Will Robert Pattinson Survive the Twilight Saga Hype?
by Larson Hill
With so much Twilight Saga news and celebrity Twilight gossip surrounding New Moon star Robert Pattinson, you have to wonder how Pattinson will be affected by such feverish Twilight attention. I've written similar pieces about how the Twilight Saga may impact Robert Pattinson and Twilight cast members Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner and I continue to wonder where Pattinson will stand professionally as an actor when the Twilight Saga comes to a close.

It's a Twilight topic that continues to fascinate me on many levels since the Twilight hype surrounding Robert Pattinson shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, for obvious reasons given the release of New Moon, the Pattinson hype is picking up Twilight Saga steam. And like I've wondered before, can the Twilight hype surrounding Robert Pattinson be sustained through Eclipse and Breaking Dawn if the latter Twilight Saga film goes into production anytime soon?

Obviously Robert Pattinson has been thinking about his post Twilight Saga fate given the recent Pattinson quotes about his future as an actor and how Robert Pattinson doesn't know how long he'll be acting. It's a thread we've also seen with Kristen Stewart, too. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are easily in similar Twilight popularity boats. In wondering how Robert Pattinson will survive the Twilight Saga hype, these aren't questions of absolute Twilight negativity over the future career of Robert Pattinson. In fact, we all know Robert Pattinson could go on to become an even bigger star or that Pattinson may be faced with the challenge of shaking his Twilight and New Moon image to grow as an actor. How that will play out for Pattinson is a Twilight related saga yet to be told.

Although Pattinson fans of Twilight and New Moon may not want to look at it, there's a reason why the saying "too much of a good thing" can sometimes be bad or often ruin that very good thing. With regard to Robert Pattinson, there's a two way Twilight street with both Twilight Saga fans and the media. It's an issue of Twilight supply and Pattinson demand. Although Twilight Pattinson fans can't get enough of the New Moon star, with the media feeding their Twilight hunger by the second, how much are we all contributing to the possibility that Robert Pattinson may be typecast by the end of the Twilight Saga?

In simple terms, the Twilight Saga adaptations are nothing more than popular movies and Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are the mega-stars of the Twilight era. But the celebrity status of Robert Pattinson is similar to the popularity of a variety of movie and music stars throughout the decades. Will the Twilight Saga eventually propel Robert Pattinson into roles that could see him become the next Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, Ryan O'Neal, Burt Reynolds, Harrison Ford, and Brad Pitt, all similarly popular actors of their eras? Or could we see Robert Pattinson working much harder to show people he's not simply the Twilight guy?

Although the future acting verdict is still out on Daniel Radcliffe from Harry Potter, two past examples of how the Twilight popularity could impact Robert Pattinson are Davey Jones of the Monkees and Mark Hamill of Star Wars, two incredibly popular stars of the 1960s and 70s that had a hard time shaking their franchise images. Although the Jones comparison may seem funny, he was a huge star with teens, which is the exact popularity demo of Robert Pattinson. Unfortunately, and also fortunately at the same time, it's an aspect of the industry that occurs. Many actors like Robert Pattinson work a lifetime and never get an opportunity as big as the Twilight Saga, which, as we all know, certainly gives Robert Pattinson the opportunity to retire at 23. In that Twilight regard, any Twilight or New Moon typecasting has its advantages.

Will Robert Pattinson survive the Twilight Saga hype? Although there's no way to tell at this Twilight Saga point, with New Moon and Pattinson about to hit theaters, in all likelihood the answer will depend on where Robert Pattinson wants to go as an actor. There's no shortage of actors who have survived similar hype as the Twilight Saga for Robert Pattinson to get advice from. If Robert Pattinson needs any help in that Twilight regard, he only needs to look to a few members of the '80s Brat Pack for help.

