Edward Cullen gets real! Once simple Twilight fan-fiction, Fifty Shades of Grey is now a best-selling book and a feature film opening in theaters across the country this week. In advance of the movie's much-hyped release, Twilight actor Robert Pattinson gave his two cents on the story to Reuters.
"I haven't actually read the book but I think it must be very, very different," dished Pattinson, 28, who played the hottie vampiric male lead in all five Twilight films. "I don't see how it can work if it's not different."
Inspired by Stephanie Meyer's Twilight novels, British author E L James began her steamy tale of domineering businessman Christian Grey and his S&M relationship with college co-ed Anastasia Steele several years ago. After months of rumors, casting hiccups, and on-set gossip, Fifty Shades of Grey is finally making its way to the big screen on Friday, Feb. 13, with Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson in the lead roles.
"It's amazing; it's that fan base," Pattinson continued to Reuters of the Fifty Shades fanatics. "There's some kind of profound connection that a bunch of people have to it and I've never figured out quite what it is."
Pattinson's connection to Fifty Shades of Grey doesn't end at the story's inspiration, however. He also spilled to Reuters about his connection to the leading man.
"It's kind of weird… I've known Jamie for about 10 years," he said of the Once Upon a Time actor.
Dornan touched on his friendship with Pattinson in an interview with Variety last month. "I don't remember what we talked about the last time I saw him," he said of Pattinson. "I think we just got drunk."
"By the way, it's not the same thing. We're not the Twilight franchise. We're a different thing," he added. "Whatever my situation is, it's going to be different from Rob's. They are incomparable. I've been around Rob long enough to see what it's been like for him. I don't know if it's been a benefit to witness that. Whatever that is."
