Robert Pattinson is having some fun with his own Hollywood history. While promoting Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey, the actor unexpectedly brought up Twilight and drew a comparison that longtime fans never saw coming. After spending years as Edward Cullen, Pattinson now believes he has stepped into the role once played by Taylor Lautner’s Jacob Black. The light-hearted comparison has quickly become one of the most entertaining moments from the film’s promotional campaign.
The actor plays Antinous in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s legendary epic, a powerful suitor hoping to marry Penelope while her husband Odysseus remains missing. Looking at the story from his character’s perspective, Pattinson joked that Antinous isn’t the villain many viewers may assume. Instead, he believes audiences might even sympathise with him once they understand what his character is trying to do.
Robert Pattinson compares Antinous to Jacob Black
Speaking to MTV UK, Pattinson explained why Antinous reminds him of another famous love triangle from his career. “I think they will be rooting for him,” he said. He then added, “I keep comparing it—it’s kind of like Jacob in Twilight.”
The actor continued the joke by comparing the emotional conflict in The Odyssey to the romance between Bella, Edward and Jacob. Explaining Antinous’ point of view, Pattinson said, “What The Odyssey is about — Penelope just can’t make her mind up between the two guys and I’m just trying to like help her make a decision. It’s like, ‘It’s fine. He’s dead, get over it.’” The playful comments immediately reminded fans of the years when Edward Cullen and Jacob Black battled for Bella Swan’s heart across the Twilight films.
The comparison has amused fans because Pattinson spent years being identified with Edward Cullen, the vampire who ultimately won Bella’s love. This time, however, he is effectively playing the rival trying to convince the heroine to choose someone else. The actor’s willingness to poke fun at one of the biggest franchises of his career has only added to the excitement surrounding Nolan’s film.
Christopher Nolan’s biggest film yet
Based on Homer’s ancient Greek masterpiece, The Odyssey follows the legendary warrior Odysseus as he struggles to return home after the Trojan War. During his decade-long journey, he encounters mythical creatures, powerful gods and countless dangers before finally attempting to reunite with his wife Penelope and their son Telemachus. While he remains away, Penelope faces constant pressure from ambitious suitors hoping to claim both her hand in marriage and the throne of Ithaca. Pattinson’s Antinous is one of the most influential among those determined to replace Odysseus.
Matt Damon leads the cast as Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway portraying Penelope and Tom Holland appearing as Telemachus. The ensemble also includes Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez and Mia Goth. Produced on a reported budget of around $250 million, the film is widely considered Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious project to date. Early box office forecasts suggest it could become one of the biggest global releases of 2026.
Pattinson’s comments have also reminded audiences how far he has come since his breakout role in Twilight back in 2008. Based on Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novels, the franchise became a worldwide phenomenon, with Edward Cullen and Taylor Lautner’s Jacob Black forming one of cinema’s most famous love triangles alongside Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan. More than a decade later, Pattinson appears happy to laugh at those memories while taking on another epic romance, this time in the world of ancient Greek mythology.
