As stars of the Twilight films, they have been thrust into the spotlight, with almost immediate and bloodthirsty adoration from their "Twihard" fans. But as the vampire franchise approaches its own twilight, what's next for the stars of the epic? While there's no doubt they are entertaining, none of the actors — the leads Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner in particular — are likely to be in line to win any major acting awards for their portrayals of blood-spattered teenage angst. That leaves them, like their child-star brethren from the Harry Potter films Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, in the unusual position of being globally known stars who don't have a particularly large or respected resume.
Their next steps will be scrutinised like no other young actor — maybe unfairly so. After all, they were cast in four more films on the basis of the first film's immense commercial success, of which their acting talents and chemistry were but one element — for example, the saga's directors could be and have been chopped and changed (Catherine Hardwicke, who helmed the first instalment, was replaced by Chris Wietz, David Slade and now Bill Condon).
tabloid! takes a look at the stars of Twilight, where they came from, and where they might go next...
Anna Kendrick
A minor player in the Twilight show, Kendrick is one actor to not only join the saga but also retain both critical and box office appeal. Kendrick more than held her own against George Clooney in Up In The Air (right), earning herself an Oscar nomination in the process. That 2010 nomination was far from the first nod she's had: she is the second-youngest Tony nominee (yes, she has Broadway skills, too) for her performance in High Society. She's currently wowing US audiences in the cancer comedy 50/50 (below) with Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt — and if you can get on those guys' gravy train, you're on to a winner.
Robert Pattinson
Unemployed, "unemployable" in his own words and in debt, the young British actor had played a small role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and then... nothing. In a now legendary tale, when he heard about the role, he paid for his own flight to Los Angeles, slept on his agent's couch, and auditioned for the role in Hardwicke's bedroom, doing the kissing scene with Kristen Stewart. In no uncertain terms, he nailed the role, and the rest is Team Edward history. As one half of the central coupling, he was never going to go unnoticed, but Pattinson went way beyond, bringing to life the much-loved character of Edward Cullen with little backlash from the book's fans — in fact, he may have been better than they imagined him.
During the filming of the saga, Pattinson has expanded into other roles, but mainly kept within his tortured artist/brooding, melodramatic style. The first non-Twilight role many saw him in following the release of the first film was as a young Salvador Dali in the well-received Little Ashes (it was actually filmed before Twilight). Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, it was not typical fare for young Twihards. Remember Me was a romance, again with a darker edge — two traumatised souls finding each other despite what critic Roger Ebert called "the plot's destiny, which is an anvil around their necks". His follow up, Water For Elephants, saw him finally among stars, Oscar-winners in fact, alongside Reese Witherspoon and Christophe Waltz in a gentle family tale.
Next up: Pattinson seduces his way around 1890s Paris as the rakish Bel Ami (above) in a film with "a lot of sex," he says. He'll break Christina Ricci, Uma Thurman and Kristen Scott Thomas' hearts along the way. And he finally sheds the period looks for a leading role in a hard-edged modern thriller from none other than David Cronenberg: Cosmopolis. Pattinson gets gun-toting-nasty as young millionaire Eric Packer, whose trip across Manhattan in his limo takes on bizarre proportions. He joins top stars Jay Baruchel, Mathieu Almaric, and Paul Giamatti. A small-budget film, but in terms of prestige — big league stuff.
Taylor Lautner
If Stewart was a child actress, Lautner was a child star, appearing, notably, in family fare such as The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lavagirl (3D!) and Cheaper By The Dozen. His casting in Twilight in 2008 saw a slow-burning start to his career — in the first film Jacob is a minor character, a family friend of Bella's that doesn't get too much of a look in. That all changed in New Moon, with the pre-film hype — Jacob will get abs — turning into a full-fledged battle of the leading men as Lautner's dialogue became secondary to his shirtless scenes. A role as Taylor Swift's love interest in real life and onscreen in Valentine's Day seemed to seal his fate with a starring role on teenaged girls' bedroom walls and not much else. This summer's thriller, Abduction (below), didn't make much of an impact.
