Discuss: Which 'Twilight' Stars Will Still Have Careers Once The Franchise Ends?

Features

by Oliver Lyttelton
November 14, 2012 11:01 AM
30 Comments

And so they face the final curtain. This week "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt. 2," the fifth film in the franchise based on Stephenie Meyer's best-selling young-adult vampire novels, will hit theaters (read our review here). And while Lionsgate and Summit are hoping to extend the life of their cash cow, for the moment this movie marks the end of the franchise and the story of star-crossed lovers Edward Cullen and Bella Swann.

Which means that the young actors, who've been able to rely on a steady paycheck from the films over the last five years, now need to start looking elsewhere for gainful employment. The series has certainly been a phenomenon, but as everyone from Mark Hamill to Sean Astin have proven, being in a hit franchise isn't necessarily a guarantee that you'll continue to be a movie star after the series comes to an end.

So with that in mind, which of the fresh-faced stars who broke out thanks to the series (excluding older stalwarts like Billy Burke, Elizabeth Reaser and Michael Sheen, who already had and will continue to have busy careers) look set to grace our screens for years to come, and which will merely sit twiddling their thumbs until the reunion articles and 'Where Are They Now?" pieces? You can read our verdicts below.

Kristen Stewart
Before "Twilight": Prior to playing Bella, Stewart had almost ten years of credits as a child and teen actress. Stewart first made an impression in 'Panic Room," as Jodie Foster's daughter, and quickly became a go-to for adolescent roles, popping up in genre fare like "Catch That Kid," "Zathura" and "The Messengers" while also impressing with more serious turns in "Fierce People" and, in particular, Sean Penn's "Into The Wild," where she just lit up the screen.
Chances Of Success After "Twilight": Pretty strong. She's spent much of the time between "Twilight" flicks in the indie world, with some impressive turns in "Adventureland," "The Runaways" and "Welcome To The Rileys," and has a supporting role in "On The Road," which hits theaters next month. But she also cemented her blockbuster cred with this summer's "Snow White and the Huntsman." The storm over her dalliance with the director of that film has appeared to blow over ("Breaking Dawn Pt. 2" is tracking to be the biggest of the series, suggesting that fans haven't abandoned her), and she's got further smart choices on the way: she signed on to Scott Cooper's "Lie Down In Darkness," and the Ben Affleck-starring con man comedy "Focus" (which should let her show a lighter side, something that's probably important at this point, after a half-decade of mopey 'ol Bella). She's in it for the long haul, and with "Twilight" behind her, she should be able to reclaim the promise that marked her to begin with.

Robert Pattinson
Before "Twilight": R-Patz had relatively few credits before he was R-Patz -- he was cut out of Mira Nair's "Vanity Fair," but bounced back with a major role as the ill-fated Cedric Diggory in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire." A couple of small British TV roles and indies, "How To Be" and "Little Ashes," followed, most of which only really found audiences once he'd found success with the vampire franchise.
Chances Of Success After "Twilight": Strong creatively, but the financial success outside of "Twilight" has yet to come. The actor has found a huge female fanbase as a result of playing ageless vamp Edward Cullen, which helped Pattinson vehicles "Remember Me" and "Water For Elephants" find moderate success. Still, the Twihards mostly won't turn up for films outside the romantic weepie wheelhouse -- "Bel Ami" took a dreadful $120,000 earlier this year, and "Cosmopolis" didn't do much better, with a mere $750,000. Still, to his credit, those films are indicative of his desire to work with interesting filmmakers, and a willingness to stretch himself, and that's something that looks to continue. On the way, he has the apocalyptic thriller "The Rover," from "Animal Kingdom" director David Michod, "Man On Wire" helmer James Marsh's "Hold On To Me" with Carey Mulligan, a reunion with Cronenberg on "Maps To The Stars," and he's lined up to play T.E. Lawrence for Werner Herzog in period adventure "Queen Of The Desert," alongside Naomi Watts and Jude Law. They're all far from the obvious picks for a heartthrob, and even if the performances haven't necessarily wowed, we're sure he'll only continue to improve. But will his built-in audience stick around? A smart move might be to take something action/thriller-y targeted at the mainstream, to try and win a male following. Perhaps something like "American Assassin," which Chris Hemsworth just vacated.

