Fans hoping to hear familiar voices in the upcoming Twilight animated series will be disappointed. Key actors from the original film franchise have confirmed they were not asked to reprise their roles for Netflix‘s new adaptation, titled Midnight Sun. Despite expressing a strong desire to return, the stars who brought the Cullen family to life were told they would not be part of the new project.
The Original Cullen Family Actors Are Not Returning
During a panel at Motor City Comic Con, the actors who played the beloved Cullen family members shared the news directly with fans. Ashley Greene (Alice), Peter Facinelli (Carlisle), Kellan Lutz (Emmett), and Jackson Rathbone (Jasper) all confirmed they will not be involved in the animated series.
Ashley Greene stated simply, “We’re not coming back”. Peter Facinelli expanded on the group’s feelings, noting that they had actually asked Netflix if they could be part of the new project.
“Well, here’s the truth, I’m bummed, because I love that character so much, so I hate the idea of having someone else play it,” Facinelli told the audience. He described the original films as having a nostalgic quality that takes viewers back to a specific time in their lives, a connection he feels the new series will lack without the original cast.
Jackson Rathbone shared the surprising story of how the cast first learned about the new series. Fans at a convention told him about the animated Midnight Sun, which he initially dismissed. His disbelief turned to shock when an actress at the same event mentioned she had auditioned for it.
“We were like, ‘Hey, it would be kind of cool, we’re still pretty fresh out of it… Our voices haven’t changed that much. Let’s go ahead and let them know, as a group, collectively, we’d love to come back and do it the right way,’” Rathbone explained. “No one asked for a lot of money, trust me. We’re always coming back because we love y’all, man, we wanted to do it for the fans. We love our characters. And they very nicely said, ‘No.’ We couldn’t even get an audition for it, which is funny.”
Kellan Lutz pointed out the logic of their potential return, noting that since the project is animated, their voices would still be perfectly suitable for the characters. Ashley Greene agreed, joking, “We still sound so young!” She went on to wish the new voice actors the best, hoping the new series would resonate with audiences.
Why Netflix Is Starting Fresh
The decision to recast all roles appears to be a creative and financial choice by Netflix. Bringing back the entire original cast, especially stars like Kristen Stewart (Bella) and Robert Pattinson (Edward) whose profiles have risen significantly since the original films, would likely require a substantial budget. An animated series already involves significant production costs for the animation studio itself.
This approach also allows the new series to establish its own identity separate from the original films. Netflix has previously found success with a similar model in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, an anime series that brought back the entire original cast from the 2010 live-action movie. However, for Midnight Sun, the streaming platform is opting for a completely fresh start.
The cast changes extend beyond the Cullens. Chaske Spencer, who played Sam Uley in the original films, has also confirmed he will not be returning. Gil Birmingham, who portrayed Billy Black, similarly learned about the series through fan interactions and interviews.
What Is Midnight Sun About?
The new series is an adaptation of author Stephenie Meyer‘s 2020 novel, Midnight Sun. This book retells the events of the first Twilight novel but from the perspective of the vampire Edward Cullen instead of Bella Swan. The novel provides a deeper look into Edward’s century-long life, his constant internal struggle, and his ability to read the minds of those around him.
The project was officially announced in September 2024 and received a straight-to-series order from Netflix. Sinead Daly, known for her work on Tell Me Lies, is attached as the writer and executive producer. Stephenie Meyer herself will also serve as an executive producer.
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The Challenge of Recapturing the Magic
The original cast members expressed curiosity about whether the new series can capture the unique appeal of the original films. Ashley Greene noted the difficulty of replicating the original’s success.
“People try and replicate what Twilight did all the time, and a lot of times it fails,” Greene observed. She described the original movies as having a “secret sauce” and wondered if the new team would be “able to translate that into an animation or not.”
Peter Facinelli compared the experience to his own attempt to share a childhood favorite with his son. He downloaded what he thought was the classic animated version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, only to discover he had gotten the 2018 Benedict Cumberbatch version.
“It felt like nails on chalkboard to me,” Facinelli said. “And I’m sure my son loved it. He’s three, and will love everything. But to me, I grew up with this thing, and I wanted to have that, because it’s a comfort to me… I’m sure other people will find this, if there’s a new thing, and they’ll love the new thing, so it’ll just be different.”
No release date has been announced for Midnight Sun, and no new cast members have been revealed. The series remains in development at Netflix, promising to introduce the story of Edward and Bella to a new generation with a fresh voice and a new artistic vision.
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