‘Twilight’ Director Says Studio Was Concerned Over Robert Pattinson’s Looks In Casting Process

Robert Pattinson is known as a heartthrob in Hollywood following his shot to stardom after starring in the Twilight saga. However, the film’s director Catherine Hardwicke is now revealing that the studio behind the franchise was not always Team Pattinson for the role of Edward and expressed concern over his looks during the casting process.

“When he came over to my house, he had black bangs for hair and was kind of out of shape because he was hanging out at the pub all the time,” Hardwicke said during an interview on the Watchalong podcast. “I thought ‘it works not just in person, but it works on screen.’ I had to be sure. Of course, in person, I just got carried away, but you have to be sure — does it really translate [to the screen]?”

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Following the “fun auditions” Pattinson shot with co-star Kristen Stewart for the 2008 film were shown to Summit Entertainment execs, who were not completely Team Pattinson.

“I sent it to Summit and he went over to meet them,” Hardwicke added. “They called me back and go, ‘Do you think you can make this guy look good?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I do. Did you see his cheekbones? We’re doing a makeover on the hair and everything and he’s going to start working out and he’s going to be gorgeous.’ But they didn’t believe it at first. He walked over there with a stained shirt… It was Rob.”

Pattinson would eventually land the role and the rest is history. Hardwicke also revealed that the four finalists for the role of Edward were Pattinson, Ben Barnes, Shiloh Fernandez and Jackson Rathbone. Although Rathbone didn’t get to play Edward, he did book the role of Jasper in the saga.

Watch the full interview with Hardwicke in the video posted below.

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