Fernandez 'was favourite for Twilight'

Shiloh Fernandez was the favourite to secure the role of Edward Cullen in Twilight, it has been revealed.

Catherine Hardwicke, who helmed the first of the franchise's movies and directed Fernandez in upcoming film Red Riding Hood, told Access Hollywood that Robert Pattinson only won the position following his audition with Kristen Stewart.

"I thought [Fernandez] could have been very good in that role, [but] he was beat out by Rob because Rob and Kristen just had that chemistry," the filmmaker said.

She added that Stewart, who portrays Bella Swan in the vampire saga, had been integral to selecting who would play Edward.

Hardwicke explained: "I brought the four guys that I thought were the best and she had to make out with them or do four different scenes with them and at the end of those two days she said, 'It's gotta be Rob'."

The director previously said that she warned Pattinson about his intentions towards the then-underage Stewart.

> Hardwicke 'wants Pattinson, Stewart reunion'