Cosmopolis
Synopsis: Based on the novel by American authorDon DeLillo, it centers on Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson), a young multi-billionaire making an epic, ultimately doomed limo ride across New York City.
What You Need to Know:David Cronenberg is enjoying an unparalleled level of critical and commercial acceptance after decades hovering on the fringe. At the outset, “Cosmopolis” seems to fall in line with the mannered, critic-friendly films of the recent Cronenberg era. It is, after all, an adaptation of a critically revered and best-selling novel and stars hunky heartthrob-of-the-moment Robert Pattinson. But on closer inspection, the movie seems more atypical and dangerous (a good thing, since “A Dangerous Method” felt far too safe for a filmmaker known for exploding heads and genital mutilation), taking place primarily in a stretch limousine as it crawls through New York City (not exactly a cinematic conceit). A number of Cronenberg’s favorite thematic tics are explored, too, including man’s relationship with modern technology, the messiness of murder and sexual obsession. So while it might be sold as another buttoned-up late era Cronenberg think piece, we’re hoping it’s going to be ruder, looser, and more like the days of yore, even if it has to be without the exploding heads and genital mutilation.
Release Date: With press for “A Dangerous Method” occupying much of Cronenberg’s time in the fall of 2011, our guess is the fall film festival circuit will be the earliest we see the picture.
Let’s Take a Ride: Cosmopolis
Story: Taking place over 24 hours in Manhattan, Cosmopolis examines the heart and soul of the West through the story of a 28-year-old stock market millionaire (played by Robert Pattinson) who takes a drive across town in his limo to get a haircut. Why it could be cool: The movie is being directed by the always-surprising-us David Cronenberg (Eastern Promises) and based on a novel by Don DeLillo. So if “movie about a car ride” doesn’t sound exciting just yet, consider the sources. If nothing else, it should be visually stunning and rife with compelling dialog. The film is also being scored by Howard Shore, the Oscar-winning composer behind the Lord of the Rings films. Cautionary note: Very little is known about this adaptation yet, so even though its creators are brilliant it’s hard to anticipate exactly what they’ll create, or how enthralling it might be. —Angela Watercutter
Robert Pattinson already looks to be forging the most interesting post-Twilight career of its leads, and here he teams up with David Cronenberg for an adaptation of Don DeLillo’s 2003 novel. Cosmopolis is a modern answer to Joyce’s Ulysses: one day in the life of asset manager Eric Packer, who loses billions of dollars in the financial markets in a 24-hour period as his limo traverses New York.
Arguably, it’s Pattinson who looks to be making the most interesting moves. At 25, he’s the oldest, and cut his teeth as Cedric Diggory in the Potter films. In the past he has demonstrated a literary/artistic bent (he played Salvador Dalí in his last pre-Twilight film, Little Ashes), and he’s going down that road again next year, with Bel Ami (released 2 March), an adaptation of the Maupassant novel. Later in the year we should be getting Cosmopolis, another literary adaptation (of Don DeLillo’s 2003 novel), which has Pattinson as a mega-rich asset manager stuck in a limo for 24 hours. The director is David Cronenberg, so chances are this will be pretty special.
Next year promises to be a cultural jamboree, with world-class films, art exhibitions, gigs and theatre performances around the country. Our critics select the most exciting highlights
Bel Ami
Twilight’s Robert Pattinson plays an unscrupulous journalist on the make in 19th century Paris in an adaptation of Guy de Maupassant’s novel directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod (from theatre company Cheek by Jowl.) Long before phone hacking and the Leveson Inquiry, the film shows that journalists were using the most devious means to get ahead.
Release Date: 2 March
Cosmopolis
A multi-millionaire young stockbroker heads across Manhattan in a limousine to have a haircut. It may not sound like much of a starting point for a film but David Cronenberg’s screen version of Don DeLillo’s novel promises to be a sleek and disturbing satire about narcissism and modernity. Robert Pattinson stars as the self-absorbed anti-hero.
Robert Pattinson
c/o Curtis Brown Group Ltd.
Haymarket House
5th Floor, 28-29
Haymarket
London, SW1Y 4SP
England
or
Robert Pattinson
c/o Endeavor Agency
Stephanie Ritz
9601 Wilshire Blvd. Floor 3
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
USA
Calendar
January 2026
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Partners
DISCLAIMER
Thinking of Rob is not affiliated with Robert Pattinson or his management in any way.
There is no copyright infringement intended on this blog. If you are the original owner of any media used and would like it removed, we will be happy to do so, please contact us.
Copyright and Trademark Notice
All original content on this site, including any manipulations or enhancements, is the sole copyright of ThinkingofRob™ and ToR™.