-- Larson Hill

 

 

 

There are 9 comments
gabi
October 22, 2009 - 08:32
Subject: Rob Pattinson

So u're saying Johnny Depp didn't survive EDWARD Sissorhand or the Pirate Movie or Al Pacino The Godfather Movies or John Travolta Saturday Night or Jack Nicholson Shining ect.. You are all speculating what will or will not happen. Me and my friend are all older and we can see that Mr. Pattinson is able to transform himself into different characters. The least you Journalist can do is sit back and wait till he does more movies and stop disregarding the work he already did. LOOK he is only 23 years old

Barb – Ohio, USA
October 21, 2009 - 22:15
Subject: Popularity Demo

I too really wish the media would understand his fan base. I too am in my 40's and I am a big fan. All of my friends love him and are in their 40's. I read a lot of blogs and fan sites, and most people on those sites are in their 20's, 30's, and 40's. And the one thing that stuck out to me in this article?? To quote the article ...teens are Rob's "exact popularity demo". Says who??? Fail.

Scallywag – Denmark
October 21, 2009 - 18:15
Subject: A true talent

I embrace the thought that Robert Pattinson has a broader fan base than most people anticipate. I will be 41 end of this year and I am proud to call myself a fan of Mr. Robert Pattinson. I already noticed his talent when I saw him in "Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire" but as a grown, mature woman and mother of 2 children, I didn't dare to speak my mind about it, knowing how judgemental people can be about what preferences of hobbies and passions others may have in their lives. I still get the question today: "Aren't you just a little too old for that?" But I don't listen to these comments. Who are they to dictate us what we can do and can not do and what is actually "too old"? It is a choice each person individually makes. For Robert Pattison I am glad that he has fans in the world, exceeding children and teens, who apreciate his true talent beyond his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga and beyond his looks. As much as I love the books and the movies I refuse to believe that this will be a dead end for Mr. Pattinson. Twilight is merely a gateway to a beginning of a great thing for him and his passion for acting. I have also seen him in his other movies prior to Twilight and every time I am stunned by his acting skills and on top of that I admire his musical talent. I am truely looking forward to see him again in the other Twilight movies but to be honest I look mostly forward to his movie "Remember Me" which is out 2010 and the other projects he is going to be working on. But in spite of all that I am worried for him! Robert Pattinson is a complex, passionate and very deep thinking young man and in many ways he reminds me of the late Heath Ledger. I am truely worried that if Robert Pattinson doesn't take the fan-, media- and paperazzi hype on some levels a bit lighter, it will distroy him in the end. I hope for him he will be able to deal with it in a way that it will be comfortable for him but without forgetting his fans out there and stay accessable to them. Yes, he deserves a private life, we all agree on that. But he also needs to understand that his fans hunger for him. Not only on screen but they want to see and touch their hero. It has always been like this, but back in the 50's and 60's it was all a bit more low key and easy. (I remember my mom telling me about how she met Ingrid Bergman and having champagne and wieners with her in her hotel room). I know it's not easy today, knowing that there are extreme fans out there who are selfish and deliberatly crossing the line and unfortunately these kind of fans hurt our chances to get close to Robert Pattinson even if he was only a few yards away. But if he wants to stay in this line of work, he will have to come to terms with, that this is the way things are today. He should get himself a nice hideaway somewhere, where he can retreat and just be himself, where he can recuperate from the hype around him and then come back to us all recharged and ready to grab the bull by it's horns. If he can do that, there is no limit to where he can go as an actor. Only he sets the boundaries for himself. Mr. Robert Pattinson has so much un-used potential and as an old Brad Pitt fan I can see that Robert Pattinson is the new Brad Pitt of this generation. With his fantastic sense of humor and his great intellect I am sure he will chose wisely, which will mean that we will see him on screen many years to come, but somehow I also see him working behind the cameras at some point and maybe create some music down the road. I guess we shall see what happens, but one thing is for certain...I will continue to support Mr. Robert Pattinson and I am sure he will have some surprises in store for us.

