Robert Pattinson And Olivia Wilde Arrive In Italy For A Self-Guided Vacation
On May 23, 2019, Robert Pattinson and his wife, Olivia Wilde, arrived in Italy for a long-awaited vacation on their wedding anniversary. Their trip was unplanned, as Pattinson had just concluded a movie with Emily Blunt in London, England, and decided to take a short break before beginning work on a new film project. Despite not having set a precedent, the actor has become somewhat attached to the idea of taking a vacation in Italy, as the country has become somewhat of a second home to him. The country certainly has a lot to offer: beautiful countryside, delicious food, and enough sunshine to make anyone happy. And, of course, the city of Venice stands out as one of the most historic and beautiful cities in the world. Even so, Pattinson is keeping his vacation strictly private. The couple is reported to have hired a security guard to patrol their grounds while they are away.
‘X-Men’ And ‘Venice’ Collide On The Big Screen
While Pattinson was enjoying his well-deserved break in Italy, he had already begun work on a new movie, titled “X-Men: Dark Phoenix.” The actor will play the role of Jean Grey, who is one of the original X-Men and the Phoenix Force’s avatars. In the comics, Grey’s Phoenix powers often cause her to experience adverse physical reactions, which require her to ingest the DNA of other animals in order to stay alive. In the film, these effects will be brought on by years of chemical treatments that have enhanced her mutant powers. Dark Phoenix is set for release on June 12, 2019.
‘Venice’ Breaks Another Record At The Box Office
At the same time that news of Robert Pattinson’s vacation broke, the release of “Venice,” the big-budget adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic “The Great Gatsby,” became another box office phenomenon. Directed by Taika Waititi and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert Pattinson, the film tells the story of Nick Young, a young American expatriate living in Italy in the early 1920s. Set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties in Europe, the film tells the tale of a beautiful woman – Jay Gatsby’s mistress, Daisy – and the lengths to which she will go to win his love.
The film has been a critical and commercial success, earning over $600 million worldwide. According to box office analysts, “Venice” is the eighth-highest-grossing film of all time, only behind “Titanic,” “Avatar,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “Life Of Pi,” and “E.T.” Before the end of its theatrical run, “Venice” became the highest-grossing film of all time in Italy, breaking Robert Pattinson’s previous record of $500 million (USD). As of this writing, the film has yet to be released in the United States.
Pattinson’s Italian Sojourn Inspires New Netflix Series
It was not only Robert Pattinson who benefited from the success of “Venice.” The Italian city hosted the 74th BFI London Film Festival in October 2018, where Netflix unveiled its newest original series, “The King.” The series is a dark reimagining of the final years of Italian monarch Umberto I’s (1878–1946) life, told through the eyes of his grandson, Alfred III (played by Kurt Sanders).
The events that occur in “The King” – such as Alfred’s exile and subsequent return to the throne – are heavily based on fact. Alfred, who was imprisoned multiple times for his political affiliations throughout the 20th century, was exiled from Italy in 1943. He subsequently returned to the throne in 1946, three years after the Italian government had brought an end to World War II.
“The King” is the first project to emerge from Netflix’s new Milan office, which was opened in September 2018. Executive producer Marco Grassi explained that Netflix had identified a gap in the market for high-quality non-fiction content and was determined to fill it. Hence, the creation of “The King.”
Grassi, who is also the series’ consultant, stated that he and his team approached the project with an open mind, interested in reimagining the end of the Italian monarchy through the eyes of a member of the House of Savoy. The producers wanted to produce a show that would be both entertaining and that would provoke thought and discussion.
“The King” premiers on Netflix on October 14, 2018.
Pattinson’s Grand Tour Continues
Shortly after his wedding anniversary in Italy, Robert Pattinson began a North American promotional tour for “Venice.” He traveled to New York City on May 27 for a meet-and-greet with fans at Madison Square Park, before heading to Boston on May 28 for a Boston Public Library event. On Sunday, May 30, Pattinson appeared at the Cape Winch Coffee Shop in Cape Cod for a reading and signing session with local fans. Later that day, he flew to Montreal for a Q&A with the audience at Le Centre Videotron.
Pattinson continued his promotional tour on May 31, appearing at the Sony Studios in Toronto for a press conference and showing of “Venice” (release date: June 12). On June 2, the actor and his wife, Olivia Wilde, went to London for a Q&A with members of the press at the Royal Opera House, followed by a screening of “Venice.” Finally, on June 4, 2019, the couple finished their North American promotional tour and returned to Europe. On this trip, they began in New York City and continued to Los Angeles before heading to Las Vegas and ending the trip in San Francisco. On June 6, just two days after his return from the U.S., Pattinson completed a U.K. leg of his tour and appeared at London’s O2 Arena for a concert with Maroon 5.
The actor has not returned to Italy since his wedding anniversary trip in 2019, and has no current plans to do so. However, with filming now completed on “X-Men: Dark Phoenix,” it is possible that Pattinson will return to his second home sooner than expected.
Exclusive: Robert Pattinson On The Upcoming ‘X-Men’ And ‘Venice’
Since premiering at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion, “Venice” has only gotten greater praise from critics and fans. While it was already a critical and commercial success in its home country, Italy, the film has continued to gain popularity around the world as word of mouth continues to spread.
On the upcoming “X-Men: Dark Phoenix,” which premieres in theaters on October 25, 2019, Robert Pattinson will be seen in a more animal-centric role than he has ever played before. In the comics, Jean Grey’s Phoenix powers are often compared to that of a ‘gremlin’—a foul-tempered, mischievous monster that steals animals’ souls in order to give them human traits. In the upcoming film, those powers will be enhanced by years of chemical treatments that have increased Jean Grey’s mental powers. In the film, she will be fueled by rage, unable to control her transformations, which will terrify and anger those around her.
The opportunity to work with director Ryan Coogler was a life-changing experience for the actor, who had previously only worked with directors he had previously collaborated with. In preparing for his role as Phoenix, Pattinson had to learn how to behave like an animal, relying on his instincts rather than his intellect. He was eventually able to translate that into acting.
Coogler described his collaboration with Pattinson as being like “falling into a well-loved and rich literary world,” while Michael Greenburg, VP of Academy Awards Ceremony Production, called it “one of the greatest acting collaborations in film history.”
On “Venice,” Pattinson plays the role of Nick Young, a young American expatriate living in Italy in the early 1920s. With its rich social scene and colorful characters, Venice provided the perfect backdrop for the actor to delve into the era. The film also offers an insight into the Roaring Twenties in Europe, intermingled with the story of a timeless love triangle.