Kristen Stewart Directing a Twilight Remake? She Says…

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Kristen Stewart isn’t opposed to sinking her teeth back into the Twilight franchise. 

As someone who keeps a close eye on pop culture and creative trends, I found it really interesting to hear Kristen Stewart say she’d consider directing a remake of the original Twilight film! She famously played Bella Swan alongside Robert Pattinson in all five movies, and it seems she’s definitely open to revisiting that world – but this time from behind the camera, if the project felt right.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight published on January 5th, she said that if she had a large budget and plenty of support, she’d love to revisit and rework something.

She added, “Yeah, sure. I’ll do the remake. I’m doing it. I’m committed.”

She’s eager to direct a remake, but she wouldn’t alter anything about the iconic franchise that concluded in 2012.

Kristen, who married Dylan Meyer in April, shared her appreciation for the directors’ work on the films. She explained that they were uniquely themselves – quirky, a little unpredictable, and fully immersed in a time before they became famous and figured out who they were.

Directing the film Twilight had both positive and negative aspects, according to director Catherine Hardwicke. She recently shared her experiences working on the 2008 hit movie, including how she was treated after its success.

In an interview with The Guardian published on July 9, Catherine explained that she entered a room filled with gifts and people congratulating the studio. She received a small box, and when she opened it, she found a single mini cupcake.

The 70-year-old director felt the gift was inadequate, pointing out that a male director in the same situation would likely have received something much more substantial, like a car, a contract for multiple films, or complete creative control. The film, based on Stephenie Meyer’s book series, was a major success, earning $407 million, according to Forbes.

It looks like Stephanie isn’t finished with the story yet – she’s already planned out ideas for even more books.

The author revealed in a recent interview with Good Morning America that they have ideas for more stories, but aren’t sure if they’ll ever have the chance to write them.

Even if she doesn’t publish them, the author, age 51, has assured fans they will still learn the ultimate fate of Bella, Edward, and Jacob.

She said she wants her notes shared after she’s gone, if she doesn’t have time to do it herself.

As a longtime fan, I still see Bella and Edward exactly where we left them at the end of Breaking Dawn. In my mind, their story doesn’t just end there – it continues on, even if we don’t see it all written down. I always imagine what happens next for them.

For a look at the juiciest Twilight secrets, read on…

When initially developing the screenplay for Twilight, writer Mark Lord worried that the story wouldn’t appeal to male viewers. He explained on the January 2022 episode of The Big Hit Show podcast that the team aimed to create a *Romeo and Julietstyle story with vampires, but with a more action-packed, cinematic feel. They believed adding more action would attract a male audience who might not be interested in a purely romantic story.

Director Catherine Hardwicke wasn’t happy with the initial script, so she asked the writers to completely change direction. She remembered that the first draft was drastically different from the book, featuring Bella as a sporty character being pursued by the FBI on a jet ski.

Originally, both Paramount and MTV had the rights to make a movie based on Twilight, but the first script was very different from the book. Director Hardwicke told CinemaBlend she didn’t like it because it strayed too far from the source material. After three years, Paramount gave up the rights, and Summit Entertainment, an independent studio at the time, quickly acquired them.

When adapting her book for the screen, author Stephenie Meyer insisted on a few things. She specifically didn’t want any typical vampire clichés included, and she made sure the line, “so the lion fell in love with the lamb,” was used in the movie.

Stephenie Meyer also intervened in creative decisions, such as requesting a different actor, Kellan Lutz, for the role of Emmett when she wasn’t happy with the first choice. She also asked for the intensity of Bella and Edward’s first kiss to be lessened. Meyer explained to Entertainment Weekly that while it was difficult to assert herself, she was glad she did, and she believes she managed to do so without alienating anyone, as people still seem to respect her.

