It’s a classic love story: a handsome, young Hollywood starlet, Bella, meets a rugged, older man,, Edward, amidst the glitter and glam of the big city. Their whirlwind romance is made famous when Bella famously gives birth to their child, Renesmee. One of the most famous love stories of all time!
So it’s no surprise that Disney and Sony would want to co-opt the most iconic love story in cinema history for their own ends. After all, who wouldn’t want to star in their very own make-believe version of “Bella & Edward’s” happily ever after?
It seems that Hollywood is taking notice of the Twilight phenomenon, as several films and TV shows are now in the works based on the hugely popular love story. We’ve got the exclusive trailer for you below, as well as some key details about the latest in the ever-expanding Twilight Universe.
Another Look At The Twins
If you thought the Twilight films were eerie and atmospheric, then you’ll definitely want to check out The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Directed by David Slade (one of the best British directors working in Hollywood today), the latest installment in the mega-popular vampire series sees the romantic couple of Bella and Edward grapple with their responsibilities as new parents. Even though this is technically a prequel to the previous Twilight films, it stands as a complete story in and of itself, and definitely needs to be seen by fans of the saga.
The story begins several years after Bella’s child, Renesmee, was tragically stillborn. She and Edward remain in mourning for their daughter while living in Italy. One day, Edward is surprised when he receives a visit from his friend and fellow vampire, Jacob. He reveals that he has found a female vampire to be named Esmerelda, who will give birth to his child, a daughter, Amelia, in two weeks time. Jacob and Edward quickly hatch a plan to help Edward fulfill his child’s destiny, which is to become a great vampire like his father. They convince Bella to return to her hometown of Forks, Washington, to be with Edward. There, they help Bella give birth to a daughter, Alistair, and in the process, discover that she is pregnant again. When the baby is born, it’s a son: Renesmee. As in the previous two installments, the world is not quite as we know it. Vampires are living amongst us and the line between human and supernatural is blurred. It’s not exactly the perfect happily ever after that Bella and Edward had envisioned for themselves, but they continue to strive to make their family complete.
Production Values Inline With The Best Of The Industry
As an industry, Hollywood is notorious for its decadence; lavish spending, beautiful people, and incredible production values. But even within the realm of cinematic beauty, the Twilight films stand out for their stunning production design and costuming. While some fans may bemoan the films’ more fantastical elements, the fact is that they are absolutely integral to the overall magic of the series.
Director of Photography, David Bailey, has been responsible for some of cinema’s most iconic images. His work on the Twilight films is undoubtedly breathtaking. He collaborated with the costume department, as well as makeup artist Christianna Lima, to bring the magical worlds of Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novels to life.
Costumerist and designer, Natasha Khan, has given the characters in the Twilight films a unique, fantasy-like look that is both elegant and timeless. In addition to transforming Bella into the beautiful vampire queen she was born to be, Natasha also designed several of the series’ signature outfits including Alice’s white wedding dress, as well as the beautiful gowns made famous in the first and third films. She also designed the wedding dress for the stunning Kristen Stewart. It’s safe to say that they all look fantastic!
What Is The Setting Of The Film And Where Does It Take Place?
While the Twilight films’ main setting is undoubtedly the gorgeous, sun-soaked American Southwest, the fourth film takes place in a more fantastical location: Victoria’s luxurious, English country-style manor, Rosalind. The film’s costume designer, Natasha Khan, previously collaborated with director Victoria on several of her projects, and the two obviously had a lot of fun creating unique and timeless looks for the film’s many characters.
The movie opens with a grand, red-carpet-ready party, hosted by the beautiful Victoria in honor of her 200th birthday. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, attends the star-studded bash, which is also attended by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Kate Middleton, and J.K. Rowling. The fashion world comes together as one as various renowned designers and stylists help the Duchess celebrate, and pay homage to Her Majesty. Among those in attendance is Colin Farrell, who plays a cheeky, yet charming Irish rebel named Macheath. He catches the eye of the beautiful Duchess, and manages to flatter her with his witty speech in front of the camera.
Despite their good-humored banter, Macheath and Victoria have a dark secret that they keep hidden from the world. As the movie progresses, we learn that Macheath is a former Jacobite, who was forced to flee to Ireland after the Battle of Cullingford in which he fought alongside Bonnie Prince Charles against the English. For centuries, Jacobites have been fighting an ongoing war against Her Majesty’s British government. But these are troubled times, and Jacobites and Irish rebels are now at war with one another, as well. The English government has banned all of them from wearing their traditional attire, leading to an increasing number of beards, leprechauns, and puns.
Who Is The Major Player In This Film?
One of the most talked-about films at the moment is Doona Bhan’s Dirty Game, starring Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow and Emilia Clarke. As the title suggests, this is the story of a highly sophisticated matchmaking scheme designed to exploit the rich and famous. Jon Snow is the game wardour of Winterfell, while Emilia Clarke is the ambitious, rich wife of an oil baron. They decide to hatch an elaborate plan to trick other socialites and celebrities into believing they are romantically involved. But it’s all just an elaborate ruse to capture the heart of a husband or a boyfriend. What is interesting about this film is how it challenges viewers to question the nature and the meaning of romantic love. Is it all just a game to these two? Is their elaborate plan to trick and humiliate other people to make themselves look good? Or is there more to it than that?
One of the most interesting aspects of the film is how Jon Snow and Emilia Clarke play their parts. While Emilia Clarke is an experienced and accomplished actress, and has played a variety of complex characters in various films and TV shows, Game of Thrones is probably the least experienced of all of them. So it was interesting to watch her perform in the role of a confident, brilliant game widow, who is out to trick and humiliate other women. In fact, she makes for one heck of an adversary!
Why Are The Twilight Films Popular?
It’s not exactly hard to figure out why the Twilight films are so popular. Since the first film was released in 2008, it has achieved widespread critical and commercial success, becoming one of the most watched films of all time. Its success is attributed to the big-city setting and atmosphere, the beautiful British/Irish cast and their quirky, yet lovable characters, as well as of course, the incredible performances of the main cast, particularly from lead actor, Robert Pattinson.
The fact that Twilight is based on a bestselling novel can also be credited to its huge success. The book has sold over 14 million copies worldwide, and has been translated into more than 30 languages. If you think that sounds impressive, consider that the Guinness World Record for most copies of a book sold in a 24-hour period is currently held by Haruki Murakami with 1.57 million copies of his book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Love. This makes Twilight the fastest-selling novel of all time. If that weren’t enough, the last book in the series was number one on the New York Times Bestseller List for almost a whole month. So far, the series has made nearly $500 million at the box office, not to mention the hundreds of millions of book sales. It’s absolutely crazy!