Alyssa
October 21, 2009 - 16:03
Subject: TX

I think he has the potential and skill to come out on top not only as a survivor but a success. I truly believe he has the talent and fan support to get him through the storm unfazed. The reason I say this with such certainty is because I have become very involved and informed with Rob and his fan base. Like those previous to me have said his core fan base and I'm not talking about the average 12 yr old screaming machines we see on TV. I'm talking about the 20' something's, 30' something's and beyond, the women you don't see screaming there heads off at the premieres but rather checking out his previous Indies, attending small club shows of Rob's good friends (Sam, Marcus and Bobby) all over the US, UK and beyond. The core fan base the create web sites to support his small Indies prior to Twilight. I think the biggest misconception regarding Robert Pattinson, is his fan base. Everyone immediately assumes that the average Twilight fans are the only Rob fans and that's not true. Most of us who are mature and legal prefer Rob over Twilight or Edward. We don't like Rob because of the character he plays or solely because of his looks, on the contrary we like him because of the person he chooses to be. He's multi-talented, humble, hilarious, intelligent and has a draw on screen than any actor would kill for. It's not something that's taught you either have it or you don't and he has it. That is why he will merge successful in the end. Mark my words. I'm 25 btw.

ariagirl – USA
October 21, 2009 - 11:10
Subject: Career Beyond Twilight

What's great to see here is that the rest of the commentors are the same as me, not a tween or under 25. That being said, being in the business, on a very much smaller scale than these kids of course, if they stay on the track they are on and still feel the love they have for their craft they should have very promising careers. They are also multitalented. RP and KS are both musicians as well. He is a very accomplished one being able to play piano, guitar and sing, which he has indicated is really his first love. I would hope all this hype that is happening to him has not soured him on making films. There is a lot of untapped talent there. Being part of such a huge phenomenon is certainly overwhelming. But if he can continue to weather it in the fashion that he has, he has a great career ahead. I hope he stays grounded and follows some of the great advice on this board like investing his earnings as a back up. Let's face it the public is fickle...but I don't think it will be in regard to Mr. Pattinson.

30something
October 21, 2009 - 09:50
Subject: Rob'll survive

Staying on top or just fading away in Hollywood, he will survive... at least, I really wish he does. I don't want to see him ending like Kurt Cobain, Heath Ledger or River Pheonix. He's an actor for the love of it and not because he's fame-crazed, and all this hype and papparazzi staking can destroy anyone's soul. I hope he stays grounded and true to what he is. I've seen The Hunted Airman, The Bad Mother's Handbook, Little Ashes, and the Harry Potter movies and I have to say that he's a great actor... none of his portrayal of this characters are the same and yet you end up feeling for them... and that's what a good actor does. I don't think he will let himself get caught up in the typecasting. He's already taken very risky challenging roles (Little Ashes, Hunted Airman) that most young actors of this (or any) generation would never have done. So, I think that he can and will choose wisely.

AMomWhoLovesRPattz – Buford, GA
October 21, 2009 - 09:00
Subject: Not just for teens

There are actually quite a few I know (like myself) who are NOT teens and love Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart. As a Mom, I'd tell them to take the money they earn, save/invest it wisely, buy a place in the South of France or wherever they would be happy living and enjoy their lives in a way that works for them. They both love to write and play music so that could be something they may enjoy doing. I doubt they'll be typecast but they will always be remembered as Edward and Bella who is/are, after all, a part of every one of us.

kezzzyyy – liverpool england
October 21, 2009 - 08:33
Subject: typecasting

I think its awful how people can get typecast, i have seen the haunted airman with robert pattinson in and he is a great actor, i am not a tween by any means, would have to go back a few years for that, although i did enjoy the twilight film but it would be such a shame if this franchise was to ruin a really promising career, not only for robert pattinson but kirsten stewart and tyler lautner also. I think the madness that surrounds these stars of today is beyond crazy, afterall arent celebrities just people doing a job, they should not be turned into prisoners for being on tv or in cinemas. I wish them all luck in their careers and futures.

meka – tx
October 21, 2009 - 08:21
Subject: robert pattinson versatility

first i think people as in the media should understand and realize his fan base is much much broader than teens i am a 29yr old who has her whole family and neighbors into this saga and none of us are under 25 yrs old. second i think robert does think about being type casted but thats why he's doing so many other projects that have nothing to do with vampires like the haunted airman which is a really good movie (surprised) i think if we just let him b and live his life in time we will see what is to become of his future either way i think he'll be ok

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