The Twilight Saga, a pop culture juggernaut based on Stephenie Meyer’s novels, had everyone caught in its spell. This film series—Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn Part I, and Breaking Dawn Part II—danced its way into the hearts of millions from 2008 to 2012. At its center is Bella Swan, an otherwise ordinary girl played by Kristen Stewart, who becomes the apple of the eye of Edward Cullen, the brooding vampire portrayed by Robert Pattinson. As Bella discovers Edward’s true nature, their love story unravels amidst a backdrop of vampire rivalries.And let’s not overlook Jacob (Taylor Lautner), the werewolf with a heart set on poaching Bella from Edward’s clutches.In one of his prior interviews during the first film’s release, Pattinson didn’t mince words about his take on Meyer’s books and their reception. He described the novels as a window into Meyer’s own fantasy world, saying (via YouTube):
When I read it, I was convinced that Stephenie was convinced that she was Bella. It was like it was a book that wasn’t supposed to be published, like reading her — her sort of s*xual fantasy.Pattinson’s comments painted a picture of Meyer as a dreamer who, after a vivid vision, decided to pen her fantasies into a book, much to his bewilderment. The actor further mused:Especially when she says that it was based on a dream, and it’s like, ‘Oh, then I had a dream about this really sexy guy’, and she just writes this book about it. I was just convinced that this woman is mad, she’s completely mad, and she’s in love with her own fictional creation.Determined to shed his glittery vampire persona and escape the heartthrob stereotype, Pattinson threw himself into a string of indie gems. He embraced gritty roles in films like the Safdie Brothers’ Good Time (2017) and Robert Eggers’ eerie The Lighthouse (2019), proving his acting knack and earning critical acclaim.
