‘Twilight Saga’s’ aren’t going anywhere, and it appears that Hollywood may have found a home for the saga’s stars. At the very least, we can rest assured that Tom Hiddleston feels about as passionately about vampires as we do.