Stephanie Meyer originally wanted Henry Cavill for the role of Edward, and Twilight would have likely been very different if Cavill had been cast.
One can’t help but wonder how different Twilight would have been if Stephanie Meyer got her way and Henry Cavill had been cast as Edward instead of Robert Pattinson. Twilight was published in 2005, so Cavill was not a household name, yet Meyer pictured him as Edward when fan-casting her book. It’s also interesting, given how different Cavill and Pattinson’s typical roles were at the time. Pattinson had just played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Afterward, Pattinson chose roles playing people in crisis, whereas Cavill picked romantic or more stereotypically manly characters. Meyer wanting Cavill made it clear the type of Edward she wanted.
Pattinson’s portrayal of Edward felt book-accurate, but it wasn’t initially what Meyer wanted. Robert Pattinson openly voiced his Twilight criticisms and was nearly fired for his take on Edward. If Meyer wanted someone like Cavill for the role, it meant she wanted a traditionally handsome, manly man, and Pattinson disagreed with that assessment of Edward. Pattinson was not a fan of the books previously, so he brought a fresh and unbiased take on the character and made acting choices Cavill may not have. Pattinson’s depiction of Edward was unhinged and overly dramatic, creating the emo-vampire fans loved, but Cavill couldn’t play it in the same way.
Pattinson’s Disdain For Edward Suited The Character
Whether on accident or purpose, Pattinson understood Edward in a way Meyer couldn’t. Pattinson wasn’t obsessed with Edward the way Meyer was, so he approached the role with the disdain required. Edward hated himself, what he was, and the Cullen’s vampire origins, all essential attributes to his character and obvious when reading his backstory. Pattinson’s dislike of Edward was prevalent throughout the Twilight saga, and it helped create a performance that felt real. So, ironically, Pattinson not liking his character made him the perfect Edward.
Pattinson’s performance as Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies was often their best quality, as he played the role with such intensity and drama that it perfectly balanced Meyer’s books. Twilight was a love story between an average teenage girl and a 104-year-old sparkly vegetarian vampire virgin. Whether Meyer would admit it or not, the Twilight saga was camp, and at times it seemed Pattinson’s Edward Cullen was the only one who knew. Despite nearly being fired for playing Edward too emo, Pattinson continued to do so, and it worked. Pattinson playing Edward close to a parody of himself made the performance refreshingly self-aware and comical.
Rob And Kristen’s Chemistry Contributed To Twilight’s Success
The Twilight saga was a huge box office success, and while the movies weren’t critically acclaimed, one of Twilight’s strengths was the chemistry between its two leads. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart’s connection was palpable on screen, and the context of their real-life relationship was perfectly timed for their on-screen romance. Pattinson allegedly had a crush on Stewart before filming Twilight, so when they filmed the first movie, he was awkward around her. That nervous energy perfectly encapsulated what it is like at the beginning of a relationship or when you have a crush on someone, so it made sense for Twilight’s first film.
Following the series’ success, many Twilight actors became big stars, including Pattinson and Stewart. This resulted in the pair choosing roles based on substance rather than money post-Twilight. However, a significant factor behind their success was their Twilight chemistry, which, in turn, was only possible with their off-screen relationship. Stewart and Pattinson’s relationship was also great PR. Whenever there was a hiatus between movies, fans were reminded of Twilight any time Stewart and Pattinson were spotted out together. Twilight had a dedicated fanbase, so, for them, it was as if Edward and Bella were dating in real life, and it only added to the craze.
Cavill’s Age Would’ve Meant An Entirely New (And Older) Cast
Cavill was 25 when Twilight came out, but the Cullen family’s ages don’t go past 26. Therefore, casting Cavill and then expecting him to play a 17-year-old for four years wouldn’t have made sense. Even though Cavill and Pattinson were only three years apart, Pattinson had more of a boyish look to him, whereas Cavill was more manly. Additionally, a lot of physical aging can happen between the ages of 22 and 25. A 22-year-old could still have a fuller and younger-looking face compared to a more chiseled and mature-looking 25-year-old, and Cavill already had clearly defined facial features making him look well past 17 in 2008.
If Cavill had been cast as Edward, Twilight’s casting of Jacob Black could have been entirely different. Taylor Lautner was nearly replaced as Jacob in New Moon because the director was worried the 16-year-old actor wouldn’t be able to bulk up for Jacob’s transformation. He eventually proved them wrong, but given Lautner was nearly replaced for being too young, he wouldn’t have stood a chance opposite 25-year-old Cavill. It was the right decision not to go with Cavill due to his age because it would’ve thrown off the rest of the cast, and if Stewart was already attached, it might have been jarring seeing the 18-year-old with Cavill.
Cavill’s Athleticism Might Have Made Edward Less Relatable
Edward wasn’t the first role Henry Cavill lost to Robert Pattinson, the earlier being Harry Potter’s Cedric Diggory. Both were playing a teenage boy, and perhaps Cavill was too old to be playing a teenager. In the specific case of Edward Cullen, however, Cavill was also too athletic. Edward was described as tall and lanky but with a muscular build. Pattinson was definitely fit, but he wasn’t overly muscled, especially when compared to Lautner’s Jacob, and Pattinson struggled to bulk up for the films. His lean physique worked for the role, making him look like a typical emo boy, a more approachable Edward that fans could obsess over, beautiful but attainable.
Part of Twilight’s charm was that someone with superhuman good looks would fall in love with an average girl, and Pattinson’s Edward was someone women could believe they had a chance with. Henry Cavill was better suited for Superman, and it was meant to be, seeing as Twilight would have interfered with him accepting the role. Even though the book’s version of Edward might have been more muscular, Pattinson’s body type made more sense with his emo-centric portrayal. Cavill’s Edward Cullen wouldn’t have that same charm as he’d be too physically perfect.
