Twilight is getting a TV show over a decade after its final movie in the franchise premiered. Here’s who should take on the character roles.
A new cast is a must for the main characters in the new Twilight remake TV series. Twilight is following the footsteps of Harry Potter, a property soon to get a new TV series with HBO Max. Twilight took the world by storm in the late 2000s, launching Kristin Stewert, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner into the spotlight. The franchise produced five films from 2008 through 2012, and its success paved the road for The Hunger Games and Divergent to follow suit.
Many of the actors tied to the Twilight franchise have gone on to have successful careers, with Stewart earning an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Princess Diana in the 2021 film Spencer. Similarly, Pattinson has seen success starring in the critically acclaimed The Lighthouse in 2019 and taking on the role of the Caped Crusader in The Batman. Given that the upcoming show is a remake, it’s unlikely that any of these actors will return, meaning that new faces are sure to be brought in by the series.
1 Lana Condor As Bella Swan
Lana Condor is best known for her role as Lara Jean in Netflix’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before franchise. The movies were based on a book series, making Condor no stranger to book to live-action book adaptations. The actress was likable and charismatic as Lara, and her charm would translate well as Bella.
After the success of To All The Boys, Condor went on to star in Boo, Bitch, where she played a ghost, before finding out she was actually still alive, and her experience with the supernatural would be great for Twilight, a franchise known for its portrayal of vampires. Condor also once told Interview Magazine that Stewart basically carried Twilight on her back, and with her as Bella in the series, she’d have her own opportunity to play the strong female lead.
2 Milo Manheim As Edward Cullen
Like Condor, Milo Manheim has some experience with the supernatural. He got his start in the Disney Channel Zombies franchise playing a zombie before moving on to Paramount+’s School Spirits and starring as a ghost. Playing a vampire would be a breeze for the 22-year-old actor after his past roles. He’s also known for playing the leading male character, so taking on Edward Cullen, the second most important character in the Twilight franchise, is something he’s already proven he can do.
3 Forrest Goodluck As Jacob Black
At only 18 years old, Forrest Goodluck found himself working beside one of the biggest actors in the world in The Revenant. Taking on the intense Leonardo Dicaprio film with 12 Oscar nominations and two wins makes any other acting role a piece of cake for Goodluck. Forrest is Native American and was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His father is Navajo, while his mother comes from several tribes, Hidatsa, Mandan, Navajo, and Tsimshian.
A crucial part of Jacob Black’s Twilight story is that he is a part of the Native American Quileute tribe. For that reason, the remake will surely cast an actor with a similar heritage. However, Goodluck’s heritage is not the sole reason he deserves to play Jacob. That, combined with his incredible acting skills, could give him the platform to be recognized for his talent.
4 Penn Badgley As Carlisle Cullen
Penn Badgley’s days of murdering civilians as Joe Goldberg are coming to an end as You is set to air its final season. With the Netflix series off his schedule, Badgley could wind up in the role of another morally ambiguous character. Twilight’s Carlisle Cullen is a powerful character who landed at number 1 on Forbes’ list of fictional wealthiest people. Any actor attempting to take on the role must be able to hold their own, and Badgley has proved his capabilities as Netflix’s favorite serial killer. Badgley would also bring in a pretty big audience, possibly those mourning the loss of You, excited to see more of the actor on their TV screens.
5 Lashana Lynch As Esme Cullen
Lashana Lynch has a vast filmography from The Woman King to a new 007 in No Time To Die, but the role that best qualifies her for Esme Cullen was when she played Miss Honey in Netflix’s 2022 Matilda the Musical. Esme is the matriarch of the Cullen family in Twilight. In the books, she takes all the vampires in and raises them as her own. She even becomes a mother figure to Bella, helping her through some dark issues, especially once Bella marries Edward.
Lynch proved her ability to be loving and comforting with her role as Miss Honey. Those who grew up reading the Roald Dahl novel or watching the 1996 film remember how nurturing Miss Honey was to Matilda, whose own family didn’t have much time for her. Lynch brought the same kindness to the teacher, and she could do the same for Esme. Since she’s been in a broad genre of films, taking on the supernatural TV show is within her capabilities.
6 Amandla Stenberg As Alice Cullen
Amandla Stenberg would be the perfect addition to the Twilight TV series as she already took on another book-to-screen adaptation as a child. Stenberg portrayed Rue in The Hunger Games and showcased her love for the slasher genre in Bodies, Bodies, Bodies. The actress even attended the Breaking Dawn part 1 and 2 premieres as a kid, and it would be a full circle moment if she got to portray Alice Cullen in Twilight TV show. Alice’s special power in Twilight is her ability to see the future, and with her acting skills, which were apparent from a young age, Stenberg could easily take on the psychic role.
7 Mason Gooding As Emmett Cullen
Mason Gooding is another actor who finds himself drawn to some darker roles. Gooding’s character fought off Ghostface in Scream 5 and Scream 6 as Chad, a high school football star who moved to New York with his friends for college. As Chad in the Scream franchise, as well as Nick in Booksmart, Gooding has shown off his charming nature, which is perfect for the role of Emmett Cullen, a character described as lighthearted and carefree.
8 Dove Cameron As Rosalie Hale
Actress Dove Cameron has tackled roles like Maleficent’s daughter Mal in the Disney Channel Descendants franchise, Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray Live, and Ruby Hale in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Cameron has dominated several stage productions appearing as Cher Horowitz in the off-Broadway production of Clueless, Sophie Sheridan in Mamma Mia at the Hollywood Bowl, and Clara Johnson in the London production of The Light in the Piazza.
Cameron won’t have to showcase her singing talents as Rosalie but she has proven that she can do a bit of everything. Rosalie has a tough exterior over a tragic backstory which means that Cameron will have to deliver a layered performance. When you’ve played Cher Horowitz and Ruby Hale to success, it proves that you can deliver whatever a role will ask of you.
9 Luke Eisner As Jasper Hale
Luke Eisner’s blonde hair and light eyes match perfectly with Cameron’s appearance, which is important as Twilight describes Rosalie and Jasper as looking like siblings even though they aren’t biologically related. Eisner won over many fans with his role in Tall Girl and would be just as charming as Jasper in Twilight. He and Cameron would be a fitting duo, and while he doesn’t have many roles on his resume, Twilight would give him a great opportunity to prove his skills. The movie franchise launched several careers and the show could do the same thing.
