If you follow celebrity news, you may have heard of today’s big break: Robert Pattinson, the enigmatic and talented English actor best known for his role as the lead in the Twilight movie series, has announced he will appear on-screen in the upcoming installment of the Hunger Games movie franchise.
The 32-year-old actor’s cameo will feature in the upcoming sequel to Catching Fire, the second film in the Hunger Games saga. The character he plays will be crucial to the events that unfold in the movie’s climax.
It will mark Pattinson’s first acting role in three years, since he starred in the sci-fi action film Cosmo Quest. This will also be his first film appearance since the Twilight series wrapped filming in 2015. The films have since become a worldwide phenomenon, with the series holding the prestigious record for the biggest box-office openings in movie history.
Why Did Pattinson Come Back When So Many Other Actors Haven’t?
When the Twilight movie series was first released, pundits predicted that it would be a short-lived success. The film didn’t even open in theaters in some parts of the world, and it took a while for it to catch on in others. But in 2018, as the series approaches its 10th anniversary, it is clear that the small-town actor’s foray into blockbuster territory has been a triumph, earning him a level of stardom that he never really knew existed.
Pattinson certainly benefited from a string of fortunate events that thrust him into the public spotlight. Before his big-screen debut in Twilight in 2011, he had only appeared in smaller films and on TV. But the series’ phenomenal success propelled him to new heights and made him an international celebrity. He now has a large fanbase and a lucrative future as a leading man in major movies. He even made waves at this year’s Oscar ceremony, hosting the event alongside presenters Emma Thompson and Seth MacFarlane.
Pattinson’s Cameo in a Major Motion Picture
In Catching Fire, Pattinson plays the part of District 12’s bitterest enemy, Caesar Flickerman. The spoiled, bratty son of a wealthy business mogul, Flickerman is the leader of his own special tribe of ‘gargoyles’ (reptilian creatures whose primary function is to guard and serve their masters) and also happens to be the president of the Games’ sponsoring corporation. He is completely obsessed with protecting and furthering his interests, which often puts him at odds with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), the film’s protagonist and a central figure of the rebellion against the Capitol. You can see where this is going.
Flickerman isn’t the only Hollywood celebrity to make an appearance in the movie. On the other side of the rebellion, Lawrence’s character is pitted against Meryl Streep’s character, the Capitol’s ruthless leader, President Snow. The pair of iconic actresses have starred in some of Hollywood’s most memorable films, and their rivalry is one of the central narrative threads of the story. They even share a couple of memorable scenes together which highlight their brilliant, competitive natures.
What Does It Mean For The Actor?
Even if you have never heard of Pattinson or the Twilight movie before, you will definitely have heard of Caesar Flickerman. For those who have seen the Twilight series, Flickerman is the character who causes all of the trouble for the protagonist, Bella (played by Kristen Stewart), and the rest of the group. He is consistently bellicose, self-centered, and egotistical, and he always puts himself first. But because he is such a significant character in the story, it is clear that he will have a pivotal role to play in the upcoming film.
Pattinson’s Character Will Be Crucial To The Plot
The irony of course is that Caesar Flickerman is one of the most insignificant characters in the entire Twilight series. (In fact, the only thing that most people remember about him is that he constantly demands apple pie as a snack.) But because of his special status in today’s Hollywood, it is clear that he will play a crucial role in Catching Fire, both in terms of his own storyline and that of the Hunger Games. It seems that as the series continues to evolve, so too does the cinematic universe it inhabits.
A Record-Breaking 10th Anniversary For Twilight
To celebrate their 10th anniversary, Twilighters around the world are doing all sorts of fun things. Some are organizing viewing parties and social gatherings to watch the first film together. Others are looking to create memes and jokes about the series, which continues to be one of the most popular topics on social media platforms like Twitter.
The most prominent achievement, however, is that in 2018, the Twilight series broke a number of box-office records, becoming the highest-grossing trilogy of all time. After 10 years and 12 movies, the series finale, Twilight: The Complete Collection, held the number-one spot on the weekly box office charts for five weeks running. It is the ultimate testament to the enduring popularity of the series and its ability to attract new audiences. After all, it’s been 10 years since Twilight was first released, and today it is even closer to the anniversary of the first installment than it is to the day it was actually released.