Cronenberg talks Rob's fans ""The excitement around 'Cosmopolis' because of Rob was terrific"

Now wrapped, it should arrive next year, and when we spoke to the director on his press tour for "A Dangerous Method" in Los Angeles last week, we asked if the actor's fame had given him any pause in casting Pattinson.

To the contrary. "I kind of enjoy that," he told us with a smile. "Frankly, in a weird way, its almost in parallel with Keira [Knightley]. In England she’s got a lot of baggage. It’s not hers, it’s the journalist and the critics, who can be very nasty. I think, for me, you can’t ignore the baggage, but when you’re making the movie, it doesn’t exist. It’s not there. All you’re dealing with is the reality of this person as an actor. And I love that.”

Indeed, the director is fully aware that Pattinson's presence is likely to bring him a new audience, and he's pleased about the prospect. "The excitement around 'Cosmopolis' because of Rob was terrific. It was fun. The idea that these kids, that they really continue to be excited. I’ve said this about Viggo [Mortensen]. If you’re a fan of Aragorn in 'Lord of the Rings' then you don’t have to see 'Eastern Promises,' but if you’re a fan of Viggo as an actor you must see 'Eastern Promises.' And its the same with Rob. If they’re really Rob fans as opposed to Edward...whatever the name of the character is. Rob fans will want to see 'Cosmopolis.' "

And it sounds like fans will be pleased, and the doubters silenced, as the director couldn't be happier with his choice. "He's fantastic in it. They'll see him do things they've never seen him do, believe me. They'll be blown away," he said. "Cosmopolis" doesn't yet have a release date or distributor, but we'd put good money on a debut at Cannes or Toronto next year, before a fall 2012 release.

Full article at ThePlaylist