Taylor Lautner
Before "Twilight": A selection of cartoon voiceover roles, and fresh-faced turns in kids' flicks like "Cheaper By The Dozen 2" and, most notably, the title role in Robert Rodriguez's "The Adventures Of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3D." He was Sharkboy, rather than Lavagirl, obviously.
Chances Of Success After "Twilight:" Could go either way, to be honest. When Lautner bulked up speedily for his return appearance in "New Moon," studio executives and casting directors started to anoint him the next big action hero, with the actor being attached to whole strings of projects. And while "Valentine's Day," in which he had a small cameo, was a decent hit, his first full-on starring role in the spy flick "Abduction" was entirely insipid, and the movie tanked at the box office. Most of his potential projects, like toy adaptation "Stretch Armstrong," a Michael Bay-produced actioner, a "David & Goliath" movie with Dwayne Johnson, and young adult picture "Incarceron," quietly went away. Instead, Lautner has a role in "Grown Ups 2," and parkour actioner "Tracers" in the works. Even by the standards of the franchise, Lautner's given pretty wooden performances, so it's hard to see him taking a Pattinson-like career path, but having said that, he is developing a project with Gus Van Sant, which he would also produce, based on a New Yorker article. Given the director's work with non-actors on films like "Elephant," it could be a canny move to work with Van Sant. Still, Lautner can find solace in the career of Channing Tatum. Often dismissed as a wooden meathead, Tatum's career has soared in the last year thanks to smart choices with good filmmakers, turning "Magic Mike" and "21 Jump Street" into massive hits. Maybe the two should meet up and swap tips.

Features

More: Features, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2, Twilight Saga, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Anna Kendrick, Jackson Rathbone, Ashley Greene

30 Comments

| Reply
sparrow | February 11, 2013 1:38 PMReply

KStew would be the Harrison Ford of the Trio but wont actually be as big as Harrison Ford. Lautner would be Luke Skywalker, that guy you won't exactly remember his name unless you're a solid fan (yeah Mark Hamill, not everyone knows your name) Rob.Pattinson would be Carrie Fisher, if he doesnt watch his steps, he'd be locked up and have a melt down. The rest would be forgotten. ANNA KENDRICK on the other hand, well, the only notable performance from the first movie actually came from this little pale girl who played very little on the franchise yet better than everyone combined. People didn't watch Up In The Air because of Twilight, there are some who actually wasted time on New Moon because of her. (and by "who" I mean "Me")
just me | November 24, 2012 10:25 PMReply

big LOL... there is a book called "The Assignment: or, On the Observing of the Observer of the Observers".. nothing special imho if it's not for the epic title. it's a kind of perversion of mine to observe the exchange between Rob's fans and Kris's fans and Twihards vs Twihaters. who thought people would be so passionate and protective talking about entertaining. why can't we just relax and enjoy ALL the movies with our beloved stars? if anyone doesn't love one of them, he or she simply doesn't have to go to the theater or to buy DVD with their movies, that's it. they all have their own audience while trying to win down as many new movie-goers as they can. we are not judges, they are not criminals.
Marie | November 24, 2012 5:23 PMReply

KStew is a horrible actress and has a personality too arrogant and boring to be truly loved by the public outside this Twishit saga. I've always find surprising this kind of gentleness with which she is always treated in the press, I think it should be explained by a certain nepostisme, it seems that her parents are in the business and maybe also by the abilities of the young lady in the casting couch. Anna Kendrick is an infinitely more talented actress and has lready a great career, so much more successful than KStew's. And for RPatzz, I would say that he should cross his fingers and pray for his next movies be really good and he really improves in his acting, so people will maybe forget that he's a docile cuckold<; .
Bobby | November 19, 2012 4:28 AMReply

