It has been a very eventful year for Hollywood stars and fans alike. Hollywood experienced a very busy year on many levels, from blockbuster movies to pop culture references. Perhaps the biggest event was the year 2017, which was full of surprises.
Many stars rose to the occasion; however, there was one man who truly impressed us all with his incredible comeback: Robert Pattinson. The actor shocked fans with his stunning appearance at the Breaking Dawn—Part 2 premiere in November. Since then, he has not only taken the entertainment world by storm with his impressive social media following, but also graced the magazine covers and starred in numerous ad campaigns. He even managed to squeeze in a few acting gigs alongside a gruelling schedule. In fact, it is highly likely that Robert Pattinson will be popping up on our screens several times this year as he has signed on to play the lead role in Gucci’s new ad campaign. It will be interesting to see how much screen time he gets as the designer’s style is very similar to Kristen Stewart’s character in the upcoming film adaptation of Snow White.
So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most prominent events and happenings from last year.
1. Robert Pattinson’s Breakthrough Year
It all started with a picture. The actor posted a sexy picture of himself to Instagram, along with the caption, “I wrote a song for all the girls I love.” The post quickly went viral, gathering over a million likes within a few hours. The next day, Robert Pattinson released the music video for “Girls” that featured cameos from a number of A-list stars, including Kristen Stewart, Emma Roberts, and Lea Michele. The video was a smash hit, racking up millions of views.
The song proved to be exactly as catchy as the celebrities did in the video. The “Girls” singer became a sensation, topping the Billboard Top 100 as soon as it was released. The song even made it to number one on the charts in Australia and New Zealand. The next month, “Girls” was featured in the critically acclaimed American Crime Story: Billions, an episode of David Chase’s drama series about the legal department of Chase Manhattan Bank. In the episode, music journalist Ellis Paul discusses the creation of “Girls”.
2. Kristen Stewart And Robert Pattinson’s Breakdown
While many fans were finally able to see “Twilight” and “The Twilight Saga” finales at theaters around the world last December, not everything was perfect. In December, an unguarded camera shot revealed a dramatic scene between Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. The two had been arguing throughout the movie, with Kristen accusing Robert of trying to control her every move. The argument culminated in a passionate make-up session before the movie’s end. The scene was so intimate that it caused many fans and critics to believe that the two were deliberately trying to shock their audience.
3. Kristen Stewart Is Nominated For An Oscar
It was an incredible feat for “Twilight’s” Kristen Stewart to receive the SAG Award for Best Actress and be nominated for an Academy Award. She became the first person to win both awards. The actress had previously been nominated for an Oscar for her performance in “Still Alice” but had never won. She finally broke the “Oscar curse” with her performance in Scott Pilgram’s critically acclaimed “Lazarus,” earning her the title of sexiest actress alive. After the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, multiple organizations and publications named Stewart as one of their favourite actresses of 2017. She also received numerous accolades for her role in “Lazarus.”
4. Emma Roberts Lands A Role In A Bold And Beautiful Movie
Emma Roberts was one of the biggest breakout stars of 2017. The actress first caught our attention with a starring role in the coming-of-age film “American Horror Story: Roanoke,” based on the 2007 Roanoke cult horror film of the same name. In the film, Roberts plays a 16-year-old aspiring actress named Madison who travels back in time to reawaken the dark arts of acting and witchcraft. When the film was first announced, a representative for Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner stated that Weiner had originally envisioned Emma Roberts in the role of his teenage daughter. The role was such a departure from her usual teen comedy and drama roles that many fans were curious to see what would happen next. The film was a critical and commercial success, garnering rave reviews for its nuanced portrayal of characters and creative use of its setting. It also became one of the few major mainstream films to tackle head-on issues such as sexism, mental illness, and the entertainment industry. “American Horror Story: Roanoke” was the highest-grossing independent film of 2017 and one of the biggest hits of the year.
5. Lea Michele Opens Up About Her Health Battle
If you’re a fan of Glee, then you’ll know that the show has been putting fans through a lot. The show’s creator Richard Simmons has been battling cancer for some time which the cast and the fans have supported him through. In an unprecedented display of solidarity, the entire cast and crew of Glee got down on their hands and knees on social media and begged fans to support the show as it struggled to stay afloat. Just a few days after the season six premiere, Richard Simmons confirmed that he had indeed cancelled Glee due to declining health. Unfortunately, the creator’s cancer returned with a vengeance, forcing him to step down from his post and confirming that the show had, in fact, ended.
6. The Year Of The Comebacks
It seems like it’s been an age of comebacks for many A-list stars. After years of being absent from the big screen, many famous faces launched successful return tours, proving that no matter how many times you quit, you never really leave the entertainment industry.
It started with the megastar Tom Hanks, whose film career spanned over six decades. He made his return to the big screen in August 2017 with a film adaptation of the Broadway musical “The River.” It was a small role, but it was enough to bring Hanks back into the limelight. He’s recently been seen in numerous film and television projects, including the Netflix series “A Perfect Day” and the upcoming film adaptation of the bestselling novel “The Irish Goodbye.”
7. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson In Talks For A Black Film
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is arguably one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the 21st century. The wrestler-turned-actor has appeared in countless mainstream and indie films, winning a Golden Globe and receiving an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the 2015 film “American Hustle.” In early 2018, it was announced that The Rock had signed on to star in the highly anticipated black comedy “Black,” directed by Taika Waititi. The film is based on the hilarious, critically acclaimed 2016 graphic novel of the same name by Greg Rucka and Levi Buchanan. In the film, Johnson plays a washed-up pro wrestler who teams up with a 12-year-old girl to stage a comeback and save his career. The role marks The Rock’s first lead role in a feature film in four years and his first appearance in a comedy since 2010’s “The Other Guys.”
The film marks another comeback for Johnson, who last appeared in a lead role in 2010’s “The Brothers Grimm,” and follows a string of box office hits, including 2017’s “Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle” and the reboot of “The Magnificent Seven,” which was named the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time as of January 24, 2018.
8. Benedict Cumberbatch Lands A Huge Movie
Benedict Cumberbatch exploded onto the scene in 2011 with his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the television series “Sherlock.” The role won him numerous accolades, including a BAFTA nomination and two Golden Globes. Since then, he has established himself as one of the biggest English language stars in Hollywood. In 2017, the Sherlock Holmes enthusiast signed on to star in the upcoming movie “The Empty Crown,” based on the 1891 novel “The Empty Queen” by Edgar Wallace. The film will premiere in theaters in fall 2018.
Cumberbatch can currently be seen in the CBS legal drama series “Wisdom Of the Crowd,” which stars Mark Harmon. In December 2017, it was announced that the actor would be attending the 67th Annual Golden Globes Awards, marking his first time attending the prestigious film and television awards show.