Twilight was an instant hit upon its 2008 release, largely thanks to the bloodthirsty fans of Stephenie Meyer’s hugely popular books
And so the lion fell in love with the lamb …
On Nov. 21, 2008, audiences first saw the beloved characters of Forks, Washington, from Stephanie Meyer’s best-selling vampire book series come to life on the silver screen. Twilight spawned four sequels between 2009 and 2012, transforming into one of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time.
The supernatural teen romance skyrocketed the careers of its cast — with Kristen Stewart going on to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in 2022 for her portrayal of Princess Diana in 2021’s Spencer. Stewart’s former costar and on- and off-screen love interest, Robert Pattinson, went on to star in 2022’s The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves. Despite their individual successes post-Twilight Saga, the stars have continued to look back fondly on the cultural phenomenon.
“This is great! I saw that it was on Netflix, I was on and looking through [it],” Stewart told Entertainment Tonight in 2022 when asked about the series’ resurgence on Netflix. “It’s weird; it feels incredibly far away and also still not that far away from me.”
Though it’s been a while since Twihards last saw the Cullen clan, according to Deadline, Lionsgate Television is developing a TV reboot of the iconic book series.
Hold on tight, spider monkeys. See what the Twilight cast has been up to since the film’s 2008 premiere.
01 Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan
Stewart played the reserved yet determined human-turned-vampire Bella Swan in the series. She rose to fame playing Jodie Foster’s daughter in 2002’s Panic Room and high school freshman Melinda Sordino in 2004’s Speak (based on the 1999 novel of the same name). Following Twilight, Stewart has remained in the spotlight, winning the prestigious César Award for her role in 2014’s Clouds of Sils Maria (2014).
Other notable film credits include Still Alice (2014), Café Society (2016), Certain Women (2016), Charlie’s Angels (2019), Happiest Season (2020) and Spencer (2021). In 2023, it was announced that Stewart would play writer Susan Sontag in an upcoming biopic, per Variety.
Kristen Stewart Talks About Oscar Buzz for Her Performance as Princess Diana in ‘Spencer’
Prior to dating visual effects producer Alicia Cargile from 2013 to 2016, Stewart had a highly publicized relationship with Pattinson, whom she dated for four years before calling it quits in 2013. She went on to briefly date musician St. Vincent before coupling up with model Stella Maxell from 2016 to 2018. Stewart has been romantically linked to screenwriter Dylan Myer since 2019, and the pair announced their engagement in 2021.
02 Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen
Pattinson was best known for playing Cedric Diggory in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire before taking on the role of brooding, seductive vampire Edward Cullen. The Twilight films skyrocketed the actor’s career, with him landing roles in Remember Me (2010), Water for Elephants (2011), Cosmopolis (2012), Queen of the Desert (2015), The Lost City of Z (2016), Good Time (2017), Tenet (2020) and The Devil All the Time (2020).
In 2019, he was featured in the Oscar-nominated film The Lighthouse and The King, where he infamously attempted a French accent. After making waves as the titular antihero in 2022’s The Batman — which is set to have a sequel — Pattinson was cast in the upcoming 2024 Bong Joon Ho-directed film Mickey 17.
Beyond acting, Pattinson has had a long-standing partnership with Dior, where he has been the face of their Homme fragrance and a brand ambassador of their menswear collection since 2013. The multitalented star is also a singer and musician, contributing original songs to the Twilight soundtrack and the 2018 films Damsel and High Life, in which he also appeared.
Pattinson began dating singer-songwriter FKA twigs in 2014 following his breakup with Stewart. The couple announced their engagement in 2015 but ultimately broke things off in 2017. Pattinson and model-actress Suki Waterhouse have been in a low-key relationship since 2018, making their Met Gala debut as a couple in May 2023.
In November, Waterhouse revealed that she and Pattinson are expecting their first baby together.
03 Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black
Before starring as shapeshifting werewolf Jacob Black, a Cullen rival-turned-friend, Taylor Lautner was a child actor in the 2005 films The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. He starred in Valentine’s Day (2010), Abduction (2011), Grown Ups 2 (2013), Tracers (2015) and Home Team (2022). Lautner’s TV credits include BBC’s Cuckoo and Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens, where he appeared opposite ex-girlfriend Billie Lourd.
While filming Valentine’s Day, the actor began a months-long romance with costar Taylor Swift. Following their 2009 split, the two would reunite over the years, including for Swift’s 2023 music video for “I Can See You.” He also dated his Abduction costar, Lily Collins, in 2010. In 2022, Lautner married his girlfriend of three years, Taylor “Tay” Dome, with whom he began co-hosting The Squeeze podcast in 2023.
04 Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen
Ashley Greene played the compassionate, clairvoyant vampire Alice Cullen in her breakout role. The actress went on to appear on Pan Am and Rogue and in films like Wish I Was Here (2014), Staten Island Summer (2015), Bombshell (2019), Aftermath (2021), Some Other Woman (2023) and The Retirement Plan (2023). In 2022, she launched The Twilight Effect podcast, where she revealed details from the set and reunited with her former costars.