Erik Feig, who was Summit’s Head of Production at the time, remembers that Stephenie Meyer was very specific about her vampires – she didn’t want them to have visible fangs. He recalled in an interview on the Spotify podcast The Big Hit Show that the contract specifically stated, “No actor playing a vampire will have canine incisors longer than those found in the average human being.” Feig said he particularly liked that detail.

Several actresses who would later become major stars – including future leads in popular franchises – auditioned for the role of Bella Swan. These included Emily Browning (Stephenie Meyer’s initial favorite), Michelle Trachtenberg, Lily Collins, and Jennifer Lawrence.

Looking back on her audition for Twilight, Jennifer Lawrence explained on The Howard Stern Show that she only received a few pages of script. She was simply told to ‘act like a monkey!’ When the movie came out, she was surprised and impressed, exclaiming, ‘Wow! That’s amazing!’

After actor Emile Hirsch – who worked with the director on both Into the Wild (with Kristen Stewart) and Lords of Dogtown – suggested her, the director decided Kristen Stewart was right for the part.

When Hardwicke watched Kristen Stewart in Into the Wild, she immediately recognized a connection to the book’s themes. She explained, ‘I saw so much longing in Kristen’s performance, a real desire for Emile [Hirsch]. It reminded me exactly of the restrained but powerful yearning of the character, and I knew she was the right choice for the role.’

To be honest, when I first heard about the movie, the actress wasn’t thrilled – the story just didn’t grab her. But then she met with the director, Hardwicke, and they went through the script together, and it completely changed her perspective! She was totally on board after that.

As a huge fan, I always loved learning about the casting process for Edward Cullen! It’s incredible to think over 5,000 actors auditioned! I was surprised to find out Dave Franco, Dustin Milligan (from Schitt’s Creek!), and even Michael Welch, who ended up playing Michael Newton, were all considered. Jamie Campbell Bower auditioned too, which is funny because he later played Caius! Apparently, Stephenie Meyer really wanted Henry Cavill, but he was a bit too old by the time they started filming. They even thought about him for Carlisle, the dad figure of the Cullen family, which would have been amazing!

The final four actors considered for the part were Robert Pattinson, Ben Barnes, Shiloh Fernandez, and Jackson Rathbone (who later played Jasper Cullen). Hardwicke invited them all to her California home to screen test with Stewart.

I’ll never forget hearing about the chemistry read for Twilight – especially the meadow scene! Apparently, Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart actually filmed it on Catherine Hardwicke’s bed! Catherine told Entertainment Weekly that Rob was a little too eager for the kiss, but she said the energy between them was incredible – totally electric! It’s wild to think that Rob even admitted to taking half a Valium before the audition, knowing it was so important. Talk about pressure!

Even after seeing four actors audition, director Hardwicke hadn’t made up her mind. But Kristen Stewart immediately knew which one should play Edward, telling Vanity Fair she thought it was a clear and perfect fit.

Before landing the role of Edward Cullen in Twilight, Robert Pattinson almost gave up on acting. He’d faced a lot of unsuccessful auditions after appearing in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (and famously, his character Cedric Diggory didn’t survive!). As he later told Today, he was planning to quit because he wasn’t getting hired, but realized it wasn’t really quitting if you’re not getting opportunities anyway – it was more like accepting what was happening.

Okay, so this is a fun little Hollywood story! As someone who keeps up with these things, you might know Tyler Posey as the star of Teen Wolf. But did you know he actually auditioned for Twilight? He went out for the part of Jacob Black, and guess who got it? His friend, Taylor Lautner! Tyler told MTV he was totally joking when he said ‘Congratulations, dude…I hate you!’ It’s always interesting to hear how close these roles can be, and how different things could have been. It just goes to show, even incredibly successful actors have to start somewhere, and sometimes you’re up against your friends!

Lucy Hale, who later starred in Pretty Little Liars, also auditioned for Twilight. She really wanted the role of Alice Cullen and tried out for Jane in New Moon and Leah Clearwater in Eclipse as well. She told J-14 that she loved the books and was eager to be involved in the first movie.

