The Twilight Saga features many fascinating supporting and minor characters whose stories should be given more attention in the upcoming Twilight remake. Historically, Twilight has kept the focus on Bella and Edward’s romance and the love triangle that arises with Jacob, when it would be a much richer story if it took full advantage of the supporting cast. Most of the characters in Twilight do have full backstories explained in tie-in materials if not revealed at some point in the books themselves.
Major supporting characters, namely members of the Cullen family such as Alice and Carlisle, are likely to get their due in the Twilight TV show reboot when the books already spend some time on their backstories. However, Twilight features a plethora of minor characters, some of whom are essentially footnotes in the books, whose fascinating histories should also be mentioned in some form by the new show. Taking some time to delve into each character’s life story would transform Twilight into an intriguing supernatural historical fiction story with emotional depth.
Benjamin Of The Egyptian Coven
Originally Played By Rami Malek
Benjamin draws attention in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2 with one of the most dramatic and visual magical gifts and the fact that he is played by an early career Rami Malek. A lot of the vampires’ specific gifts are mental abilities; Benjamin appearing so late in the story with the ability to manipulate the elements in massive displays of power is unprecedented. Additionally, the backstory of the Egyptian coven as a whole and the role Benjamin plays in it reveals something more about the power struggles of Twilight’s vampire world.
Siobhan Of The Irish Coven
Originally Played By Lisa Howard
Siobhan’s tragic past and potential power could have a great effect on how women are represented in Twilight if the new show handles her story properly. Siobhan had unusual autonomy for a woman as a human, running her own business as a blacksmith in 16th-century Ireland. She was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by the vampire who turned her but was strong enough as a newborn to kill him. She later turned her mate Liam and their surrogate daughter Maggie, the latter of whom can tell if she is being lied to.
Garrett Of The Denali Coven
Originally Played By Lee Pace
Carlisle is the oldest member of the Cullen family and is implied to have met a lot of other vampires over the centuries and spent a lot of time studying and theorizing about the varying powers of vampires. Therefore, Carlisle is a narrative vehicle to bring a lot of minor characters into the story. In addition to the Irish coven, Carlisle met Garrett, a devoted Patriot, during the American Revolution. Garrett was turned on the battlefield by an unknown vampire, as vampires were taking advantage of the bloodshed to feed more frequently.
Billy Black
Originally Played By Gil Birmingham
There are some moments in Twilight where Billy comes across as a secondary father figure to Bella, one who knows the full extent of the supernatural life she has chosen for herself. On behalf of Charlie, Billy worries about Bella joining the Cullen family but eventually accepts that he can’t stop her and wishes her happiness anyway. To Sam and Jacob’s pack, Billy is a mentor figure who knows a lot about the history of the wolf shape-shifters in the Quileute Tribe.
Victoria Of The London Coven & James’ Coven
Originally Played By Rachelle Lefevre & Bryce Dallas Howard
Victoria shows up in the first installment of Twilight as a member of the coven also including James and Laurent. She returns in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse to avenge the death of her mate. Yet the movies and even the books don’t do justice to Victoria’s backstory or her possible power. In Victoria’s dark backstory before Twilight, she and her sister Anne belonged to an all-female coven living in London; the sisters were changed sometime in the 1500s. The Volturi eventually decided that they were guilty of attracting too much attention with their growing numbers.
Tanya Of The Denali Coven
Originally Played By MyAnna Buring
Tanya and Siobhan are the only female characters in Twilight who are the leaders of their respective factions. Tanya and her sisters Kate and Irina were all turned by the same vampire woman, who was executed by the Volturi for creating an immortal child. The Denali sisters’ actions gave rise to the legend of succubi, beautiful women who seduced men and lured them to their deaths. However, Tanya comes across as a lonely character looking for her great love when her sisters each find theirs in the Twilight books.