Greene has been recognized for her style and animal activism over the years. In 2010, she received Hollywood Life’s Style Icon Award and an award from PETA for her work with cosmetics company Avon, speaking out against animal testing.
After dating for seven years, Greene and Australian TV personality Paul Khoury tied the knot in 2018. The couple welcomed their first child together, daughter Kingsley Rainn, in September 2022.
05 Kellan Lutz as Emmett Cullen
Prior to landing the role of Emmett Cullen, Edward’s adopted brother, Kellan Lutz appeared in the 2006 movies Stick It and Accepted. Since then, the actor has been featured in several action movies, including Immortals (2011), Java Heat (2013), The Legend of Hercules (2014), The Expendables 3 (2014), Extraction (2015) and What Remains (2022). He also appeared in the 2019 Taraji P. Henson-led romantic comedy What Men Want and on the series 90210, The Comeback, FBI: Most Wanted and The Guardians of Justice (Will Save You!).
Off-screen, Lutz is an activist. Since 2011, he has been an ambassador of the anti-trafficking organization Saving Innocence. He has also been a spokesman for PETA and Ape Action Africa and supported the 2012 documentary The Paw Project, which advocates against cat declawing practices.
In 2017, he married TV host and model Brittany Gonzales. The couple share two children: daughter Ashtyn Lilly (born in 2021) and son Kasen Lane (born in 2022).
06 Nikki Reed as Rosalie Cullen
Before playing Rosalie Cullen, Nikki Reed’s first screen credit was in 2003’s Thirteen, which she co-wrote with Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke when she was just 13 years old. Reed went on to act in movies like Pawn (2013), Balls Out (2014) and Jack Goes Home (2016). She has also appeared on shows such as Sleepy Hollow and V-Wars.
Reed is a musician and animal rights activist, receiving an ASPCA Compassion Award for her advocacy for animal welfare in 2014. With her then-husband, Paul McDonald, she released an EP titled The Best Part in 2012, which included a song featured on the Breaking Dawn — Part 2 soundtrack.
In 2011, Reed married McDonald, a former American Idol contestant, but they divorced in 2014. Later that year, Reed began dating The Vampire Diaries’ Ian Somerhalder, whom she wed in 2015. The couple welcomed daughter Bodhi Soleil in 2017 and a son in 2023.
7 Anna Kendrick as Jessica Stanley
Though she became a household name from the Pitch Perfect movie series, Anna Kendrick got an early taste of fame as Forks High School student Jessica in Twilight. In 2010, she earned her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Up in the Air, costarring George Clooney.
Since then, Kendrick has cultivated a successful career with roles in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012), Drinking Buddies (2013), Cake (2014), Into the Woods (2014), Get a Job (2016), The Accountant (2016), Trolls (2016) — and its 2020 and 2023 sequels — and Alice, Darling (2022). She also led the cast of Max’s anthology series Love Life before starring and making her directorial debut in 2023’s Woman of the Hour.
Kendrick dated English filmmaker and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World director Edgar Wright from 2009 to 2013 and later English cinematographer Ben Richardson. She began a relationship with Barry actor and creator Bill Hader in 2020; however, PEOPLE confirmed the pair broke up after two years together in 2022.
08 Elizabeth Reaser as Esme Cullen
Elizabeth Reaser already had an extensive acting résumé before starring as the kindhearted matriarch Esme Cullen in Twilight, most notably on Grey’s Anatomy — which earned her an Emmy nomination — and The Good Wife. She also rounded out the star-studded cast of 2005’s The Family Stone.
Since hanging up her vampire fangs, Reaser has appeared in Hello, My Name is Doris (2015), Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) and Dark Harvest (2023) — along with guest appearances on Manhunt, Law & Order True Crime, The Haunting of Hill House, Easy, The Handmaid’s Tale and Impeachment: American Crime Story.
09 Peter Facinelli as Carlisle Cullen
When Peter Facinelli joined the cast as the Cullen patriarch and Forks resident physician, Carlisle, he was known for his role in the 1998 rom-com Can’t Hardly Wait and his appearances on the series Six Feet Under and Damages. Following the success of Twilight, he returned to the small screen, appearing on Glee, Nurse Jackie, American Odyssey, Supergirl, S.W.A.T. and Roar.
Behind the camera, Facinelli runs his own production company, Facinelli Films, writing and producing the 2011 Hallmark flick Accidentally in Love — starring then-wife and actress Jennie Garth. Facinelli also penned the 2015 sci-fi novel After the Red Rain alongside Barry Lyga and Robert DeFranco.
After 11 years of marriage, Facinelli and Garth announced their split in 2012. They share three children: Luca Bella, Lola Ray and Fiona Eve. In 2020, Facinelli and writer Lily Anne Harrison got engaged before welcoming their son, Jack, in 2022.