Cam Gigandet initially auditioned for the role of James, the villain. After not getting that part, he asked if there were any other opportunities and was then asked to read for Emmett Cullen, the role eventually played by Kellan Lutz. Gigandet preferred playing James, but after a week, he was offered the part of Emmett. He told MTV that he was relieved to finally land a role in the movie.

Briga Meyer had a small, uncredited role in the first Twilight movie, appearing as a diner patron during a scene with Bella and her father, Charlie (Billy Burke). She also made a cameo appearance in Breaking Dawn: Part 1 as a wedding guest, alongside screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, co-producer Bill Bannerman, and producer Wyck Godfrey.

Robert Pattinson jokingly shared on Jimmy Kimmel’s show that he pulled a muscle in his glute during the very first take of filming. This minor injury caused some issues with the film’s insurance and required him to undergo a little physical therapy.

After the huge opening night of Twilight, fans were surprised to learn that Taylor Lautner wasn’t initially included in the cast for New Moon. The studio confirmed they were evaluating whether the then 16-year-old actor was right for the role after his character physically transformed into a werewolf.

Director Chris Weitz told Reuters that people questioned casting the actor because he didn’t appear much in the first film and is described as being 6-foot-5 in the book – a significant height difference considering the actor is 5-foot-9. These were legitimate concerns the filmmakers had to address.

They actually considered Michael Copon, known for his roles in The Scorpion King 2 and One Tree Hill, to play Jacob. Copon explained to MTV that he had no issues with Taylor Lautner personally, praising his talent. However, he noted the character of Jacob needed to develop, and the story had to move forward with that in mind.

Taylor Lautner was dedicated to his role as Jacob, immediately starting a rigorous fitness plan after finishing the first movie. He committed to a strict diet of 4,000 calories a day, eating every two hours, and working out for at least two hours five days a week to build muscle.

I remember when I finished the first Twilight book, I knew I had to start getting in shape immediately – there wasn’t a moment to lose! I told Interview magazine that I went straight home and began a serious workout routine. By the time we started filming New Moon, I’d gained a full thirty pounds compared to Twilight. It was all about physically transforming for the role.

Taylor Lautner embraced the physical changes he made for the role of Jacob, but there was one thing he really disliked: the wig. He jokingly told MTV that he and the wig had a mutual dislike for each other, admitting he doesn’t have fond memories of wearing it.

To play Rosalie in the first Twilight movie, Nikki Reed initially dyed her hair blonde. However, the process severely damaged her hair, causing it to fall out. She explained to MTV that the initial bleaching took 36 hours, and she had to continue bleaching her hair and scalp every other day. For the rest of the series, she chose to wear wigs to avoid further damage and explore different looks.

Kristen Stewart faced more hair challenges during the Twilight series. After cutting her hair for the film The Runaways, where she played Joan Jett, she had to wear a noticeable wig for Eclipse. Before Breaking Dawn: Part 1, she promised fans she’d be using her natural hair, and it was revealed that the studio, Summit, hadn’t wanted her to cut it in the first place.

She admitted people might be upset with her decision, but explained that she was offered a lot of unreasonable requests to try and change her mind. Speaking to George Lopez in 2010, she said she understood their concerns, but wished the solution – specifically a wig – had been better. Ultimately, they found a compromise, and she hoped everything was resolved.

Rachelle Lefevre originally played the vampire Victoria, but she was replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard in the movie Eclipse. Howard had actually been considered for the role years earlier. Lefevre was upset about the change, but the studio said it was due to scheduling issues.

Levefre expressed shock at Summit’s choice to replace her in the role, stating, “I was dedicated to the Twilight series and to playing Victoria.”

Xavier Samuel, a new face in the series, landed the role of Riley, a supporting character to Victoria, in the third film. He was chosen over actors Channing Tatum and Tom Felton, known from the Harry Potter movies, for the part.

