They might have made him a household name, catapulting him into superstardom, but the "Twilight" films also almost ruined Robert Pattinson's career. At least, according to director David Cronenberg, they did. The "Cosmopolis" director thinks "Twilight" fandom is destructive, and says all the Team Edward hoopla almost ruined everything for the actor.
Cronenberg, who directed the 26-year-old in his new film "Cosmopolis," says the "Twilight" movies have mistakenly led people to think that Pattinson isn't a versatile actor because they only see him as Edward Cullen.
"I had seen a few movies he had done," Cronenberg said in an interview with French television promoting "Cosmopolis."
Cronenberg continued, "Of course, I'd seen 'Twilight,' but I saw other movies as well and I was convinced, finally, that he had the right presence and he had the right dramatic range to play this role, even though I know that because 'Twilight' was so successful, many people would like to say, 'Oh, he's not really a very good actor, it's the vampire makeup.'"
One role of Pattinson's in particular made him realize the young Brit was up to the task.
"I looked at everything I could find that Rob had done, including 'Little Ashes,' where he plays the young Salvador Dali, and I thought, yeah, he could really do this. And I think he's actually extraordinary," Cronenberg told Salon.
Of course, Cronenberg, famous for films like "The Fly," "Videodrome", and "Dead Ringers," also realizes that without the popularity of the "Twilight" franchise -- which ends this November with the release of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 -- Pattinson may not have been on his radar to star in "Cosmpolis," which features Pattinson in every single scene for the entire film.
"I'm very happy for the 'Twilight' movies because they gave me the possibility to work with Rob," he relented.
Pattinson's been making the rounds doing "Cosmopolis" promotion in the wake of his very public breakup from "Twilight" co-star Kristen Stewart, recently appearing on "The Daily Show," Jimmy Kimmel, and even going on a date with longtime friend Katy Perry recently at Los Angeles' ultra-trendy Soho House restaurant.
Pattinson has reportedly sold the $6.3 million mansion in Los Feliz, California the actor shared with former girlfriend Stewart, saying the home just "has too many memories."
An insider revealed, "Robert is thinking long and hard about returning to London. He never fell in love with Los Angeles and has always longed for home. When Kristen was shooting Snow White and the Huntsman in London, he made his excuses to visit her as much as he could - he missed it so much."
"The entire thing has been such a blow to Rob. Talk about having his heart ripped out," a source told People at the time. "Rob just isn't going to be able to get past the cheating - one time or not."
Stewart and Pattinson have managed to avoid each other and have even rearranged their "Twilight" promotional schedules so that they won't appear together, although Pattinson has announced he'll walk down the red carpet with Stewart for the premiere of "Breaking Dawn - Part 2."