The Twilight stars have never been more popular, with the final installment, Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, recently becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. But, as with all celebrity trends, this one is slowing down. Now that the shock of the new generation has worn off, what will happen to these famous Instagrammers as the next big thing fades? Will their celebrity last?
In preparation for the next big thing, GQ has gone back in time to speak to the biggest stars of the moment about what is coming next.
What Is Your Next Movie About?
Robbie Pattinson: It’s a dramedy. It’s called High Society, and it’s about these really famous people living in London. I play a famous DJ, and Kristen Stewart plays a socialite. (She’s currently acting in the TV series The Night Of.)
TAYLOR LAUTNER: My next movie is called The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and it’s kind of a modern-day fantasy. It’s about this guy who wakes up one day and decides to make a big change in his life, and that change leads him on a journey to discover who he truly is and what he really wants from life. (He’s currently filming the big-budget remake of The Thing with John Boyega.)
KSTEWART: I’m doing a thriller called The Midnight Swim with Mark Ruffalo. (He plays the part of a father looking for his children, who have gone missing at a family vacation at a nearby lake.)
How Was The Last One Different From The Rest Of The Series?
PATTINSON: Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is completely different from the first three movies. It’s got a lot more action and, you know, blood and guts. It’s a culmination of everything we’ve done before. (The previous movies are based on Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series, while this one is based on her New Moon novel.)
LAUTNER: It’s funny, because I’ve been making movies for such a long time, and I’ve dealt with so many different types of projects. Working on Breaking Dawn was a bit like doing a period piece, but set in the present day. And then, for the first time in a really long time, I got to do something more modern and have some fun with it. (He also revealed that he had to take a step back from production due to a health issue.)
KSTEWART: I’ve always said these films are like a collection of short stories. I think what makes them so special is that they’re all so different and unique. Even if you’ve never read the books or seen the films, I think you’ll be surprised by how much they mean to you on a personal level, as an individual story. (She also revealed that her character’s storyline was originally designed to be the fourth movie from Twilight, but her storyline was so good that it became its own movie, 2013’s The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.)
Are You And Robert Pattinson Still Good Friends?
PATTINSON: I think we have always been. I mean, we’ve been friends since we were about 10, so it’s just grown and grown over the years. (He’s also set to star in a comedy called Beautiful Thing with Jennifer Lopez.)
LAUTNER: We’ve been friends since the beginning, and then we kind of did this crazy thing where we ended up working together. We did a movie called Draft Day, and then we did High School Musical 2, and then we did Oz The Great and Powerful. And then we did Twilight. So we’ve been through a lot together. We’re pretty close. (They did, however, have a falling out during the making of Oz, over creative differences.)
KSTEWART: We’ve always been very close, and I think that’s because we’re both kind of private people. We’ve always just tried to be there for each other, you know? We’ve been through a lot in the last few years together, as a group. And that’s something that will stay with us forever, because we can look back and know that we were there for each other, especially in difficult times. (She revealed that there was a period during her pregnancy with son Bear where she kept waking up in the night and thinking her waters had broken, only to find that it was just Braxton Hicks contractions.)
Are You Nervous About Going Into The Next Big Thing?
PATTINSON: Nah. I’m excited to see what’s coming next. I think for me, the key is to just take it one project at a time. Do what you’re doing, and don’t worry about what comes next. Just finish what you started and hopefully next time you’ll have more to show for it. (His father, Danny, also revealed that it wasn’t just luck that got him his big break as an actor, saying, “In the beginning, people just wanted to work with him, because he’s Robert Pattinson, and then they saw the talent, and they changed their minds.”)
LAUTNER: It’s funny, because, you know, people usually say it for the other celebrities, but I feel like it’s more for me. I’ve been wanting to do this for a really long time, and I recently got to do a lot more exploring than I ever did as a kid, so I feel like I can really grow as an actor. I’m just so grateful to be able to do this, because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. (He also revealed that his character has a fear of flying that was inspired by a real-life experience when he had to cancel a flight because of a stomach bug.)
KSTEWART: I think that this is more nervousness for our fans, because they’ve been waiting so long for us to do something new. But I think for us, the more we do, the more we’ll be able to talk about. I mean, it’s always a case of, “What is this movie about?” and “Who plays which part?” And it’s almost like having a conversation with the person, because they have to understand what is going on, even though you haven’t told them yet. (She’s currently working on a biopic about fashion icon Grace Coddington.)
What Is The Most Important Thing To You About Being A Major Star?
PATTINSON: For me, it is just being able to continue working. I mean, I’ve been doing this for such a long time, and I love what I do. And I think about it a lot. Being able to continue doing this and make a living is important to me. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. And a lot of my family doesn’t have a lot of money, so I want to be able to give them some security, too. (He also revealed that he started writing poetry when he was 15 years old.)
LAUTNER: The main thing is being able to grow as an actor. You know, like in the beginning, when I first started, there were only a few parts that I was allowed to play, and even now there are only a few that I’m considered for. So it’s always about expanding your horizon and getting the parts that are going to further your journey as an actor. (He also revealed that, since childhood, he has suffered from sickle-cell anemia, which caused him to be hospitalized several times and made him more introverted than his peers.)
KSTEWART: For me, it’s just being able to live my life and continue doing what I love. I mean, it’s very rare that you find something that you’re passionate about that also makes you money. So to be able to do that is, like, the best of both worlds. (She also revealed that her character had to give up her babymoon with husband Penn Badgley to join the cast of this year’s X-Men: Days of Future Past.)
Are You Feeling More Confident About Life In General?
PATTINSON: Yeah, definitely. You know, I feel like life is pretty good. You make the most of it, and you just keep going. You know, you work hard, and you play hard, and you just try and make the most of it. You know, it’s all about perspective. (He’s also taken up painting.)