The year 2022 was shaping up to be a big one for Robert Pattinson. Not only was the year marking the 100th anniversary of the Great War, and the 50th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, but it marked the release of his sixth studio album, The Lost Boys. Scheduled for release on June 19th, it was a follow-up to 2012′s critically acclaimed, and Grammy-nominated album, Damsel in Distress. The last couple of years had seen Pattinson grace the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair along with countless other prestigious magazines. In 2021 alone, he was seen on the red carpet at least 27 times. He’d even started making headlines for all the wrong reasons, having been arrested on suspicion of assault in July, and charged a couple of months later.
The Arrest
On July 23rd, 2021, the actor was arrested for allegedly assaulting a fan who was trying to take a picture of him during a break from a concert in Glasgow, Scotland. According to police, the 27-year-old actor was spotted “using his elbow to stop the person from taking a picture” and then “grabbed the phone and threw it to the floor” before security intervened. The incident took place at the Barclaycard Glasgow International Festival where Pattinson was performing alongside Lorde, who was headlining the festival. “This type of behavior is unacceptable and has no place at a music event,” a statement released by the festival read. “We apologize to the fans who were in attendance and hope that Mr. Pattinson apologizes for his actions.” Police confirmed that there were no serious injuries as a result of the alleged assault. Despite the allegations, Pattinson continued to promote the album on his social media following his arrest.
Pattinson’s Tweets
“I’m not going to lie; it felt good to be back on a plane,” the actor wrote in one of his first tweets following his arrest, before going on to thank his fans for their support. When asked about the incident by a British tabloid, he said there was “never any malicious intent.” Since his arrest, Pattinson deleted all of his previous social media posts and replaced them with a simple black and white photograph of him holding a rose.
Charge
On October 23rd, 2021, police in Los Angeles County filed a domestic violence report against the actor after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, FKA twigs, in their home. The following month, TMZ reported that Pattinson had plead not guilty to one count of felony domestic violence and one count of misdemeanor assault, and was set to appear in court on January 7th, 2022. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the case was postponed and was eventually dismissed for lack of evidence. Although Twigs was not present at the time of the alleged assault, police did discover “visible injuries” on her including “bruising on her neck, ear and right wrist,” according to a police report. In the year 2020, the couple had welcomed their first child, a daughter named Amaryllis, into the world. Her birth name is being kept private as the actor has yet to agree to its release.
Charges Dropped
In April, TMZ reported that Los Angeles County prosecutors had declined to file charges against the actor, citing insufficient evidence. Even more surprising was the fact that prosecutors claimed they had not received a request from law enforcement for a felony charge. “It’s been a real pleasure working with LAPD on this matter,” California Attorney General Ashley Moody said in a statement. “They have been very responsive and diligent in thoroughly investigating this case and presenting me with all the relevant evidence. I’ve been in contact with Robert’s representatives, and we’ve all been mindful of the pandemic, so we’ve tried to move expeditiously and responsibly.” Just a few days prior to the initial decline of the case, however, the actor’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the existing charges. In the filing, his lawyers say there’s “never been any intention of maliciously inflicting bodily harm upon anyone” and that the allegations are “completely unfounded.” In July, the attorney general’s office announced that it would not be pursuing the case.
Although he has largely stayed out of the limelight since his arrest, fans remain eager to see the star back on the big screen. In July, for example, it was announced that Netflix was developing a movie based on the bestselling novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne. The novel, which won the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction, is set in Dublin during World War II and follows the story of a ten-year-old boy, Roddy, and his experiences during that time. The novel is based on the real-life story of Boyne’s uncle, who was imprisoned in the Curragh Camp during the height of the Irish War of Independence.
Production on the film is expected to begin in the fall of 2022, with shooting planned for Dublin and Northern Ireland. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is the third book in John Boyne’s Dublin Saga, which also includes The Cure and The Way Home. Netflix did not confirm whether or not Pattinson would have a role in the upcoming adaptation, although it’s likely that he will at least be co-starred. In an interview with The Irish Times, Boyne said that it would be “great” to have Pattinson on set and that “the book would not exist without him.”
Album Release
The release of The Lost Boys, which had been postponed multiple times, finally came to fruition in May, 2022. With a release date of June 19th, it became the first album of his career to not be released by the end of June. Its lead single, “Sober,” was released on May 13th and became his 11th top 10 single on the U.S. Billboard Charts. The song marked the first time that all three of his previous lead singles — “Worst Behavior,” “Lost in the Fog,” and “Perfection” — placed in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album was supported by a 12-date U.S. headlining tour, which began on June 24th in Kansas City and continued until September 2nd in Portland.
On August 1st, he was also named the face of a brand new fragrance, Pour Monsieur Robert, created by fashion house Marc Jacobs. “To be the face of an incredible fragrance is such an honor,” he said in a statement. “To be associated with Jacobs, one of the most prestigious fashion houses in the world, is surreal.”
Grammy Nomination
Just a few weeks before the end of the year, Pattinson was honored with a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album for The Lost Boys. The album was among a handful of nominees for the award, which was presented this year as part of the Grammy Awards ceremony that took place on November 20th. The annual awards, which honor music and its creators, were presented in a star-studded televised broadcast, which this year marked the 100th annual Grammy Awards. While he didn’t win the award, he did receive a Grammy nom for Best Pop Album in a Vocal Performance for “Sober.”
London Palladium
On December 8th, 2022, it was announced that Pattinson would be joining the cast of the long-running musical series, Cabaret, which will premiere on February 25th, 2023. The series is expected to depict the Golden Age of British theatre, with a main character based on the legendary Lady Macbeth. The move will mark a reunion for the actor and Billie Burke, who had previously starred together in the 2014 film, The King. In a statement, Variety called the news of the casting “surprising and delighting fans.” Burke had previously expressed an interest in reuniting with Pattinson for a film project.
Pattinson’s Upcoming Projects
Aside from his busy work schedule, the next couple of years look optimistic for the 27-year-old actor. Not only is he set to star in the upcoming Netflix series, W.O.R.K. – What else do I need to Know?, but he is also in early stages of development for a number of high-profile projects. Some of these projects have already found their way into his schedule, with filming for the Netflix series beginning in the fall of 2021. The series will be a contemporary take on Agatha Christie’s highly prolific, 126-novel oeuvre and will star Pattinson as Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective.