The 28-year-old Scottish actor is in talks to play the bad boy in the upcoming sci-fi thriller, Sleeping Beauties, which will be released in theaters on April 20, 2020.
Based on the bestselling novel by British author Naomi Alderman, Sleeping Beauties centers on an investigation into the murders of sleeping women in a Turkish town. When British journalist Toby Zayas (played by Robert Pattinson) arrives in Istanbul, he discovers that the only way to convince the residents that there is a serial killer on the loose is to play the role of the intrepid journalist and become the bad boy of Turkish media. He begins to investigate the murders and stumbles upon a bizarre conspiracy that could be linked to a secret society of sleep learners who want to awaken the beautiful corpses for unknown reasons.
Characteristics
If you’ve ever seen any of Pattinson’s works, you’ll know that he usually plays characters that are a bit more on the villainous side. Case in point: In The Twilight Saga: Ecltse, he plays a vampire named Edward Cullen who is very much a bad boy himself; in Slayage, he plays Augustus Waters, who is an extremely bad temper and lets his wild side loose; and in Beauty and the Beast, he’s basically an antihero who does whatever he wants.
So while it’s not exactly the usual acting fare for Pattinson, it’s not entirely out of character either. After all, isn’t that what attracted Hollywood in the first place?
Movie-Making
Directors and cinematographers often have to find ways to make their films stand out among all the other blockbusters being released at any given time, and one way they do that is by adding a few signature touches to their work. In Sleeping Beauties, director Fidan Zeyrek used a green screen to film scenes that would later be composited into the picture. He also added some lighting effects and adjusted the timing of certain shots to make it look more like a thriller than a typical studio film.
While this might not seem like a particularly innovative idea, utilizing a green screen and adding a few effects is something that certainly isn’t done every day. It’s also a great way to save money and time when you’re dealing with a major studio movie. Plus, it means the director has more control over the end product, which is ultimately what counts.
What Is It About?
Sleeping Beauties is the story of a journalist who arrives in Istanbul to cover the story of the sleeping women of Anatolia. However, what he uncovers is a larger conspiracy behind the town’s unusual ‘sleeping beauty’ phenomenon. The women are allegedly being controlled by a group of men who are trying to awaken the sleeping beauties for questionable purposes. Needless to say, this is a pretty heavy story to deal with, but it’s a must-read for anyone who loves a good thriller.
The novel was first published in 2012 and became an instant bestseller. Since then, it’s remained at the top of the bestseller lists, with six more books following in its wake. It’s also inspired a popular Netflix series, Dark, which premiered in December 2019.
In addition to being an acclaimed novelist, Alderman is also the founder of the International Association of Cryptozoology, which helps people to research and learn about the existence of creatures that go bump in the night. While she wouldn’t call herself a cryptozoologist, Alderman has stated that there’s a good chance that some of the creatures she’s written about actually exist.
Why Robert Pattinson?
As mentioned, Pattinson plays a bad boy in this movie. It’s not exactly a normal part for an actor, but he brings that unique charm and charisma to the character that will make anyone want to see him on the big-screen. In fact, he might even make you want to go to sleep just to see how the movie turns out.
The British actor has established himself as a leading man whom Hollywood came to appreciate for his charismatic performances and endearing charm. Among his most famous roles are Twilight‘s Edward Cullen and Water for Elephants‘ Gregor Samsa, as well as the upcoming comedy Private Life of a Boss, which will be released in theaters on April 12, 2020.