While we’re all eagerly anticipating the release of Warner Bros.’ new Lego Movie, we can’t help but wonder how director Robert Pattinson’s upcoming film, The Lost City Of Sylvan, will affect his life and career in the coming months. Over the last year, Pattinson had one of the most sensational runs in film history with hits like Twilight and The Great Gatsby, and the year was capped off with the rare feat of becoming one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors—the most photographed man in the world.
This year, the 29-year-old is finally returning to the big screen with a drama, and it’s a very personal project for Pattinson. Based on the bestselling novel by Tim Winton, Sylvan is an allegory for the #MeToo movement and examines the perils of falling in love with your best friend. The film also marks Pattinson’s directorial debut, which he has longed to do since he first stepped behind the camera as a teenager. (He even got a taste of the action when he briefly served as an assistant director on the 2012 film, Killing Them Softly.)
The film reunites Pattinson with several of his Twilight co-stars, including Anna Kendrick and Keirsey. Unfortunately, none of the footage we’ve seen so far looks good enough to warrant a full remake of the vampyre epic. Still, Pattinson’s return to form is certainly welcome, and it’s safe to assume that fans of his previous work will not be disappointed.
Alopecia
The biggest news surrounding Pattinson in the last year is undoubtedly his hair. The British actor, who was born in London and now resides in Los Angeles, suffered from a severe case of alopecia as a child and still has very little hair on his head. This is something that he’s been painfully aware of, and it’s affected the way he approaches his work. Not only does he have to craft regular and often false hairpieces for roles, but he’s also chosen his hairstyle and makeup for many of his films, specifically the Harry Potter movies, because he knows that he’ll be able to cover up his head with wigs and scarves if needed.
You’d think that after a while, the hairpieces would start to look like his real hair and he wouldn’t have to play with his looks as much. Sadly, this is not the case, as he still has to deal with people pointing and staring at him wherever he goes. Even when he’s covered in an oversized sweatshirt, people still come up to him and ask about his hair. At the end of the day, this is what makes his story so interesting and unique. He’s not your average Hollywood actor, and he has to tackle this issue head-on if he ever wants to lead a normal life.
A Fresh Start
As much as we’d like to see more of Pattinson’s hair, we have to accept that this may not be possible. Instead, we’re eagerly awaiting the release of his directorial debut and looking forward to seeing him tackle some new material.
While we’ve been patiently waiting for the much-anticipated release of The Lost City Of Sylvan, the 29-year-old has been hard at work on his directorial debut, The Rover, adapting a William Golding novel for the big screen. Based on the 1924 debut novel by the British author, The Rover tells the story of a young man who travels to the Far East in search of fortune and ultimately finds himself in the middle of a war. The film stars Robert Pattinson, Guy Pearce, and Hayley Atwell, and it’s set for an autumn 2019 release.
More Drama
Also in the last year, Pattinson starred alongside Felicity Jones and Elizabeth Debicki in the Netflix film, The Personal History Of David Copperfield. Based on the 1850 novel by Charles Dickens, the drama traces the author’s life from childhood to middle age, and details the social and personal events that shaped his work. It’s the first in a series of six one-hour specials which mark the 150th anniversary of Dickens’ life and legacy. The final episode, David Copperfield: The Final Chapter, was released in December 2018, and it concludes with the great British author, who suffered from mental illness his entire life, dying at the age of 51. While this was quite a tumultuous year for Pattinson and his personal life, the actor has always been driven by his work, and he chose to address this theme in his next film, The Disappointments Room, based on a Nick Hornby novella. The film stars Nicole Kidman, Annette Bening, and Oscar winner Julianne Moore and follows Kidman’s character as she awaits the trial of a murder she didn’t commit. It’s due for release in February 2021.
Behind The Scenes
In addition to the headlines, the last year was also graced by behind-the-scenes moments for Pattinson. In June 2018, he married Emily Brown, the former partner of Rod Stewart and mother of his two children, Ruby and Sasha. After his divorce from model/businesswoman Stella Morrison was finalized in June 2019, he began dating actor/model Olga Kurylenko, with whom he has a 10-year-old son, Anton. Finally, in October 2019, he became a father for the third time when Emilia Jovanović, an editor at The New York Times, gave birth to a daughter.
This year will no doubt be full of exciting moments for Pattinson. While he was initially reluctant to become an actor as a career option, it’s clear that he’s now driven by a passion for the craft and isn’t looking back. With luck, his next project will be another major turning point for the actor. We can only hope that his hairpiece-free days are finally over, and his unique look will attract more viewers to the big screen.