10 Behind-the-Scenes Twilight Secrets That Completely Change How You See The Saga

Pattinson bashed the franchise and the author

Robert Pattinson never held back when sharing his thoughts on the Twilight saga and they weren’t exactly flattering. While promoting the films, he openly criticized both the story and its creator, Stephenie Meyer. He described the first book as something that “wasn’t supposed to be published” and even questioned Meyer’s connection to her characters. Pattinson admitted he found parts of the book uncomfortable, calling the author “mad” in interviews.

A number of actresses were considered for Bella

Before Kristen Stewart landed the role of Bella Swan, several well-known actresses were in the running. Stephenie Meyer initially favored Emily Browning for the part, while Lily Collins, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Jennifer Lawrence also auditioned. Lawrence later joked that she didn’t realize how big the film would become at the time.

Tyler Posey was considered for the part of Jacob

Tyler Posey came very close to playing Jacob Black in Twilight. In fact, Stephenie Meyer reportedly had him in mind early on, and he remained in contention until the final decision. Ultimately, the role went to Taylor Lautner, who became synonymous with the character. Posey later admitted he was only 16 at the time and may not have been ready for the level of fame that came with the role.

The director was fired before the sequel

Despite the massive success of Twilight, director Catherine Hardwicke did not return for the sequel. She was replaced by Chris Weitz for New Moon, sparking widespread speculation. Officially, Summit Entertainment cited scheduling conflicts and limited prep time as the reason. However, behind-the-scenes reports suggested creative differences and tensions during production. The abrupt decision came shortly after the film’s release.

Taylor Lautner consumed more than 3,200 calories a day for 'New Moon'

To transform into the muscular Jacob Black in New Moon, Taylor Lautner underwent an intense physical overhaul. After filming Twilight, he immediately began a rigorous routine that included daily workouts and consuming more than 3,200 calories. He trained five days a week, spending hours in the gym to gain around 30 pounds of muscle. Lautner later revealed that the hardest part wasn’t the workouts; but the constant eating required to bulk up.

'Breaking Dawn Part 1' was originally rated R

Breaking Dawn - Part 1 nearly took a much more mature turn than fans expected. The initial cut of the film was given an R rating due to the intensity of Edward and Bella’s honeymoon scene. To secure a wider audience, the filmmakers edited the sequence down to meet PG-13 standards. Robert Pattinson later joked that minor visual details were digitally altered to tone things down.

Actors who played the wolf pack in 'New Moon' had to have Native American ancestry

For New Moon, authenticity was a priority when casting the Quileute wolf pack. Director Chris Weitz required actors auditioning for these roles to provide proof of Native American ancestry. This decision aimed to respectfully represent the real-life Quileute tribe, which inspired the storyline. Actors like Chaske Spencer, Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, and Bronson Pelletier were ultimately cast.

Kristen Stewart used a butt pad while filming 'Twilight'

Even simple scenes in Twilight required careful planning. During the moment where Bella slips on ice, Kristen Stewart took precautions to avoid injury. She revealed that she used a small butt pad hidden under her jeans to cushion the fall. While the scene looks natural on screen, this behind-the-scenes detail shows the practical measures actors often take during filming. Stewart joked that falling wasn’t particularly difficult for her.

Several cast members wore colored contact lenses

To achieve the iconic vampire look, the Twilight cast had to wear specially designed colored contact lenses and they weren’t comfortable. Kristen Stewart described them as painful and vision-limiting, especially the lighter shades. Meanwhile, Michael Sheen, who played Aro, had to wear large red lenses that covered his entire eye. He explained that inserting them was a complex process and often caused headaches.

Robert Pattinson didn’t have a driver’s license before filming 'Twilight'

Before filming Twilight, Robert Pattinson didn’t even have a driver’s license despite playing a character frequently seen driving. Born and raised in the U.K., he had little need for one before landing the role of Edward Cullen. To prepare for the film, Pattinson took an intensive driving course in Oregon, where much of Twilight was shot, and quickly obtained his license.