Kristen Stewart, once the heart and soul (or central meme-source, depending) of The Twilight Saga, has navigated a career that carefully balances between critically acclaimed indie projects and the allure of mainstream success. However, her latest comments suggest a singular condition that could lure her back into the world of franchises, particularly the superhero kind.
Speaking on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Stewart expressed a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the superhero genre, describing the prospect as a “f**king nightmare, actually.” Despite that, she conceded that one specific director’s involvement could be the golden ticket to changing her mind.
That director is none other than the mind behind the sensational Barbie. “If Greta Gerwig asked me to do a Marvel movie, then I would do it,” Stewart declared, making it official that her love for Barbie extends to the director as well.
Unsurprisingly, this isn’t the first time Stewart has voiced her reservations about big-budget productions. Though she acknowledges the broad appeal of such films, she has critiqued the current “algorithmic” nature of the industry, calling for a more personalized, director-driven approach.
It’s a sentiment echoed by Gerwig herself, who previously expressed her openness to directing an action or superhero film, provided it aligns with her creative vision. Gerwig’s recent success with Barbie only amplifies the potential for such a project, one that could (hopefully) bridge the gap between indie sensibilities and blockbuster spectacle.
Taika Waititi and Chloé Zhao have already made this transition with varying degrees of success, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for Gerwig – and bringing that kind of energy to a stale genre could provide for the exact kind of disruption it needs.
Interestingly, Stewart’s career post-Twilight resembles that of her former partner and Twilight co-star, Robert Pattinson. Though the Twilight series was a huge commercial success, Pattinson made a drastic change in his career, opting to focus on indie films. This strategy ultimately paid off, as it led to his landing a leading role in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
Similarly, Stewart’s shift in career in favor of indie roles gave her the chance to showcase her range and break away from the stereotype of her Twilight role. As a result, her career went through a resurgence, as evidenced by her nomination for Best Actress at the 2022 Academy Awards for her role as Princess Diana in Spencer.
The timing of Stewart’s comments is particularly intriguing, coinciding with the announcement of an animated Twilight series. As Lionsgate ventures into reimagining the saga that propelled Stewart to stardom, fans of the American actress will be waiting with bated breath for a collaboration between Gerwig and Stewart in a Marvel project.
