Robert Pattinson Reveals Why He Prefers Playing the Bad Guy

RobertPattinson isn't afraid to be the bad guy…In fact, he likes it.

The actor spoke to People about his upcoming villainous roles in The Odyssey and Dune: Part Three.

When asked if he enjoys being an antagonist, he said, "I do. I like lowering people's expectations; that's always my favorite, that's always my place to be. Undersell and overdeliver, that's my motto."

In The Odyssey, Pattinson plays Antinous, who goes after Odysseus' (MattDamon) wife Penelope's (AnneHathaway) hand in marriage after he goes missing following the Trojan War. Antinous aims to marry Penelope and steal Odysseus' throne as king of Ithaca. He also plans to eliminate the couple's son, Telemachus (TomHolland).

While that might sound like the plot of a villain, the 40-year-old doesn't see it that way.

"I don't think he's really the bad guy," he said about his character. "I think he's just like. . . It's a love story, it's a love story. Penelope is just waiting for Antinous to get older."

Pattinson might defend his character, but he is still an actor. While speaking to People, he gave a hint into how he gets into character.

"There's always one little thing that you kind of do every movie, I always find some kind of little quirk. I'm trying to remember what it was on this," he explained. I remember doing something which a lot of people thought I was very strange doing, but I can't remember [what]."

Tricks like these must be important for the Twilight actor. He has many projects coming out this year.

Pattinson's first film of the year was The Drama in April. In addition to The Odyssey, the actor will be featured in Dune: Part Three, portray ChrisHansen as the To Catch a Predatorhost in Primetime, and star in Netflix's Here Comes the Flood with DenzelWashington, DaisyEdgar-Jones, and DanaiGurira.

The Odyssey hits the big screen on July 17.

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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 6:55 PM.