What's next: What does a star do when he wants a great role? Options a script himself. That's what the Hollywood Reporter said Lautner has done with a New Yorker story that he's hoping to work on with indie director Gus Van Sant, although he was coy about it at Monday's premiere. "It's very premature. He is a very a talented director who I've always looked up to and I've always wanted to work with," he said of Van Sant. That's after apparently joining then bailing on so many projects — from Stretch Armstrong to Max Steel — that one producer, Joe Roth said in March 2010, "I've never heard of anything like this in my whole life".
Kristen Stewart
The most serious player in the saga, known for her shy, measured interviews, Stewart came to the films as the most serious actress, a child performer who was more thespian, less star. "When it comes to acting, I've always been pretty solid and together ever since I was 10 years old on a film set," she told Parade magazine recently, reminding us particularly of her strong performance alongside another child actress, Jodie Foster, in the taut Panic Room (above). While Pattinson is now working with the big stars, Stewart's last pre-Twilight saw her directed by Sean Penn in Into The Wild.
Next up: Currently working alongside Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman (below), she'll also go the artistic route in the film version of Jack Kerouac's On The Road, directed by The Motorcycle Diaries' director Walter Salles.
We asked, you answered. Gulf News readers and Twihards tell us why they can't get enough of the vampire saga in all its bloody glory:
- I have been craving and excessively excited for the Twilight Saga "Breaking Dawn" to be showed here in Abu Dhabi. "Last night was the best night of my existence" this line alone its perfectly written and would make any creature totally head over heels in love with this great movie… Wonderfully made!
Nick Cailo, Abu Dhabi
- Looking forward to watching it this weekend, love the books, but this'll be my first time watching one of the films in the cinema, as I normally wait until they come out on DVD. My favourite character is Jacob because he's so loyal, and his torso is beeeoouutiiiful...
Beth Adams, Al Ain
- The thing I like about Twilight is that it's a really good story, not dramatic. It's all equal and good! I am really looking forward to watching Breaking Dawn because it is going to be amazing. My favourite character is Edward Cullen.
Aashir Vk, Dubai
- I watched all three versions many times and looks always new. I really love the Twilight Saga and love every character of the movie: Bella, Edward, Jacob, Carlisle, Alex, Charlie and all other characters. I wish I could go to New York to see all these guys. I wish them all the very best for the movie.
Fahad, Dubai
- Well, being a crazy Twihard and following the other three parts religiously, I do not see any reason on as to how I can miss out on this one. Some stories just touch your heart and your lives forever, despite how much ever fantasy they are filled with. Twilight is definitely one of them. Agreed, no guy is perfect, it’s all in the way the girl finds an imperfect person perfect for her. Twilight is not only about love and relationships but it’s also about the emotions and complications that comes along with them and important decisions which are necessary to be made for the sake of your loved one. To love someone truly is not easy, and I like that part of reality which has been projected in Twilight. Breaking Dawn part one is a part I am eagerly awaiting because of the highly hyped wedding scene and also for the arrival of the newborn in their lives. Edward and Bella, a beauty and a beast pair in literal terms, but their love for each other is something to really be inspired by.
Zainab Das, Dubai
- I am a huge fan of the Twilight series, and have read the books as well. But the movies do not seem to fascinate me at all. They are not as interesting as the books, which is one of the reasons why I am not really looking forward to the movie. I actually stopped watching the movie after the second part, missed out the third one, and now the first part of the fourth is coming out. Oh yes ! Edward has been my favourite character in the movie as well as the books. I love the way he looks, the dialogues delivery, his expressions, his eyes! Anyone who would read the book would fall in love with him at the very first instance because of the language used to describe him. It is completely amazing. But again, I would just stick to the books and enjoy them. The movie is slow-paced, does not cover even half of the material that is being read in the book, and makes the movie look incomplete, or boring, which is how the first two parts were shaped.
Suman Shafi, Dubai
