14 Stars Who Almost Played Bella, Edward and Jacob in “Twilight”

14 Stars Who Almost Snagged Leading Roles in ‘Twilight’

The iconic movie series ‘Twilight’ may have starred Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen, and Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black, but it turns out that these roles were almost played by other famous faces. As the saga celebrates its success, it’s fascinating to delve into the list of stars who were in the running to be part of the vampire romance phenomenon.

When the first ‘Twilight’ movie hit the screens in 2008, it took the world by storm. Based on Stephanie Meyer’s book series, the film not only introduced us to a captivating love story but also catapulted its leads into superstardom. Director Catherine Hardwicke revealed in a 2018 interview with The Daily Beast that no one truly anticipated the massive success the franchise would achieve.

Among the actors who came close to bagging the coveted roles were Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Trachtenberg, Emily Browning, Elliot Page, Danielle Panabaker, Lily Collins, Josh Peck, Henry Cavill, Shiloh Fernandez, Ben Barnes, Jackson Rathbone, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tyler Posey, and Michael Copon. Each one had their own unique journey in almost landing a part in the iconic series.

In a surprising revelation, Jennifer Lawrence shared on The Rewatchables podcast in 2023 that she auditioned for a role in ‘Twilight’ but was promptly rejected. The immense fame that followed the vampire saga made her reconsider taking on the lead in ‘The Hunger Games,’ as she wasn’t ready for the level of public attention it would bring.

Michelle Trachtenberg, known for her role in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ disclosed in a 2011 interview with the Los Angeles Times that she was close to playing Bella Swan due to her relationship with the director. However, scheduling conflicts prevented her from joining the cast, and she gracefully moved on from the opportunity.

Emily Browning, famous for ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events,’ was author Stephanie Meyer’s top choice for Bella. Despite Meyer’s preference, Browning decided against auditioning as she was contemplating a shift in her acting career at the time, not wanting to commit to a long-running franchise like ‘Twilight.’

Elliot Page, who came out as transgender in 2020, was also a potential candidate for the role of Bella as mentioned by Meyer. Although never formally confirmed, Page’s talent was recognized, but the casting decision led the actor down a different path in their career.

As the list goes on, it’s clear that the casting journey for ‘Twilight’ was intricate and involved many talented individuals vying for the spotlight. Each actor brought their own unique charm and talent to the auditions, showing the depth of talent that was considered for these iconic roles. While the final cast brought the characters of Bella, Edward, and Jacob to life in an unforgettable way, it’s intriguing to imagine how the narrative would have unfolded with different faces at the helm.