Robert Pattinson has spent years as a heartthrob for female fans, but things are changing now.
The actor, best known for Twilight and The Batman, recently shared that he’s noticed a shift in his audience, with more men showing up to support him than ever before.
Speaking with Associated Press journalist Sian Watson on the Mickey 17 red carpet, Pattinson admitted that the change feels unusual after years of mostly female admiration.
He said in the interview, “It’s quite strange. There’s like a bunch of guys, which is a new one for me.”
The British actor, 37, rose to fame as Edward Cullen in Twilight, a role that made him a heartthrob among teenage girls worldwide.
But as his career evolved with darker, more complex roles in films like Good Time, The Lighthouse, and Tenet, so did his audience.
While Twilight had its fair share of criticism, Pattinson recently defended it in an interview with GQ Spain.
He said, “I love that people keep telling me, ‘Man, Twilight ruined the vampire genre.’ Are you still stuck on that shit? How can you be sad about something that happened almost 20 years ago? It’s crazy.”
The actor has been open about his complicated relationship with the franchise. When he spoke to GQ in 2022, he revealed he initially wanted Twilight to be darker and more artistic. “I wanted to make it as arty as possible,” he said, adding that the studio was afraid to make it “too emo.”
Now, after starring in The Batman, Pattinson has found a new wave of support from male fans. His 2022 portrayal of Bruce Wayne was a box office hit, earning $772 million worldwide and critical praise. A sequel is officially on the way, set for release on October 1, 2027.
“I know what it’s about but I can’t tell anyone,” he recently told Variety.
“But it’s very cool,” he added.
“It’s very exciting.”
Up next, Pattinson stars in Mickey 17, a sci-fi thriller from Parasite director Bong Joon Ho.
In the film, He plays Mickey Barnes, a man who is repeatedly brought back to life through a human-printing process every time he dies, allowing him to continue his risky job.