Michael Sheen decided to play Aro, the leader of the Volturi, largely because his daughter, Lily (whose mother is Kate Beckinsale), was a huge fan of the Twilight series. He told The Daily Record that making his daughter happy was his primary motivation. He later admitted he also enjoyed the books after giving them a read, something he hadn’t expected.

The team chose Carolina Herrera to design Bella’s wedding dress because of an existing relationship. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson explained to MTV that Carolina Herrera had previously worked with the author, Stephenie, and they’d become friends. They had even discussed the dress appearing on screen for some time, and Wilkinson was pleased to contribute to the design as a consultant, ensuring it fit the overall look of the film.

The costume designer made unique dresses specifically for Bella’s mother and all the Cullen women.

The biggest worry with her custom-made wedding dress was that it could get damaged – a real risk with the unpredictable Oregon weather – and they only had two backup copies.

Wilkinson shared with InStyle that they narrowly avoided a wardrobe disaster during a shoot. She imagined paint slowly spreading up the dress, but they managed to capture the wide shot before it became a problem. By the time they went in for closer shots, the dress was quickly absorbing the paint!

So, how was Bella able to get pregnant by Edward, considering he’s a vampire and she’s human? Stephanie Meyer actually addressed this on her website. She explained that male vampires still produce fluids similar to semen, which contain genetic information and can fertilize a human egg. Essentially, it’s a vampire version of conception.

The first cut of Bella and Edward’s wedding night scene originally earned Breaking Dawn: Part 1 an R-rating. Director Bill Condon had to edit the scene to be less explicit. He explained to The Hollywood Reporter that there are strict rules regarding depictions of sexual intercourse.

In 2011, Robert Pattinson jokingly sent fans into a frenzy during a press conference for Breaking Dawn. He explained that a real priest had performed the wedding ceremony for his character, saying, “Technically, we’re already married because he did everything you would in a real ceremony.” He clarified that while they weren’t legally married, they were married in the eyes of the church.

Following Kristen Stewart’s appearance wearing a B.B. Dakota coat in the first movie, the company renamed it “the Bella Swan jacket.” Summit Entertainment quickly took legal action, and in 2011, a court ruled in their favor.

Several actors you might be surprised to learn were in the Twilight films include Anna Kendrick, Noel Fisher (from Shameless), Maggie Grace (known for Lost), Lee Pace, Angela Sarafyan (of Westworld), and Academy Award winner Rami Malek. Interestingly, Anna Kendrick had actually forgotten she was part of the series, tweeting in 2018, “Holy st, I just remembered I was in Twilight!”

Years later, director Catherine Hardwicke told Vulture she didn’t enjoy reading the Twilight scripts, bluntly stating they were all terrible. She’s not the only director associated with the series to express negative opinions. David Slade, who directed Eclipse, even had to apologize for criticizing the books before taking on the project. He famously joked in a radio interview that he’d rather be shot than read the Twilight scripts, even while under the influence of drugs.

Ten-year-old Mackenzie Foy was cast as Renesmee, the half-vampire, half-human baby of Bella and Edward – a character Jacob later imprints on (if you recall!). Everyone involved with Breaking Dawn: Part 2 was very protective of the young actress. Director Bill Condor even put out a swear jar on set, which collected over $800, and the lead actors made a conscious effort to watch their language around her.

Watching Rob and Kristen with the little girl was incredible. It genuinely unlocked this really sweet, fatherly side in Rob, and Kristen was just so fiercely protective of her. Honestly, I often had to gently interrupt their conversations – they’d get so lost in talking to each other – just to get us moving with the scene! It was beautiful to witness.

Although the filmmakers eventually used computer-generated imagery to create the young Renesmee, they initially tried using a doll. The results were so unsettling that the doll earned the nickname ‘Chuckesmee.’

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2026-01-06 17:49