Joss Whedon and Robert Pattinson are currently two of this year’s biggest film stars. Their popularity has led to numerous collaborations, both on- and offline. Will their friendship and resulting film projects benefit them both, or will their professional relationships become more strained than ever?
Whedon Vs. Pattinson: An Old Conflict
The duo first worked together in 2007, when they co-starred in Sils Maria. Although the film wasn’t particularly well-received, it did spawn a popular Netflix series. Since then, Whedon has appeared in several films alongside Pattinson, including Much Ado About Nothing in 2012, The Avengers in 2012, and Beauty and the Beast last year. In total, Whedon has directed five of the eight films that Pattinson has starred in.
Pattinson next collaborated with Whedon on Much Ado About Nothing, one of this year’s most popular films. The pair play two lovers who pretend to be married in order to avoid a stalker. While most of the film’s jokes fall flat, its sharp dialogue and dark humor still make it worth watching. When asked about the experience of working with Whedon, Pattinson cited it as one of the best of his career. He also said that he learned a lot from the director.
The duo’s professional relationship was tested again in 2015 when Pattinson’s then-girlfriend, FKA Twigs, revealed that she had co-wrote and co-directed the upcoming Paddington, a film that also stars the actor. In response, Whedon accused Twigs of “exploitation” and “using him for his fame.” Although he conceded that she did have creative input into the film, Whedon has since expressed his admiration for Twigs’ directorial skills. Additionally, he claimed that he was underpaid for his work on Paddington and that he initially believed the film’s script was “full of holes.”
Whedon On-Set: A Lesson In Collaboration
Though they’ve collaborated frequently, Whedon and Pattinson have also had fights on-set. In 2015, the pair bickered over the script for The Avengers: Age of Ultron, causing tensions that threatened to ruin the production. The dispute was reportedly about a third of the entire film. In the end, Whedon and Marvel Studios’ Stan Lee were forced to step in and mediate the spat. One year earlier, on the set of Saving Mr. Banks, Whedon and Pattinson again had a falling out, this time over directions for the scene being filmed. As a result of the altercation, both men were charged with misdemeanor vandalism.
Whedon And Pattinson’s Present-Day Collabs
With a combined 29 years of experience behind them, Whedon and Pattinson’s professional relationship seems to be the perfect storm of cinematic perfection. Their friendship hasn’t been marred by conflicts, and they each appear to be giving the other the best roles they can. One of their latest collaborations is Avengers: Infinity War, the culmination of years of teasing and hints at a potential showdown between some of the most powerful Marvel characters. In the movie, the Avengers battle the villainous Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his army of evil robots. Though the sequel is still a ways off, fans can already get their hands on the first look at the footage from the upcoming movie.
Another collaboration that was recently revealed details the origin story of how Tony Stark (Mark Ruffalo) became Ironman. In the comics, the character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. For the movie, Ruffalo’s Stark is a billionaire philanthropist who created the Ironman moniker to help people with disabilities. The character is based on a real-life person named Ben Pasternak, who runs a non-profit organization. Even though the story is set in the near future, it still manages to capture the imagination of fans.
It’s clear that both Whedon and Pattinson have a great affection for one another. The question is whether their professional collaborations will ever be able to coexist. With two successful and famous film careers behind them, it’s fair to say that Whedon and Pattinson are now in control of their own destinies.