Henry Cavill Reacts to Learning ‘Twilight’ Author Wanted Him as Edward Cullen: “Would Have Been Cool”

Henry Cavill has revealed his thoughts on a casting “what if” that could have dramatically altered his career — being the original dream choice of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer to play Edward Cullen.

In a July 2007 blog post, Meyer called Cavill her “perfect Edward,” but lamented that at 24 years old, he was too old to play the eternally 17-year-old vampire. “The most disappointing thing for me is losing my perfect Edward,” she wrote. “Let us have a moment of quiet in which to mourn…” The role eventually went to Robert Pattinson, whose performance alongside Kristen Stewart became a cultural phenomenon and launched both actors into global fame.

Speaking during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast on October 26, 2022, hosted by Josh Horowitz at New York City’s 92nd Street Y, Cavill admitted he didn’t know about Meyer’s preference at the time. “I didn’t know about the movie,” Cavill said. “I didn’t know about them wanting to cast me and the internet wasn’t quite the tool that it is now, so I only found out afterwards.”

When told about this famous near miss, Cavill’s reaction was characteristically relaxed: “I was like, ‘Oh OK, that would have been cool.’” The 39-year-old star stressed there were no hard feelings toward Pattinson. “Not at all because I didn’t know about the movie,” he said, echoing sentiments he’s shared before about missed opportunities. On The Graham Norton Show, Cavill has noted that not landing a part doesn’t necessarily signal a loss, suggesting that certain roles simply aren’t meant to be.

Meyer’s admiration for Cavill didn’t end with Edward. She later floated the idea of him playing Carlisle Cullen, though casting decisions were out of her hands. After actor Charlie Hunnam turned down multiple vampire scripts, Meyer reportedly revisited the idea, but by then, the saga’s cast was firmly set.

The casting almost-collision has another layer of intrigue — Cavill and Pattinson share a history of near-misses. Cavill also auditioned for the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter, which Pattinson won, and the two would later go on to portray rival DC superheroes: Cavill as Superman and Pattinson as Batman.

Now, with Cavill’s résumé spanning blockbuster franchises from Mission: Impossible to The Witcher, his reflection on the Twilight near miss comes from a position of career security. “It would have been cool,” he reiterated, but it’s clear he’s not dwelling on what might have been.

As Cavill’s comments circulated in November 2022 across outlets including People, E! Online, and Variety, they offered fans a rare look into the unpredictable nature of Hollywood casting — and a reminder that sometimes, missing out on a role can be just another step toward finding the ones you’re truly meant to play.

If you’d like, I can also produce a side-by-side career “what if” analysis showing how Cavill’s path might have shifted if he had played Edward Cullen — perfect for a feature or entertainment think-piece.