Robert Pattinson 's rise to fame appears to be unstoppable. Having gained widespread recognition after playing Edward Cullen in the horror-fantasy saga "Twilight," the British star has worked hard in recent years to make a decisive change of direction and shed the uncomfortable image of the sinister vampire, a figure too often exposed to controversy and which, for a time, even threatened his professional stability.
Proving tenacious and selective in his work opportunities, Pattinson can now acknowledge a resurgence in his artistic career, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after actors on the international scene, alongside the most respected filmmakers. Since the last chapter of "The Twilight Saga," released in 2012, he has appeared, not surprisingly, in David Cronenberg's "Maps of the Stars , " Robert Eggers' "The Lighthouse," Christopher Nolan's "Tenet , " Matt Reeves' "The Batman," and even South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's "Mickey 17."
Reflecting on the legacy he feels "Twilight" has left, for better or worse, Pattinson speaks fondly and positively about the experience today, even after struggling to cope with the fan outrage, which even undermined his then-relationship with co-star Kristen Stewart . Interviewed about the matter by The Mirror, he admitted: "At the time, I wanted to move on and leave it behind, but as the years have passed and the hysteria has subsided, I can actually look back on Twilight fondly."
And, realizing that the saga still has an incredible hold on old and new viewers, she added: "I still get asked more about Twilight than any other project; the impact it still has on fans is huge. Because of streaming services, there's a new wave of fans . I get questions about the saga from people who weren't even born when the first film came out."
As those in the know will already know, Pattinson is preparing to return to Nolan's awe-inspiring "The Odyssey" and will appear for the first time in the "Dune" saga with the third installment, also directed by Denis Villeneuve. Recalling this latest, extraordinary opportunity, he told GQ magazine earlier this year: "You never experience this in any other profession. I was literally experiencing things that almost no one in history has ever experienced, or will ever experience, and it's just incredible."
Recalling the feeling of disbelief she felt while taking part in the project, she added: "Being in the desert filming Dune is weird. I remember shooting a scene with Zendaya , the first scene we shot together in the desert. And I thought: Oh! We're in Dune! And she was like: Yeah... We're shooting a Dune movie. But it really felt like it: it feels like we're in a Dune movie. And it was really fun."
Still paired with Zendaya, Pattinson returned to theaters earlier this month with "The Drama," a film directed by Kristoffer Borgli , who also appeared in 2023 with the visionary "Dream Scenario." In this dark romantic comedy, we follow the adventures of Emma and Charles, a close-knit couple about to get married. As they prepare for the ceremony, an uncomfortable secret suddenly emerges, heralding a profound crisis, profoundly undermining the sense of reliability and trust established throughout their relationship.
Even before its theatrical release, the film received some criticism from victims of mass shootings , as the plot features elements related to current events involving gun violence. This detail certainly didn't go unnoticed by Tom Mauser , the father of one of the students killed in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, who told TMZ that he found the film's content downright "disgusting."
The controversy continued against Zendaya, who, during her latest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, allegedly downplayed the film's sensitive content with her statements. Jimmy Kimmel, however, seemed unambiguous about this aspect, especially after stating: "I can imagine, without revealing anything, that this film could cause a lot of problems for a lot of people... in their personal lives."
