In 2012, Robert Pattinson aimed to distance himself from his famous role as Edward Cullen when he showcased his new film, Bel Ami, at the Berlinale. By that time, he had starred in four of the five Twilight movies, yet Pattinson was determined to forge a new path as an actor. Taking on the lead role in the adaptation of Guy de Maupassant’s 1885 novel, Pattinson played a social climber and former soldier driven by ambition who uses seduction to improve his fortunes.
At the film’s premiere, Pattinson sported a severe buzz cut, a stark contrast to Cullen’s iconic tousled hair. Addressing reporters, he expressed hope that his Twilight fans would embrace this new chapter in his career. “The biggest disservice you can do to your audience is trying to repeat the same thing and get them to come just to get money or whatever,” he stated, indicating his desire to move in a different direction.
Unfortunately for Pattinson, his bold move did not resonate well with critics. David Rooney from THR described Pattinson’s performance as lacking depth, stating, “There’s no inner life in the miscast actor’s one-dimensional characterization. He lacks the fundamental guile for the role.” The film suffered commercially as well, earning just $120,462 in the domestic market and achieving a lowly 28 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, this experience did not deter Pattinson. Following Bel Ami, he reestablished himself as a credible actor in the industry, appearing in acclaimed films such as Good Time, The Lighthouse, Tenet, and The Batman. This year, he is set to return to the Berlinale with Mickey 17, directed by Bong Joon-ho, where he portrays identical clones in what promises to be one of his most adventurous roles yet.
