Ashley Greene and Peter Facinelli brought a little bit of Forks, Washington to San Diego Comic-Con International this week, reuniting nearly two decades after Twilight first hit theaters.
The two former costars, who played vampire family members Alice and Carlisle Cullen in the blockbuster franchise, teamed up for a panel titled “Bite Me: Calling All Vampires” on July 23. The event drew a crowd of nostalgic fans eager to relive the franchise’s early cultural moment, decked out in convention gear alongside plenty of Twilight-themed merchandise and cosplay.
Twilight first premiered in 2008, based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novel series, and went on to spawn four sequels released between 2009 and 2012. The franchise grossed well over a billion dollars worldwide and became a defining piece of 2000s pop culture, launching Greene, Facinelli, and their castmates, including Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner, into a level of fame that has followed them for years.
Both actors have continued working steadily since the franchise wrapped. Greene has taken on a variety of film and television roles since her time as Alice Cullen, while Facinelli has remained active in both acting and directing. Despite their busy schedules, panels like this one offer a rare chance for fans to see members of the original cast reconnect in person, away from the more scripted setting of a press junket or premiere.
Comic-Con has increasingly become a hub for these kinds of nostalgic reunions in recent years, drawing casts from beloved franchises back together for panels, photo ops, and fan Q&As.
Neither Greene nor Facinelli has announced any further joint appearances following the panel, but their reunion is already generating buzz among longtime fans on social media, many of whom are hoping it signals more nostalgic team-ups to come from the rest of the Twilight cast in the years ahead.