Kristen is good actress i see almost all her movies and she will long carrier in Hollywood!!!
To Rob's fans who's always bashing Kristen SHAME ON YOU WOMEN, supporting his movies not wasting time bashing his gf..your really really disgusting women!!! You only see his movies bec his sex scenes not his acting, i read his fans comments about his croch or his butt creek or his penis....sorry its very disgusting for Rob being an actor only bec his female fanbase attracted to his penis!!!! Poor Rob....
just me | November 24, 2012 10:36 PM

dear Bobby, his penis is something to be seen yet while i enjoy his acting( i am been serious here) and the whole sex-appeal.. i really don't want to see his penis, i swear, he is not mine to see, i mean his pe... *stop talking about it, stop talking..*

even though i am obsessed with Rob, i think Kristen has some sort of charisma and i also think her acting in BD2 was amazing . don't hate on us, please:)
Bobby | November 19, 2012 4:27 AMReply

Kristen is good actress i see almost all her movies and she will long carrier in Hollywood!!!
To Rob's fans who's always bashing Kristen SHAME ON YOU WOMEN, supporting his movies not wasting time bashing his gf..your really really disgusting women!!! You only see his movies bec his sex scenes not his acting, i read his fans comments about his croch or his butt creek or his penis....sorry its very disgusting for Rob being an actor only bec his female fanbase attracted to his penis!!!! Poor Rob....
Bobby | November 19, 2012 4:27 AMReply

Kristen is good actress i see almost all her movies and she will long carrier in Hollywood!!!
To Rob's fans who's always bashing Kristen SHAME ON YOU WOMEN, supporting his movies not wasting time bashing his gf..your really really disgusting women!!! You only see his movies bec his sex scenes not his acting, i read his fans comments about his croch or his butt creek or his penis....sorry its very disgusting for Rob being an actor only bec his female fanbase attracted to his penis!!!! Poor Rob....
Bobby | November 19, 2012 4:25 AMReply

Kristen is good actress i see almost all her movies and she will long carrier in Hollywood!!!
To Rob's fans who's always bashing Kristen SHAME ON YOU WOMEN, supporting his movies not wasting time bashing his gf..your really really disgusting women!!! You only see his movies bec his sex scenes not his acting, i read his fans comments about his croch or his butt creek or his penis....sorry its very disgusting for Rob being an actor only bec his female fanbase attracted to his penis!!!! Poor Rob....
Bobby | November 19, 2012 4:25 AMReply

Kristen is good actress i see almost all her movies and she will long carrier in Hollywood!!!
To Rob's fans who's always bashing Kristen SHAME ON YOU WOMEN, supporting his movies not wasting time bashing his gf..your really really disgusting women!!! You only see his movies bec his sex scenes not his acting, i read his fans comments about his croch or his butt creek or his penis....sorry its very disgusting for Rob being an actor only bec his female fanbase attracted to his penis!!!! Poor Rob....
Shauna | November 17, 2012 2:08 AMReply

Kstew is atrampire. She can't act. She's a homewrecker. Screw her.
liberty | November 15, 2012 11:06 PMReply

Kslut is bad actriz, Trampire.
sol | November 15, 2012 11:04 PMReply

Robert Pattinson is a good actor, his next project sounds really great!!
Charlotte | November 15, 2012 10:41 AMReply

I wouldn't even consider Anna Kendrick a Twilight star or whatever. And like the article said, she's moved so far beyond the franchise that it's a blip on her radar. She's wonderful.
Charlotte | November 15, 2012 10:41 AMReply

I wouldn't even consider Anna Kendrick a Twilight star or whatever. And like the article said, she's moved so far beyond the franchise that it's a blip on her radar. She's wonderful.
Charlotte | November 15, 2012 10:39 AMReply

I wouldn't even consider Anna Kendrick a Twilight star or whatever. And like the article said, she's moved so far beyond the franchise that it's a blip on her radar. She's wonderful.
Diandra | November 14, 2012 5:55 PMReply

Kristen could do Indies forever but she has shown she can carry 2 big budget films (one franchise) on her back. She is also very well respected within the industry. Also, she gets people talking like no other actress around, except for maybe Angelina, and she is too busy with her 1000 kids to be controversial these days. I have no doubt she will have a great career. Rob has picked some great projects for next year so i'm sure he will be fine.
Tam | November 15, 2012 5:20 AM

