Robert Pattinson compares Odyssey role to Jacob in Twilight, 15 years on
Synopsis
Robert Pattinson is essentially playing the Jacob to someone else's Edward — and he knows it. The actor's candid MTV UK comparison between his Antinous in Nolan's The Odyssey and Lautner's Twilight underdog is the most self-aware casting note of the year, and a signal that Nolan's epic may carry more emotional ambiguity than ancient myth typically allows.
Key Takeaways
Robert Pattinson compares his role as Antinous in The Odyssey to Taylor Lautner 's Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga .
Pattinson plays a suitor vying for Penelope 's hand and Odysseus ' throne over Ithaca in Christopher Nolan 's adaptation.
The film features a large ensemble including Zendaya , Charlize Theron , Lupita Nyong'o , and Elliot Page .
Pattinson originally played Edward Cullen in Twilight in 2008 , making this a notable role reversal — now on the 'Jacob side' of a love triangle.
Since Twilight, Pattinson has ranked among the world's highest-paid actors and is known for eclectic, genre-spanning roles.
Hollywood actor Robert Pattinson has drawn a playful parallel between his upcoming role as Antinous in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and Taylor Lautner's iconic portrayal of Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga — a franchise Pattinson himself headlined 15 years ago as vampire Edward Cullen. The comparison, made in an interview with MTV UK, offers a lighthearted window into how the actor is approaching one of ancient literature's most complex antagonists.
The Jacob Comparison Explained
Pattinson described Antinous — a suitor competing for Penelope's hand and Odysseus' throne over the kingdom of Ithaca — as a figure audiences may find themselves unexpectedly rooting for. 'I think they will be rooting for him. I keep comparing it — it's kind of like Jacob in Twilight,' he said.
He elaborated on the dynamic with characteristic wit: '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 remark reframes the ancient epic's central tension — Penelope's loyalty to the long-absent Odysseus — through a thoroughly modern, almost comedic lens.
What The Odyssey Is About
An adaptation of one of the oldest narratives in recorded human history, The Odyssey tracks the warrior Odysseus through a decade-long, trial-laden journey home to his wife Penelope and son Telemachus following the Trojan War. Pattinson's Antinous is among the most prominent of the suitors who occupy Odysseus' palace in his absence, pressing Penelope to accept a new husband and cede the throne.
The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, boasts an expansive ensemble cast including 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, among others.
Pattinson's Twilight Legacy
Pattinson first broke into global stardom in 2008 when he played Edward Cullen — the 'sparkly vampire' — in Twilight, based on Stephenie Meyer's bestselling book series. The franchise, which spanned five films including New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn — Part 1, and Breaking Dawn — Part 2, centred on a love triangle between Edward, werewolf Jacob Black (played by Taylor Lautner), and human Bella Swan.
The self-aware callback to Twilight's love-triangle structure — now with Pattinson on the 'Jacob side' of the equation — is a notable role reversal that is likely to resonate with fans of both franchises.
Pattinson's Career Since Twilight
In the 15 years since Twilight, Pattinson has deliberately carved a path through prestige and independent cinema, frequently inhabiting eccentric, unconventional characters across a wide range of genres. He has been consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid actors, and his casting in a Nolan epic signals a continued ascent into blockbuster-scale prestige territory.
With The Odyssey positioning him as a morally ambiguous antagonist in a mythological epic, Pattinson's arc from brooding vampire to ancient Greek suitor underscores his range — and his instinct for projects that carry cultural weight.
Point of View
000-year-old antagonist sympathetic to a multiplex crowd. Nolan casting him as Antinous rather than Odysseus is itself a statement: this is not a hero's-journey vanity project but a morally distributed epic. The real question is whether Nolan's The Odyssey can do what the source text does — make the audience genuinely uncertain who deserves to win. If Pattinson's read is right and viewers root for Antinous, that would be the film's most subversive achievement.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Robert Pattinson play in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey?
Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, a suitor competing for Penelope's hand in marriage and Odysseus' throne over the kingdom of Ithaca. He described the character as someone audiences will likely root for, comparing him to Jacob Black from The Twilight Saga.
Why did Pattinson compare his Odyssey role to Jacob in Twilight?
Pattinson drew the parallel because both characters are rivals in a love triangle where the woman struggles to choose between two men. In an MTV UK interview, he quipped that Antinous is essentially urging Penelope to move on from the absent Odysseus — mirroring Jacob's role as the 'other guy' in Twilight.
Who else is in the cast of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey?
The Odyssey features an ensemble cast including Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, Mia Goth, and others alongside Pattinson.
What was Robert Pattinson's role in the Twilight franchise?
Pattinson played Edward Cullen, a vampire, in the Twilight film series beginning in 2008. The franchise ran across five films — Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn Part 1, and Breaking Dawn Part 2 — based on Stephenie Meyer's novels.
What is The Odyssey film about?
The Odyssey is a Christopher Nolan-directed adaptation of the ancient Greek epic, following Odysseus on his decade-long journey home to wife Penelope and son Telemachus after the Trojan War. Pattinson's Antinous is among the suitors who occupy Odysseus' palace during his absence.
