‘I thought they would read it out of pity!’ Twilight author Stephenie Meyer still doesn’t believe she created a pop culture phenomenon – and reveals there may be another movie
With four novels and movie adaptations featuring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, it’s safe to say Twilight is a pop culture phenomenon.
And 15 years since the first novel was published, author Stephenie Meyer admitted to The Sunday Telegraph’s Stellar magazine that she still can’t understand the hype.
The 46-year-old American novelist said she only expected her family to read the love story between American teen Bella Swan and vampire Edward Cullen, ‘out of pity’.
‘I thought they would read it out of pity!’ Twilight author Stephenie Meyer (pictured), 46, told The Sunday Telegraph’s Stellar magazine that she still doesn’t believe the phenomenon
When asked whether she ever anticipated the novel’s popularity, Stephenie responded: ‘A resounding “no” and “never”. I had no idea that anyone beyond my immediate family would read Twilight, and I figured they would read it out of pity.
‘I still don’t entirely believe the phenomenon. It doesn’t seem like something that could happen to me.’
Die-hard Twilight fans will be pleased to hear Stephenie has just released her fifth novel in the franchise – Midnight Sun, based on the perspective of Edward Cullen.
Disbelief: When asked whether she ever anticipated the novel’s popularity, Stephenie responded: ‘A resounding “no” and “never”. I had no idea that anyone beyond my immediate family would read Twilight, and I figured they would read it out of pity’
But they may have to wait a long time until a film adaptation, with Stephenie revealing there are no plans for one, at least, not yet.
‘There are some obvious difficulties with this particular story, and unless I’m convinced that it can be done successfully, I won’t do it,’ she said.
The Twilight franchise launched the careers of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, and they have gone on to star in a number of films outside of the fantasy genre.
Launch pad: The Twilight franchise launched the careers of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (both pictured), and they have gone on to star in a number of films outside of the fantasy genre
‘It’s lovely now that the mania is not so intense’: Robert, 34, who previously admitted to struggling with anxiety during the height of Twilight’s popularity, told USA TODAY last year that he now has ‘warm memories’
Robert, 34, who previously admitted to struggling with anxiety during the height of Twilight’s popularity, told USA TODAY last year that he now has ‘warm memories’.
‘It’s lovely now that the mania is not so intense,’ he said. ‘People come up [to me] and just have very fond memories of it. It’s a really sweet thing.’
‘I think the only scary part was right in the thick of it all, when it was very, very intense. Now the intensity has died down and it’s just very warm memories,’ he added.
Midnight Sun, published by Hachette Australia, is out now.
Read more: Stephenie’s full interview is featured in The Sunday Telegraph’s Stellar magazine