This week sees the premiere of the final chapter in the Twilight saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. The film marks the conclusion of the New Moon – Twilight series, which began with the 2005 film New Moon and followed three years later by Twilight. With the series drawing to a close, fans are now looking back on the whole phenomenon, wondering how far it will go in the annals of film history.
One of the defining images of the Twilight series is that of its star, Robert Pattinson. The English actor has been the face of the franchise since Day One, playing vampire-quencher Edward Cullen in all four films. This has made him something of a cultural institution, and it is not difficult to see why: not only does he embody the quintessential dashing, devil-may-care Englishman (complete with dashing devil-may-care Englishman accent), but his acting talent has carried the seemingly impossible narrative of the Twilight series. To celebrate the actor’s indelible portrayal of Edward and the enduring allure of the Twilight franchise, we present an interview with the Robert Pattinson Commentary. Here, the actor reflects on the making of Twilight, and what it means for his career.
The Making of Twilight
The making of Twilight was, in a word, challenging. According to Pattinson, shooting the series was both physically and mentally taxing, and it required serious investment of time and effort. The actor spoke to us about the process of bringing Bella (Kristen Steward) and Edward (Pattinson) to life, and how the role has influenced his approach to acting and life in general.
The Influence of the Role
Let’s be honest: most of us knew exactly what we were getting into when we saw the Twilight movie. With its mix of breathtaking cinematography, romantic tension, and sparkly vampires, it is easy to see why the series became such a phenomenon. Moreover, it is rare that an actor can say they have had an impact on popular culture in such a profound way, especially one playing a fictional character.
Pattinson pointed out that he wanted to make sure that he approached the role of Edward in a way that was true to the book. He also mentioned that, as an actor, he feels that he has gained so much from playing this role, both personally and professionally. It’s not often that you can say that about a role, but it’s particularly evident in the case of Robert Pattinson Commentary. The actor compared playing Edward to being in “a bit of a dream,” and he credited the role with helping him develop as an actor. He also felt that it had been helpful with his personal life, saying that it had taught him to be open to new experiences and to value what he has. He went on to say:
“It’s been quite a journey, playing this role, and I’m not sure where it will go next. But I do know that I’m grateful for the opportunity and that it’s changed my perspective somehow.”
The Evolution of the Character
The role of Edward has, in many ways, shaped the way that audiences saw the character of Bella. As an actor, Pattinson revealed that he had initially only intended to play the role for a couple of months, but he ended up falling in love with the character and decided to stick around for the entire filming of Twilight. This eventually led to the creation of the deeply complex Edward in the final film. Pattinson elaborated, “I started to realize he was more complex than the character of Charlie, which is what I had originally envisioned for him. And I started to see a different side to Edward, which is not the typical ‘bad boy’ image people have of him.”
This evolution was both exciting and challenging for the actor. On one hand, he wanted to make sure that he portrayed a character with integrity, and on the other hand, he wanted to keep the audience guessing about Edward’s true nature. This required a lot of pre-production research, as he had to ensure that he was doing justice to the source material. He also mentioned that he had to undergo an entire physical transformation for the role. While playing Edward, he had to wear a prosthetic nose and undergo laser eye surgery, all of which he found challenging. These physical transformations gave the actor some insight into the character’s mindset, as he had to rely on his instincts rather than his intellect while undergoing the surgery. This was far different from what he had previously experienced as an actor, as he had to rely on his training and craft rather than his instincts to tell him what was going on in each scene. He felt that this was the biggest difference between playing Edward and any other role that he had previously played. This was both thrilling and eye opening for the actor.
The Final Word
Twilight is, without a doubt, one of the most influential films of our time. Not only does it belong to one of the most beloved franchises in cinematic history, but it also heralded a new dawn in film. To this day, it continues to be one of the most popular and highest-grossing films of all time, demonstrating the power of good storytelling in the right hands.
In a medium where the most popular films are often driven by special effects, huge budgets, and overused tropes, Twilight breaks all of these rules. Moreover, it is a film that resonates with audiences worldwide, spanning all ages and genders. This is likely because of its central relationship: rather than focusing on action, comedy, or horror, the film focuses on a romance between a human and a vampire. And what is romance if not a platform for audiences to explore their own complex relationships with the people and creatures around them?
It is this film’s unique ability to speak to audiences worldwide that, in part, makes it such a triumph. The film is, as we have discussed, an evolution of sorts for Pattinson, giving him the spotlight for years to come. Moreover, it is clear that the film’s success and influence have only spurred him on to even greater achievements as an actor.