If you’re reading this, I’ll assume you’re probably also a fan of the Twilight series, or want to be one. While we await the arrival of the final installment, it’s still an event worth celebrating. The series has transcended entertainment and became an influential part of pop culture. The young women who starred in it are now famous, and their relationship has been studied ad nauseam by media and social scientists.
The question is: When did Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart break up? The answer is: A while back. But just what is a ‘while back’?
To mark the 10th anniversary of the twilight series, we’re taking a look at the evolution of Rob and Kristen’s relationship throughout the ten years of their on-screen partnership. We’ll explore key events that shaped their time together and breakup, as well as their attempts at reconciliations.
Early Days
In 2005, Robert Pattinson was 25 and Kristen Stewart was 22. The British actor, singer and songwriter auditioned for the role of Edward Cullen, and won the part of the reserved, handsome and charming vampire when the trailer for Twilight was released. It was an instant hit, and both actors were catapulted to fame thanks to the blockbuster series. With a global audience of over 1.7 billion, it is one of the biggest media franchises of all time. Still, before Twilight, Robert Pattinson had mostly appeared in British television series. But he did manage to snag some film roles before getting cast in TWILIGHT. Here’s a look at some of those early films.
The Runaways
In 2004, the first of what would become a trilogy of Twilight films was released. It was a massive worldwide success, and set the stage for the second film, Twilight’s Wedding, which arrived in 2010. But it also marked the beginning of the end for Rob and Kristen’s relationship. The actress confirmed that their on-screen romance was largely consensual, but stated that Rob had ‘abused his power’ over her during the filming of the first movie. She claimed that he had withheld financial support and pressured her into having sex with him. While the actress enjoyed working with the actor, she was determined to prove that she was an independent woman and not his ‘dumb little teenage girl’. As a result of these issues, they went on ‘hiatus’ for six months, until Twilight ended with a whimper in 2010. To make matters worse, the following year Robin Sparkles was released, in which Stewart plays a vampire-like creature named a ‘wryte’, who uses her blood to ensnare men in her web. The film was a critical and commercial flop, and many saw it as a strange follow-up to Twilight. It was also widely speculated that co-star Robert Pattinson helped write the screenplay for Robin Sparkles, and some went so far as to say that it was ‘written’ by the pair. But if that’s the case, then they succeeded in writing themselves out of a happy ending. After months of negotiations, Rob and Kristen officially got back together in March, 2012 and have been inseparable ever since.
Rumors
Even before Twilight, there was speculation that Rob and Kristen would end up together. In 2008, before Twilight even came out, there were rumors that Stewart was pregnant with the actor’s baby. When Kristen was 22, she was featured on the cover of a British GQ magazine, in which she was described as ‘the most eligible bachelorene in Hollywood’. This was seen as a play on words, as bachelors weren’t typically considered ‘eligible’. Some suspected that the magazine’s intention was to create discord between Rob and Kristen, given that she was technically ‘available’ and not yet married. The speculation was enough to make a twig and bark gossip column, and it did. Although Rob and Kristen denied the pregnancy rumors, it was enough to feed them both and fuel their passionate on-screen and off-screen chemistry. But while some believe that these rumors helped pave the way for their eventual reconciliation, others think that it was the opposite. After Twilight came out, it wasn’t long before headlines about their budding romance appeared everywhere, including British tabloids. In 2010, Kristen Stewart helped open the Robert Pattinson Art Gallery in London. The star tweeted that she wanted to ‘give art a new meaning’, and the gallery offers a glimpse into the creative process behind the Twilight and Snow White films. It also includes a collection of artwork by Robert Pattinson. While some see this as a display of his art, others see it as a display of his creative process. There are a lot of differing opinions about what this all means, but what isn’t up for interpretation is that the gallery is a way of Stewart keeping her professional and personal connections close to home.
Breaking Up
The most recent Twilight installment, Eclipse, was released in April, 2011. It was the final entry in what was supposed to be a five-film arc that started with Winter’s Tale in 2007 and continued with each subsequent movie. But as is often the case, audiences didn’t have to wait long before something went wrong. After Eclipse, the studio behind Twilight began to hemorrhage money and eventually shut down. This was mostly due to the fact that the final two films were widely panned by critics, who accused the director of lacking clarity and focusing too heavily on action. Many fans were also dissatisfied that the story ended on a somewhat sad note, with Bella, the film’s protagonist, seemingly killing herself. It would be a few years before Rob and Kristen would part ways again, on good terms this time. To make matters worse, Eclipse was a significant box office bomb, managing to open only in the UK and Australia to incredible financial losses. It would be another two years before Stewart appeared in a movie again, in Rupert Sanders’ The Runaways. While many will argue that this is a better film than Eclipse and is more representative of Stewart’s talents, it’s hard to argue with the fact that it’s the only movie she’s ever done. And as discussed, it wasn’t exactly a box office champion. This was in part due to the fact that the movie tanked in the UK, with critics panning it and audiences refusing to show up. But it also highlighted a significant decline in Stewart’s star power. In 2014, she would only have a cameo in a film that she also wrote. She later admitted that she isn’t currently interested in doing anything else, but is doing her best to stay busy and find new ways to challenge herself. With only one film appearance so far this year, many were wondering what was next for Stewart. She hasn’t completely given up hoping to work with her former co-star, however, and has repeatedly expressed interest in playing his sister in reboots of the Twilight series. But with so much time between them and six years having elapsed since their last collaboration, there’s no telling if or when that will happen.
Reconciliation
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart officially broke up in March, 2016, though they have stayed close and maintained an extremely amicable relationship. It was the culmination of a difficult year for the ‘On the Road’ star. In May, 2015, she and her horse, Dakota, were involved in a minor collision. The horse was unharmed, but Stewart was treated for minor injuries and was also forced to wear a helmet for a few weeks. It was a costly affair, but she has managed to wrangle some serious acting gigs since then, including playing an American spy in the Netflix series The Americans, which is set to premiere this year. Stewart also recently wrapped production on Woody Allen’s latest film, Cafe Society. It’s a glamorous return to form for the actress, who last worked with the esteemed filmmaker on 2011’s Midnight in Paris. While it’s difficult to predict what 2018 will bring for Stewart, it seems apparent that she’s committed to continuing to work and make the most of whatever time she has. As for Rob, he has taken a back seat in the public eye, aside from a few high-profile dates and a flashy tweet, but has also committed himself to being a father, and is raising his kids as a single parent. The actor is still determined to make the most of his career, and continues to work consistently, though he has yet to appear in a major studio film. The upcoming year will undoubtedly be an exciting one for him, especially since 2019 marks the hundredth anniversary of his mother’s death. The family has kept a relatively low profile since then, but he has never shied away from sharing his thoughts and feelings online. He continues to be one of the most interesting figures in contemporary culture, and has devoted himself to being a positive role model for his young fans. It is an admirable and commendable pursuit, and one that will no doubt help shape the course of his future. For now, though, he’s dedicated himself to his children, while occasionally checking in on his beloved ‘twilight’ fandom. It seems that their romance will continue to inspire passionate feelings and fervent debate among their devoted fans. We’ll always have Paris…