On the surface, fan rivalries in Hollywood might appear frivolous, as many times it leads to supporters of the two sides going too far in their repartee. However, financially, it more often than not works pretty well for everyone involved.
Just look at the Barbenheimer phenomenon that started on the internet as a joke and resulted in making both Barbie and Oppenheimer blockbuster movies. Both films were released on the same day and instead of stealing viewers from each other, the free publicity and hype they got because of fandom rivalry resulted in attracting an audience who would’ve otherwise snubbed both.
Marvel vs. DC rivalry started from the era of comic books and has turned both brands into Hollywood’s biggest money-making machines. The same idea worked wonders for Harry Potter and The Twilight Saga.
A Look at the Rivalry Between Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter and Robert Pattinson’s Twilight
It’s been more than a decade since both Harry Potter and Twilight last hit the theaters, but to this day they spark debates about which fantasy franchise is better.
Daniel Radcliffe‘s magical adventures in Hogwarts as Harry Potter started much earlier than Edward Cullen’s (Robert Pattinson) pursuit of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in 2001 while Twilight in 2008.
However, what evokes the rivalry between the two novel-inspired franchises is their themes, as both fantasy tales are focused on good versus evil, where we see young adults face off against supernatural forces.
Moreover, both these series share many similar characters. They both have their own werewolves: Remus Lupin in Harry Potter and Jacob Black in Twilight. They also have characters who can see into the future: Sybill Trelawney and Alice Cullen respectively.
Interestingly, the Twilight lead also appeared in Harry Potter. He played the role of Cedric Diggory in the fourth installment of the series. Still, there’s no doubt over where Pattinson’s loyalties lie. In fact, he’s often pitched against Radcliffe (and Emma Watson against Kristen Stewart) in debates over which lead face is better.
Now, we aren’t going to take the mantle of resolving these furious debates. Instead, we take a look at what Radcliffe has to say about his “vampire” counterpart.
What Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe Said About His Relationship With Twilight’s Robert Pattinson
After his brief stint in Hogwarts in 2005, Pattinson jumped ship to transform into a handsome vampire who lives in Forks a few years later.
Considering how fan sentiments around their respective characters developed in the late 2000s, many hold an extreme view of what their relationship is like. They either assume Radcliffe and Pattinson are mates because they worked together briefly or they see them as rivals because of the franchises they lead.
During an appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2021, the Harry Potter star talked about their ‘strange’ relationship. The 34-year-old said:
“We have a very strange relationship now where we basically only communicate through journalists. We haven’t seen each other in ages. Because everyone assumes we’re kind of great mates, but I’ve met him, he’s a lovely guy when I worked with him.”
Hilariously, in the same interview, Jonathan Ross remarked that Harry Potter could easily destroy all those vampires. And the actor resoundingly agreed, leaving the two sets of fans to debate about yet another thing!
Source: The Jonathan Ross Show
