In recent years, the films and stars of the Twilight Saga have attracted the kind of attention to Comic Con that rivaled big guns like Jon Favreau and Kevin Smith usually draw, and they get the kinds of screams that even Beatlemaniacs would have called excessive. I’ve never attended a Twilight panel before, either because I was too scared too or because I’ve never seen any of the films and they don’t really hold my attention in any way, and I was surprised at how empty the panel – along with most of the panels today, were.
The panel featured director Bill Condon, Kristen Stewart, who looked like she was in desperate need of concealer or several night’s sleep, Robert Pattinson, who was sporting a new shorter haircut with about half of his signature lock shaved off on one side, and Taylor Lautner, who was in full publicity mode and had no problem talking up ABDUCTION, his next movie, during this panel.
Stewart was sweet, but as akward as ever, covering her mouth after saying “god damn” – language that Guillermo Del Toro wouldn’t even notice – playing with her hair, and generally shying away from ever answering any question that made her uncomfortable, which seemed to be quite a lot of them.
NOTE: Having not read any of the Twilight books, I don’t know if any of these clips are spoilery. Assume they are.
Two clips from the film aired, the first featured lots of brooding but clothed Jacob, who took two of the members of his newly formed Wolfpack to the existing wolves, who kicked him out at the end of the previous film. It seemed as though Jacob wanted to “destroy” the problem with Bella. Will Edward make it out alive?
The second clip, the morning’s “sexytime” clip, featured footage of Bella and Edward’s honeymoon, which was shot in Brazil. The pair arrives at their lush beachside suite, with a long, lingering shot of a pristine white bed which garnered a whole lot of sqealing – I take it Twilight isn’t much for subtlety – which was followed by Edward walking into the ocean, revealing his back, which was deemed later as “omnomnom”-able by one not-so-young lady during the Q&A session.
The clip continued with Bella appearing to have a complete mental breakdown while deciding whether or not to join Edward, which involved a manic tooth brushing, bra examining and perhaps the most manic screaming for a white towel I have ever heard in my life. If this panel is any indication, Breaking Dawn will usher in a banner year for the sales of bed linens and home furnishings.
The questions continued after the clips, with a particularly awkward silence that followed after a fan asked the actors and director what their favorite scene in the film was. All three actors and Bill Condon were reduced to utter silence, which was incredibly strange.
After this, four of the lovely ladies from the cast joined the panel: Julia Jones, Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed, and Ashley Greene. Ashley Greene and Nikki Reed were both looking especially lovely, even more so because they walked through the very, very large Hall H line to say hello to their fans, some of whom had been camping out since Tuesday to be at this panel.
They were asked about the growth of their characters over the course of the franchise and Reed was beaming when she discussed how nice it was to be able to find lightness and humor in Rosalie, who’s been better at sulking for most of the series thus far. Reaser also discussed that she enjoyed the process of giving Esme a stronger voice as the films progressed and how it was reflective of mothers that she knows.
The panel ended with Kristen Stewart discussing her love of loud music, particular Band of Horses and a replay of the film’s trailer. What really surprised me about this panel was how empty it was, considering that the past two times the films have come to Comic Con they’ve been able to fill all of Hall H’s 6000 seats. Perhaps Twilight fatigue has finally set in?