She didn't carry any movie on her back. People watched Twilight for Rob and Snow White for Charlize Theron.
The very well respected actress is also a joke. Good movies go to people like Emma Stone or Jennifer Lawrence. These girls are respected while Kristen is only getting boring movies. Did she even film one movie this year? Nope? Like usual.
Charlie | November 14, 2012 5:26 PMReply

I don't think you can include Anna Kendrick in this line up, she has had about 3 lines in the entire 4 films she was in. She was never KNOWN for being in Twilight, and i agree with whoever said that she sort of acts the same in films, perky and irritating.
pattie | November 14, 2012 5:06 PMReply

why are you reporting that she signed on for lie down in darkness when the studio itself released a statement the next day saying that it's not true and no one has been offered the part and no decisions have been made. seriously it was on the hollywood reporter who suggested that she was perhaps merely attached to it. and her people also released a statement saying maybe she'll do it and maybe she won't.
Fellini | November 14, 2012 2:49 PMReply

Nice you only post domestic grosses, which ignores a majority of the world. Cosmopolis has taken in over 6 million worldwide, and for the kind of indie it is, that's a good amount. It got lousy distribution and almost no promotion in the US, but even so, it's not a mainstream film and I'm sure no one expected it to be a blockbuster, although the critics liked it, it's fresh on RT. Obviously from the kinds of roles Rob is choosing, he has little interest in making another blockbuster. He's said he wants to work with good directors on projects he finds interesting and I'd rather see him in something like that instead of some lame action movie. Fanboys don't rule the world.
Linda | November 14, 2012 1:35 PMReply

I think Rob because of his wannabe association with Herzog and Cronenberg and people like that will give him a prolonged shelf life, so he could do it. People like Walter Salles and Alejandro Innaritu (who first told Salles about her) like Kristen, but if she keeps taking crap like SWATH she's gonna end up like the rest of these actors which is most likely: TV careers and lame movies.
jt | November 14, 2012 12:13 PMReply

Nikki is a one hit wonder. Anna Kendrick has potential, but she needs to leave the annoying " perky roles " behind- because she has become typecast in these roles. Once the aroma of the Twilight films fade, the rest of this cast will not be around, because they have no acting talent ( or very little acting talent) and no charisma.

P.S. Channing Tatum is an ambitious, mediocre, and likable actor that got lucky with some box-office hits, but he is only a flavor of the month- very similar to Orlando Bloom.
ali | November 14, 2012 12:09 PMReply

Lautner should go to USC or UCLA as a way to transition himself from being " the shirtless wonder" from Twilight. He seems like is a nice guy. I think he needs development and time because his team did him a disservice as the next big action hero too soon.
spassky | November 14, 2012 12:02 PMReply

"and, in particular, Sean Penn's "Into The Wild," where she just lit up the screen."

I'm a huge fan of 'Into the Wild' but doesn't anyone else here agree that Kristen Stewart almost single-handedly ruined the entire film with shallow and naive take on an equally shallow and naive character?
Marie | November 24, 2012 5:31 PM

she's just like five minutes in this film and seduction's scene with Emile Hirsch was quite embarrassing ...... looks like we're seeing a vicious child trying to be sexy, meh ...
Rick | November 14, 2012 12:37 PM

I think you are talking about Emile Hirsch.
Lara | November 14, 2012 11:27 AMReply

It's a shame really that Nikki Reed hasn't been getting good work. She was great in Thirteen, a movie where she co-wrote. Kendrick and Stewart are the best actors here! Pattinson delivered a very nice performance in Cosmopolis... Lautner is done!
Gustavo | November 14, 2012 3:17 PM

@KT No. It's you who's going to have to accept that she is a real actress and probably not going anywhere. You may not like her but you just look foolish saying she isn't a 'real actress'. It's called having an opinion. Many people, including the author of this article and the majority of film critics, do not agree with you. Try dealing with it like an adult.
KT | November 14, 2012 11:59 AM

Stewart isn't a real actress. People need to let go of that notion.
T | November 14, 2012 11:10 AMReply

"...a minor but significant role."

.............